MASS OF ST LEO THE GREAT

"Mass of St Leo the Great" is a bright, accessible English setting of the Mass ordinary, composed by Tanyi Emmanuel Ketu. This particular sheet captures the opening rites: a gentle, pleading Kyrie followed immediately by a joyful Gloria. Adapted to the new English translation of the Roman Missal, it serves as a practical and spiritually uplifting choice for parish choirs leading the congregation in worship.

The Kyrie unfolds with a tender, rhythmic call for God's compassion, using the familiar invocations of the Penitential Act. It transitions smoothly into the Gloria, where the mood shifts to one of vibrant praise. The syncopated rhythms in the Gloria's refrain—"Glory to God in the highest, and peace to people of good will"—give the music a lively, forward-moving energy that encourages the whole church to join in the heavenly hymn.

For choir directors, this setting offers a wonderful balance of reverence and celebration. The straightforward solfa notation and clear melodic lines mean it can be learned quickly, yet it retains enough harmonic interest to keep the choir engaged. It is a fitting arrangement for Sundays in Ordinary Time or festive feast days, drawing the faithful into a deeper participation in the liturgy.