Messe Solennelle

Rooted in the grand, solemn settings of the Mass Ordinary in 19th- and 20th-century France, Kerensa Briggs’s Messe Solennelle brings a contemporary perspective to the genre. Commissioned for The Cathedral of St Philip in Atlanta and shaped by her deep connection with sacred choral music, the work reflects Briggs’s distinctive and assured voice, characterised by rich harmonic language and finely judged part-writing. Scored for SATB choir with organ, the setting includes occasional divisi and sections for double choir (notably throughout the Agnus Dei), supported by a substantial and idiomatic organ accompaniment. Suitable for intermediate to advanced choirs, Messe Solennelle is equally effective in liturgical and concert performance, and offers a distinctive contribution to the modern Mass repertoire.