Bringing Bristow’s Mass in C to life is the work of director Bailey. Intrigued by its artistic and emotional strengths, Bailey completed the first modern printed edition of the Mass as part of his doctoral dissertation. Prior to Bailey’s work, except for the Kyrie, the piece existed only in manuscript form. Because there is no evidence that the work was ever performed in its entirety, the Choral Arts performance will most certainly be the world premiere of the complete Mass. The Mass will be performed with organ accompaniment. At 7:30 p.m. there will be a pre-performance talk on composer Bristow and his influence on American classical music.

The Mass is the work of a composer who “shows a command of compositional craft and an understanding of the voice,” says Bailey. Filled with phrasing and movements that are alternately lush and romantic as well as energetic and robust, the Mass will certainly have its audience wondering why it took so long for this nineteenth-century work to be given as a gift to performers and audience.