Mass in Blue (2003)

upbeat jazz setting of the latin mass text

for soprano, chorus and jazz ensemble or trio

Duration

40 minutes

Commissioning details

Commissioned by Hertfordshire Chorus

Additional information

Available on SIGCD083 and HCD0017

Will Todd's Mass in Blue, an upbeat setting of the latin mass, is a brilliant blend of driving jazz grooves and clear, strong, choral writing against which the solo piano and solo soprano voice weave and blend in a delightful aural tapestry. The work reflects not only the composer's love of jazz music and his admiration of jazz performers, but also his own experience as an improviser. Mass in Blue was commissioned by David Temple and the Hertfordshire Chorus in 2003 and premiered in July 2003 under the title Jazz Mass at the Cambridge Corn Exchange, with soprano Bethany Halliday, the Blue Planet Orchestra, Will Todd on piano and conducted by David Temple. Subsequently revised and retitled for performances in 2004 at the Barbican Centre in London and in Durham Cathedral, by 2007 it had received almost 50 performances in the UK, Europe and beyond. It has firmly entered the choral repertoire and has been enjoyed by choirs young and old, large and small. Mass in Blue has been recorded twice - by Hertfordshire Chorus on their own label, and more recently by the Vasari Singers for Signum Classics.

Mass in Blue is available with accompaniment in several versions - for twelve-piece big band, for jazz trio with optional alto saxophone, or as an arrangement for orchestral strings with jazz trio.

Soprano Solo

fully notated, jazz knowledge and style required
SATB choir

Big band version: 1st Wind - Alto Sax / Soprano Sax
2nd Wind - Tenor Sax / Clarinet / Flute
3rd Wind - Bass Clarinet / Baritone Sax
2 Trumpets
2 Trombones
Bass Trombone
Timpani / percussion (1 player) [3 timpani, tam-tam, susp cym]
Drum Kit (fully notated, jazz knowledge, improvisation expected)
Bass - upright or elec (fully notated, jazz knowledge, improvisation expected)
Piano* (fully notated, jazz knowledge, improvisation expected)

Trio version: Drum Kit (fully notated, jazz knowledge, improvisation expected)
Bass - upright or elec (fully notated, jazz knowledge, improvisation expected)
Piano* (fully notated, jazz knowledge, improvisation expected)
Alto Sax (optional)

Score prices:
Vocal score £12
Full score £40
Instrumental parts £5 each (transcribed piano part £8)
* 2 piano parts available - 1 lead sheet style (with chords), one with a higher level of transcription
Vocal scores are also available for UK hire at £7.20 each
Postage and packing or courier fees will be added to all orders

Click here to view and download 1 copy only of the vocal score for perusal

Merchandise:

CD (Vasari Singers / Signum) £11.99 incl UK p & p
Bulk CD orders can be organised for choirs or other groups at a discount

For score and CD sales, please visit the Shop section of our website.

Mass in Blue is published by Tyalgum Press.
Enquiries regarding performance, and purchase/hire of full, vocal and ensemble
copies should be directed to Cathy Boyes

Mass in Blue Singing Days

Mass in Blue Singing Days have so far taken place in Cambridge on 27 October 2007, Birmingham on 23 February 2008 and Bristol on 25 October 2008. There is a forthcoming Singing Day organised by the Fairhaven Singers in Cambridge on 15 May 2010.

Book online (only active when dates are confirmed)

Singing Days are a wonderful opportunity to learn and perform Will Todd’s Mass in Blue, in a singing day with the composer, and to meet other like-minded singers. Days include rehearsal sessions on the Mass with hints on singing in a jazz idiom and guidance to improve your singing technique from reknowned choral conductor Ralph Woodward, director of the Britten Pears Chamber Choir, and from composer and conductor Will Todd. Over lunchtime there is a talk by Will Todd on the creative processes behind writing Mass in Blue, before a tutti rehearsal with the Will Todd Trio and soprano Bethany Halliday. The day culminates in a full performance of Mass in Blue with Will Todd at the piano, Bethany Halliday and the Will Todd Trio, who also perform their own jazz set as the first half of the concert.

Singing Day tickets are usually £15-£18, which includes tea and coffee, and score loan for the day. Full-time students pay £10. Audience tickets are £12 for the whole day, or £8 for the concert only at 6.00pm (full-time students £8 / £5).

Please contact us if your choir would be interested in hosting a future Mass in Blue singing day. Members of the host choir attend the day at a reduced price (usually £10). Ralph Woodward and Will Todd with the Will Todd Trio and Bethany Halliday can also be booked to run exclusive Singing Days for choirs and schools.

Participant comments:

"I had a brilliant time - really enjoyed the whole experience. Thanks to all concerned."
Chris Gay, alto - Bristol

“My thanks again on behalf of those [members of Aylesbury Festival Choir] who attended on Saturday for a wonderfully exhilarating day's singing and for all the hard work that went into organising it.”
Jan Roffe, Aylesbury Festival Choir

“A fantastic workshop in Cambridge last Saturday - stimulating, interesting and most enjoyable.”

Tom Cox, bass - Cambridge

“I and several of my friends enjoyed a most stimulating and enjoyable singing workshop with Ralph Woodward in Cambridge recently. I had already familiarised myself with Will Todd’s “Mass in Blue” from the recording but this was nothing in comparison with the experience of learning the work as a singer. I have been listening to the work constantly ever since and continue to derive much pleasure from this exciting and original work. To rehearse and perform the Mass in Blue with Will Todd and his trio and soloist Bethany Halliday was definitely the high spot of my year as a singer – an altogether uplifting and worthwhile experience which I thoroughly recommend .”

Helen Bush, alto - Cambridge

Performances

8 November 2009 - Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester

18 July 2009 - West Ottawa Performing Arts Center, Holland, Michigan

15 July 2009 - Salisbury Cathedral

4 July 2009 - Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford on Avon

27 June 2009 - Windsor Parish Church

20 June 2009 - Billingshurst Leisure Centre

21 May 2009 - St Martin in the Fields, London

28 March 2009 - Chichester Cathedral

13 March 2009 - Clifton Cathedral, Bristol

8 December 2008 - Ottawa Cathedral

23 November 2008 - Grossmount College, California

15 November 2008 - Prichard Jones Hall, University of North Wales, Bangor; Monteverdi Singers, John Huw Davies - conductor, Maria Kesselman - soprano, The Will Todd Trio

9 November 2008 - Kings College Chapel, Taunton; Amici, John Cole - conductor, Bethany Halliday - soprano, The Will Todd Trio

25 October 2008 - Victoria Rooms, Bristol University

11 October 2008 - St Mark's Church, Broomhill, Sheffield; Sheffield Bach Choir, Peter Collis - conductor, Bethany Halliday - soprano, The Will Todd Jazz Ensemble

1 August 2008 - Canford Summer School of Music, Nigel Perrin - conductor, Bethany Halliday - soprano, The Will Todd Trio

27 June 2008 - Mondial Choral Festival, Montreal

9 June 2008 - Nottingham University

7 June 2008 - Barnfield Theatre, Exeter; Exeter Festival Choir, Nigel Perrin - conductor, Bethany Halliday - soprano, The Will Todd Trio

18 May 2008 - Blandford Parish Church; Bournemouth Sinfonietta Choir, David Gostick - conductor, Bethany Halliday - soprano, The Will Todd Trio

17 May 2008 - Hove Parish Church; Kingfisher Chorale, Giles Turner - conductor, Bethany Halliday - soprano

4 May 2008 - St David's Episcopal Church, DeWitt NY (USA); St David's Church Choir, Steven Seigart - conductor, Anne Shelley - soprano

8 March 2008 - Wakefield Cathedral; Yorkshire Philharmonic Choir, Bethany Halliday - soprano, Andrew Padmore - conductor

8 March 2008 - Royal Academy of Music; Junior Academy, Jonathan Willcocks - conductor

1 March 2008 - Leicester University; Kingfisher Chorale, Brian Humpherson Trio, Bethany Halliday - soprano, Giles Turner - conductor

23 February 2008 - Ladywood ARC, Birmingham

9 February 2008 - Snape Maltings; Britten Pears Chamber Choir, Will Todd Jazz Band, Bethany Halliday - soprano, Ralph Woodward - conductor

9 December 2007 - Durham Community Church, New Hampshire (US Premiere)

8 December 2007 - St Peter's Church, Buckingham; Buckingham Choral Society, Will Todd Trio soprano - Bethany Halliday, conductor - Michael Ridley

27 October 2007 - United Reformed Church Cambridge Will Todd Trio soprano - Bethany Halliday; conductor - Ralph Woodward

29 September 2007 - Putney River Festival

1 July 2007 - St Nicholas Church Guildford

23 June 2007 - Portsmouth Portsmouth Choral Union The Will Todd Trio soprano - Bethany Halliday; conductor - Jonathan Willcocks

19 May 2007 - Guildford Cathedral Vivace Chorus The Will Todd Jazz Band soprano - Bethany Halliday; conductor - Jeremy Backhouse

March 2007 - Cottenham Parish Church, Cambridge

26 September 2006 - St Martin in the Fields, London Vasari Singers The Will Todd Trio soprano - Bethany Halliday; conductor - Jeremy Backhouse

21 April 2006 - Monkstown Church, Dublin (Irish Premiere) John Dexter Harmony conductor - John Dexter

Saturday 19 November 2005 - Dorking Halls Dorking Choral Society, The Will Todd Trio conductor - Justin Doyle, soprano - Bethany Halliday

Saturday 12 November 2005 - St Mary's Church, Aylesbury Aylesbury Festival Choir, The Will Todd Trio conductor - Justin Doyle, soprano - Bethany Halliday

Sunday 16 October 2005 - Emmanuel United Reformed Church, Cambridge Fairhaven Singers of Cambridge, The Will Todd Trio conductor - Ralph Woodward; soprano - Bethany Halliday

Wednesday 16 March 2005 The Sage, Gateshead Durham County Youth Choir, Will Todd Trio conductor - Hilary Ions, soloist - Bethany Halliday

17 April 2004 - Durham Cathedral Hertfordshire Chorus, Durham Singers, Will Todd Trio, Durham Sinfonia conductor - David Temple, soloist - Bethany Halliday

25 April 2004 - Barbican, London Hertfordshire Chorus, Will Todd Trio, Aurelian Symphony Orchestra conductor - David Temple, soloist - Bethany Halliday

12 July 2003 - Cambridge Corn Exchange Hertfordshire Chorus, Blue Planet Orchestra conductor - David Temple, soloist - Bethany Halliday

Reviews
“[Will Todd] has a gift for melody and writes in an approachable style that has its roots firmly in the Anglican tradition. Here, we find him setting the ancient words of the mass to a vibrant jazz accompaniment and blues-style solos, with a panache that carries the listener along in its ever-changing soundscape.”

Neil Crutchley/ Leicester Mercury/ 2008

"...Todd's own Mass in Blue, an upbeat piece that really was uplifting. The choir ... sang with gusto, clearly enjoying the work's soaring lines and rich bluesy harmonies, and Halliday sounded free as a bird. Todd and his players were excellent throughout."

Tom Owen/ Sheffield Telegraph/ 2008

“Blending jazz and blues styles with largely well-written solid choral writing, the Mass in Blue wears its eclecticism lightly. Expression is the main priority, and Todd – who appears in the recording as the solo pianist – employs whatever style seems right for the text and the moment, rather than showing off his compositional virtuosity just for the sake of it. Nevertheless, I was pleasantly surprised by how structured the work is, considering its jazzy surface: the Mass is a legitimate entry into the choral repertoire. . . The music becomes more absorbing on every playing. Fans of high-quality choral singing should not miss the opportunity to grab this with both hands as soon as possible.”

Dominic McHugh / musicOMH.com / 2006

Vasari Singers Recording
“The music becomes more absorbing on every playing. Fans of high-quality choral singing should not miss the opportunity to grab this with both hands as soon as possible.”
Read entire review

Dominic McHugh/ musicOMH.com/ 2006

“Mass in Blue was undoubtedly the highlight of the evening: each movement was set appropriately to its content - gospel and blues for the Kyrie, lots of brass for the Gloria, a haunting ballad for the Agnus Dei, and a return to the upbeat Credo for a grand finale.”

Joss O’Kelly/ The Bucks Herald/ 2005

”Both instrumental and choral writing are complex and yet straightforward: instantly accessible but music that will not only stand the test of time but will grow with repeated listening.”
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Helen Wright/ musicOMH.com/ 2004

”Others have done similar things: notably Tippett in his oratorio A Child of Our Time and Bernstein's liberal use of jazz/blues idioms. But Todd is sufficiently his own man to do it his way.”
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Thomas Hall/ The Journal, Newcastly/ 2004

“Todd’s imaginitive score . . . electrifying.”

Jill Barlow/ The Watford Observer/ 2004