Around ten years ago, the Very Revd Nigel Williams, who is Dean of St Asaph, spoke to me about creating a mass setting that could be sung by choir alone, congregation alone or choir and congregation without the effectiveness of the work being lost in any of the different versions. This wasn't a challenge that settled easily with me and I spent a great deal of time thinking about how best to execute this with several failed attempts that turned into other works.

At Blackburn Cathedral, the cathedral's Youth Choir leads the music at the 9am Parish Eucharist each Sunday during term time, at which a congregational setting is sung, except on feast days when a full choral setting is used. The congregation at this service appreciate the work of the choir greatly but also relish the accessibility of the comparative simplicity offered at this service both liturgically and musically. I felt inspired to write this setting for our Youth Choir and parish congregation in order to provide much which was outlined in the initial brief suggested by the Dean of St Asaph, but to also make good use of our iconic organ and to give our excellent singers something to really get their teeth into.

The Gloria may be sung by cantor and congregation (with the congregation only singing the response) if singing the whole movement might prove too challenging for a congregation. The organ part generally supports the congregation whilst adding weight and excitement for occasions when the mass is sung by choir alone or with choir and congregation.

Full scores are available for the choir, and the photocopy licence allows unlimited copies of the provided congregation parts.