MISSA BREVIS SANCTI MAXIMILIANI Op.21 by Lucio Mosè Benaglia

MISSA BREVIS SANCTI MAXIMILIANI Op.21 by Lucio Mosè Benaglia
Mass for three voices (SAB) in the style of the Old Masters

Composed on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of pastoral regency of pastor Rainer Maria Schießler of the parish of St. Maximilian in Munich and dedicated to him.

www.luciomosebenaglia.com

Live recording made during the Holy Mass on 1.11.2018 in St. Maximilian - Munich.

MaxVokal - Munic
Gerald Häußler, conductor

PREFACE BY THE COMPOSER

The composition of this small mass came about almost by chance in the course of my composition studies, which had just begun. Since I had to tackle my first counterpoint exercises in this year in which our parish priest Rainer Schießler celebrates his 25th anniversary of pastoral activity in our parish, I thought I would immediately apply what I had learnt under the guidance of my teacher Laurence Traiger in a practical context.
The work is in the tradition of the old masters, of whom I have had the opportunity to study some exemplary references, and is inspired by different stylistic patterns ranging from the period of Palestrina polyphony (kyrie) to classical polyphony of Mozart's taste (Sanctus and Agnus Dei), passing in the Gloria to a middle way in the sign of Baroque polyphony. The themes used are influenced by the composer's long choral experience and wink at many themes and etchings from many masses of different composers and schools, sung in his twenty years with the Maxchor as a bass.
The choice of the three-voice system is primarily a practical one, as male voices are usually numerically deficient compared to female voices, especially in the tenor section.
By using only one male voice in a register suitable for basses and tenors, I tried to overcome this difficulty, thus enabling the choirs involved to perform this Mass without too many practical difficulties.
I could not fail to name this first Mass after the patron saint of Munich's Maximilianskirche in which, with the Maxchor, I had the good fortune to be able to participate, in cantus, in its always exciting liturgies.
Munich,
August 2018

Lucio Mosè Benaglia
www.luciomosebenaglia.com