John Sheppard (composer) - Masses

Masses

Of Sheppard’s five surviving Mass ordinary cycles, the Missa Cantate (a6) is a full-length, sumptuous festal setting in the tradition of John Taverner, constructed in units of six-part polyphony alternating with a mosaic of semi-choir sections. The principal unifying device, apart from the head-motive passages at the beginning of each movement, is the eight-note figure F-E-F-G-A-Bb-G-F, which occurs in the tenor at various points. Of the four four-part Mass cycles, The Western Wind is based on a derived popular melody which also formed the basis of Mass cycles by John Taverner and Christopher Tye. In Sheppard’s setting the melody migrates between the treble and the tenor. Two other cycles, Be not afraid and The Frences Mass, are both elaborately contrapuntal and freely constructed, the first being scored for men’s voices. The Plainsong Mass for a Mean is a much simpler work. Written in the simplified notation known as ‘strene’ it follows in the tradition of a setting in similar style by Taverner. It includes a Kyrie (unlike most Sarum Mass cycles) and uses alternatim technique, with alternating sections in chant and polyphony.