Fauré's Messe Basse is based heavily on a previous mass setting he had written in collaboration with his pupil André Messager in 1881, called Messe des Pêcheurs de Villerville (Mass of the Villerville Fisherman), scored for ladies' voices & chamber orchestra.

Fauré later removed his Gloria, and replaced Messager's Kyrie with a new one of his own. He also removed Messager's O Salutaris. The resulting piece was published under the title Messe Basse in 1907.

Ben Costello has here adapted Messe Basse for SATB & organ, making it available to a wider range of choirs & congregations.