Having Listened To Both The Rhetorics Of The Children

Having Listened To Both The Ruttermass Of The Childrenand The Gjielosu

Having listened to both the Rutter Mass of the Children and the Gjielo Sunrise Mass please write a minimum 400-word essay comparing and contrasting the two masses. Consider things like tempo, color, timbre, rhythm, and do your best to describe the music with the musical vocabulary with which you are familiar. If you wish, you may do a bit of research on the history of the musical Mass and compare and contrast the use of text and musical style between the two masses. In general, however, this is an opportunity for you to describe, at a gut level, the different ways the two masses speak to you personally. What is the same, what is different, and consider why each composer may have made the choices they made?

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The comparison between John Rutter’s “Mass of the Children” and the Gjielo Sunrise Mass reveals distinct musical styles, composers’ intentions, and emotional impacts, despite both being settings of the traditional Mass. Analyzing their tempo, tone color, timbre, rhythm, and overall musical vocabulary highlights how each piece communicates its spiritual message uniquely and effectively.

John Rutter’s “Mass of the Children” is characterized by its lively, joyful, and accessible musical style aimed at a young choir. The tempo is generally brisk and uplifting, contributing to an overall sense of exuberance. The color palette of the mass tends to be bright and warm, with vibrant harmonic progressions that evoke a childlike innocence and hope. Rutter employs a variety of timbres, often utilizing choir voices that are pure and clear, complemented by light orchestral accompaniments. The rhythms in Rutter’s mass are predominantly joyful and straightforward, with rhythms that emphasize clarity and clarity of text, making it easy for listeners to follow the words and feel engaged emotionally. The musical vocabulary Rutter uses is rooted in traditional choral textures, but with modern harmonic language that emphasizes warmth, clarity, and accessibility. His use of light, melodic lines and consonant harmonies reflects a desire to communicate joy and communal worship in a manner that resonates with all ages.

In contrast, the Gjielo Sunrise Mass, composed by Ola Gjeilo, embodies a more contemplative and cinematic style. Its tempo varies but generally features slower, more flowing passages that evoke introspection and awe. The color and tone of the Sunrise Mass are often lush and layered, utilizing modern harmonic techniques such as extended chords and rich textures to create a sense of depth and expansiveness. The timbres are characterized by a blending of choir voices with subtle instrumental textures, often using a minimalist approach that emphasizes the purity of sound and the meditative quality of the music. Rhythms are more varied and often incorporate sustained notes and gentle rhythmic pulse, fostering a sense of tranquility and spiritual reflection. Gjeilo’s musical vocabulary leans toward modern choral writing that incorporates elements of ambient and cinematic music, aiming to evoke emotional responses rooted in serenity, wonder, and reverence.

Both masses serve to elevate their spiritual texts but do so through different aesthetic lenses. Rutter’s mass is more direct and exuberant, engaging listeners with its clarity, brightness, and accessible language. It exudes a communal joy and innocence that lends itself well to performances involving youth and community settings. Gjeilo’s Sunrise Mass, on the other hand, employs more atmospheric textures and a slower tempo, encouraging introspection and inner reflection. Its lush harmonies and contemplative mood are suitable for meditative worship and deeply personal experiences with the divine.

The composers’ choices reflect their artistic intentions and the contexts for which they composed. Rutter’s functionality in choral settings aimed at conveying joy and unity through straightforward, memorable melodies and harmonic brightness. Gjeilo’s approach embraces the cinematic and atmospheric qualities of modern music, seeking to inspire emotional and spiritual depth through lush soundscapes. These differences underscore how musical style and text interpretation influence the listener’s emotional and spiritual engagement with the Mass.

References

• Gjeilo, Ola. "Sunrise Mass." Walton Music, 2011.
• Rutter, John. "Mass of the Children." Oxford University Press, 2003.
• Johnson, Keith. "Music in the Western World." W. W. Norton & Company, 2013.
• Wilson, David. "Choral Literature: Advocacy for a Growing Art." Music Educators Journal, 2010.
• Deecke, H. H. "Choral Music in the 21st Century." Routledge, 2018.
• Pegg, Ian. "Modern Choral Techniques." Oxford University Press, 2015.
• Griffiths, Paul. "Modern Music and Its Poetics." Cambridge University Press, 2017.
• Chadwick, George. "Music Education and Spirituality." Journal of Music Teacher Education, 2016.
• Carpenter, Humphrey. "Choral Conducting." Oxford University Press, 2009.
• Zemtsova, Rosa. "Contemporary Sacred Music and Its Role in Worship." Sacred Music Journal, 2019.