Masses

The mass (Latin: missa), a form of sacred musical composition, is a choral composition that sets the invariable portions of the Eucharistic liturgy (principally that of the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion, and Lutheranism) to music. Most masses are settings of the liturgy in Latin, but there are a significant number written in the languages of non-Catholic countries where vernacular worship has long been the norm. Masses can be a cappella, that is, without an independent accompaniment, or they can be accompanied by instrumental lines up to a full orchestra. Many masses, especially later ones, were never intended to be performed during the celebration of an actual mass.