Mass in Blue

Will Todd's Mass in Blue is a dynamic, uplifting, and highly popular jazz setting of the Latin mass. The work features driving grooves and blues harmonies, with provision for short piano solos (notated or improvised) and great moments of musical interplay between soprano soloist and choir. The Jazz Trio Set includes parts for piano (with chord symbols), bass (with chord symbols), drum kit (fully notated), and optional alto saxophone.

Mass in Blue came into being as the result of a commission from David Temple and Hertfordshire Chorus in 2003. Musically, it represents a conscious collision of two musical genres which have been a central part of my artistic life for many years: sacred choral music and jazz. It was somewhat daunting to set the Latin mass, so familiar to me from having sung the great settings by Byrd, Haydn, and others, and it took me a while to find my way into the piece and work out what I wanted to say: in the end, plainsong and the 12-bar blues showed me the way forward. I also incorporated several features of Gospel singing: improvisatory solos, choral textures that veer between unison and much richer harmonies, and call-and-response patterns. Since its first performance in 2003 I have been thrilled and gratified to see it take flight and be performed all over the UK and, increasingly, further afield. Its dissemination has certainly been aided by the economic option of the version for jazz trio which was pioneered in Cambridge by my colleague Ralph Woodward and the Fairhaven Singers. I have experienced the piece in a wide variety of guises and venues, sung by choirs of many different types, and I must admit that it still excites me every timeI hope you enjoy it too.

Rhythm section players should feel free to use the chord symbols and to add and improvise texture around the parts.