Luciano Simoni's Missa solemnis offers a Christocentric vision of human history, focusing on salvation through Jesus Christ, rather than a liturgical one.
Composition History
Luciano Simoni's Missa solemnis, lasting 1 hour and 20 minutes, was composed over many years, with parts written between 1962 and 1984.
Composer's Artistic Vision
The Missa solemnis aims to represent the anxieties and fears of contemporary mankind, with a constant tension towards salvation found in Christian hope.
Compositional Technique
The Missa solemnis makes massive use of polyphony in the choruses, with frequent fugato episodes, including the longest and most complex fugue in the Dona nobis pacem.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Luciano Simoni describes his Missa solemnis as a deeply felt work, written almost from dictation, in the frenzy of inspiration, stemming from an inward need as a believer.
Notable Performances
The Missa solemnis premiered on October 13, 1988, in Bologna, Italy, performed by the Teatro Comunale ensembles in the Basilica di S. Domenico.
Composition History
The Missa solemnis was dedicated to Pope John Paul II, and Luciano Simoni personally handed him a special copy of the score in 1987.
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