Forth in Praise

The MacMillan Mass

This page contains the full text of the parts of the Mass set by James MacMillan in his Newman Mass, together with our audio MP3 files for listening to while following the text. The synthetic audio files are without words. Please note that we have permission to post the audio files here but they are for personal revision use only and should not be freely copied or distributed.

On most browsers, the audio file will open in a new tab. This means that all you have to do to read the words while you listen is to click back on to the tab with the words. The sound will continue. If you still find you can't listen and read on the same webpage, try opening a second copy of your browser at the same page and resize so that you can see both. Or select, copy, save and print out the words.

The new text is written out below in a way that should help you fit the words to the music, although it's impossible to make this absolutely precise. An underscore after a syllable means it is sung to more than one note.

Congregational parts

Files created by Evelyn Stell

Kyrie

Audio File - Click and listen here.

CANTOR: Lord, have mercy. ALL: Lord, have mercy.
CANTOR: Christ, have mercy. ALL: Christ, have mercy.
CANTOR: Lord, have mercy. ALL: Lord, have mercy.

Kyrie accompaniment-only file can be found here

Gloria

The Gloria is intoned below in the optional, easier version used for the Papal visit.
To listen to it with James MacMillan's original and more dramatic version click here

Audio File - Click and listen here

CELEBRANT or CANTOR: Glory to God in the highest

ALL: And on earth peace to people of good will.
We praise_ you,
we bless_ you,
we adore_ you,
we glorify_ you,
we give you thanks for your great glo_ry,
Lord God, heavenly King,_
O God, almighty Fa_ther. Lord
Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son,_
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son_ of the Father,
you take away the sins of the world,_
have_ mercy on us;
you take away the sins of the world,_
re_ceive our_ prayer;
you are sea_ted at the right_ hand____ of the Father,
have mercy on us.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most_ High,
Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father.
A_men._

Gloria accompaniment-only file can be found here

Sanctus

The repeated Hosannas in italics have been inserted by the composer.

Audio File - Click and listen here

Ho___ly, Ho___ly,__ Ho_ly_ Lord God of hosts.
Heav'n___ and earth are full of your glo_ry.
Hosan_na, hosan_na, hosanna in the high_est.
Blessed is he who comes in the name_ of the Lord.
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna, hosan_na, hosan_na, hosanna in the highest.

Some help with the beginning of the Sanctus:

(1) (2)

Sanctus accompaniment-only MP3 file can be found here

Memorial Acclamation

Only one of the three possible texts is given here. However, the melody is the same for all.

Audio File - Click and listen here

CELEBRANT: The mystery of faith.

ALL:
When_ we eat this Bread and drink this Cup,_
we proclaim your death,_ O Lord,_ until you come again._

Memorial Acclamation accompaniment-only MP3 file can be found here

Agnus Dei

Audio File - Click and listen here

Lamb_ of_ God,_ you_ take away_ the sins_ of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb_ of_ God,_ you_ take away_ the sins_ of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb_ of_ God, you take_ a_way the sins_ of the world, grant___ us peace._

Agnus Dei accompaniment-only MP3 file can be found here

Choir parts

Fr Peter Jones from the Archdiocese of Birmingham has created the following computer-generated MP3 files for the SATB parts of the James MacMillan Mass.

GLORIA

SANCTUS

Phil Smith from the Hexham & Newcastle Diocesan Choir has provided tenor practice parts, similarly computer-generated. These have full organ accompaniment with the tenor part emphasised.