Mass of Glory: Interview with Ken Canedo and Bob Hurd

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July 15, 2010

NOTE: Sound samples and accompaniments now available for order for new and revised Mass settings. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has established the first Sunday of Advent 2012 (Nov. 27, 2011) as the implementation date for the new Order of Mass. More Mass settings will be coming soon.

How does this setting engage a congregation at Mass?
We’re hopeful that the familiar themes will help ease choirs and assemblies into praying the new Ordo Missae.
Read more » Mass of Glory draws inspiration from traditional Catholic music and from styles indigenous to the American experience: jazz, blues and gospel. This unique blend may the reason it has endured. Bob and I are humbled and gratified by the acceptance of our contemporary Mass setting by today’s Church. « Hide

What was your inspiration for Mass of Glory?
Bob Hurd and I did not sit down at a piano and compose Mass of Glory in one lightning session. The story spans across four decades. Read more » In the late 1980s we collaborated together as pastoral musicians at St. Leander Church, a multigenerational and multicultural parish in San Leandro, California. That parish’s Sunday night liturgy became our “workshop” to try out our new compositions with the choir and assembly, listening carefully to how they learned and sang our music. We would sometimes tweak or improve our setting based on what we observed. Their enthusiasm for singing was inspiring to me as a composer. « Hide

Tell us about the musical elements.
Mass of Glory is often characterized as a “gospel style” Mass setting, but it is much more than that. Read more » The Kyrie and Lord’s Prayer are in chant, while the Alleluia is in a blues motif. Owing much to jazz harmonization, the Eucharistic acclamations are in a 3/4 gospel waltz. The Preface dialogue and sung presider’s prayers were inspired by Gershwin. The first line of the Holy is a tribute to “Panis Angelicus” by Cesar Franck. « Hide

How has your experience leading worship helped you craft this setting?
I have experienced several eras of Catholic music, from the Gregorian chant of the Latin Mass to the Folk Mass and on to contemporary Catholic rock. Read more » The most important thing I have learned through all the changes in language and musical style is to respect the text, especially the official text of the liturgy. The music needs to serve the text and not the other way around. « Hide

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