For a cappella SATB Double Choir, with 2 x SA Soloists. (There is the option to double the solo parts, if necessary.)

(The eight main vocal lines are sometimes further divided for fullness of texture and motivic completeness.)

SATB Choir 1: 2xS, 2xA, 2xT, 2xB (8) = min.2 voices per line for divisi (SSAATTBB)* (stage left side) +

SATB Choir 2: 2xS, 2xA, 2xT, 2xB (8) = min.2 voices per line for divisi (SSAATTBB)* (stage right side) +

Gallery/Distant Soloists 1: 1xS + 1xA (2) (SA) (at a distance or in a gallery, and set antiphonally to:)

Gallery/Distant Soloists 2: 1xS + 1xA (2) (SA) (at a distance or in a gallery)

= 1. SSAATTBB + 2. SSAATTBB + 3. SA + 4. SA; or a minimum of 20 singers (24 if solo parts doubled): 6 (or 8) sopranos; 6 (or 8) altos; 4 tenors, 4 basses

(* But ideally at least double these forces: 16 per choir, or 32 for the two choirs + 4 soloists [the parts of which may be doubled to 8 singers] = 40 singers).

ABOUT THE MUSIC

This Gloria is a companion piece to Kyrie, Op.5 – both of which are part of a large-scale mass setting.

REVIEWS

'magnificently handled … radiant' – Colin Clarke, “Little, Woefully Arrayed …”, in Fanfare, Vol.41, No.2 (Nov./Dec. 2017) (USA)

'meticulous detail … complex and beautiful sound' – Dr. Andrew Shenton, BMus(Lond), MM(Yale), AM and PhD(Harvard), FRCO (ChM), LRAM, ARCM, DipRCM, Associate Professor of Music & James R. Houghton Scholar of Sacred Music, Boston University; Conductor and Director of the Boston Choral Ensemble (21st November, 2016) (USA)

'fantastically beautiful' – Daniel Coombs, “Jonathan David LITTLE: Sacred and Secular Choral & Polychoral Works”, in Audiophile Audition, August 1st, 2017 (USA)

'sonically impressive' – Infodad (6th July, 2017) (USA)

ALBUM AWARDS:

- WINNER (UK): "ENCORE CHORAL" AWARD: BBC Radio 3 / Royal Philharmonic Society

- RUNNER-UP (AUSTRALIA): "CHASS AUSTRALIA PRIZE for DISTINCTIVE WORK" 2018: Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (29th October 2018, Storey Hall, Melbourne)

- NOMINATION (USA): "BEST CLASSICAL MUSIC RECORDING":  RoundGlass Global Music Awards 2018 (26th January 2018, Edison Ballroom, New York)

TEXT

Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Et in terra pax
hominibus bonæ voluntatis.

Laudamus te; benedicimus te;
adoramus te; glorificamus te.
Gratias agimus tibi
propter magnam gloriam tuam.

Domine Deus, Rex coelestis,
Deus Pater omnipotens.
Domine Fili unigenite Jesu Christe.
Domine Deus, Agnus Dei,
Filius Patris.

Qui tollis peccata mundi,
miserere nobis.
Qui tollis peccata mundi,
suscipe deprecationem nostram.
Qui sedes ad dextram Patris,
O miserere nobis.

Quoniam tu solus Sanctus,
tu solus Dominus,
tu solus Altissimus, Jesu Christe.
Cum Sancto Spiritu
in gloria Dei Patris.

Amen

(DURATION: ca.10 to 11+ minutes)