Mass
(mas)

The liturgy of the Eucharist, the central service of the Roman Catholic Church. In the middle ages, the Mass was chanted and was one of the chief sources of music of that period that survive to the present. Many composers throughout European history have set the Mass to music from the early middle ages up through the present time. There are two major categories of the items of the Mass, the Proper, or the texts that are variable, and the Ordinary, or the fixed texts. The items of the Mass are as follows:
  Introit
Kyrie eleison Kyrie eleison
Gloria in excelsis Deo Gloria in excelsis Deo
  Gradual
  Alleluia Sequence
Credo Credo
  Offertory
Sanctus Benedictus Sanctus Benedictus
Agnus Dei Agnus Dei
  Communion
Ite missa est Ite missa est

SUGGESTED LISTENING EXAMPLES:

Mass in Gregorian chant:
Gregorian Chant: Whitsunday Mass, "Alleluia, Emitte spiritum"
W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank -- Disc 2, Track 37

Mass, Renaissance:
Palestrina: Missa in Festis Apostolorum I, "Agnus Dei"

W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank -- Disc 2, Track 42
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