Jacob Bancks has written a beautiful Mass setting based on the new Missal texts, one that also works well in Latin. In this way, it help a parish transition toward the Latin. It is also a lovely work in English. I’m especially touched and encouraged by his method of distribution here: he has published this into the commons with no restrictions, which means that it is a free gift to the whole Church.
His site provides complete music downloads as well as recordings. See The Mass of the Most Sacred Heart. Bancks is finishing his PhD in music at the University of Chicago.
I am normally skittish as a squirrel about new settings, but I took a chance on this. And I was so pleasantly surprised! Definitely worth a listen – and I hope it finds many parishes in which it can replace existing Mass settings.
We need more options like this; a wonderful gift to the church; free from the restraints of the copyright-royalty cartel. Very well put together with the recordings, printable file formats and nice artwork from Daniel Mitsui.
Thanks for this resource; a nice upgrade over the standard fare.
Jeffrey,
I have read your compelling article "Creative Commons for Catholics" and have been following your advocacy for reform in the publication of sacred music. Will you please comment on the manner in which Jacob Bancks has published his Mass "into the commons?" I notice on the scores traditional copyright notices, and that permission for reprinting, use, and so on, is given via notice on his website (which I assume doesn't mean the same thing as an irrevocable Creative Commons license). Also, what general permission has ICEL given to publish its text for the Mass into the commons in such a setting? I am earnest in these questions, because your case for the Creative Commons has led me to the brink of conversion.
Jacob has chosen the equivalent of the
http://creativecommons.org/choose/results-one?license_code=by-nc-nd
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License
I don't see the need for such restrictions – composers of the Renaissance hoped for and welcomed derivative works in their own time, all the better if they came as a delightful surprise – but Jacob has nonetheless chosen a progressive path here. He deserves every congratulations. My own preference is for CC-A with no restrictions on commerce. The reason for this is that if someone can specialize in printing and marketing a work, that's all to the good and great for the composer toward achieving a reputation and name, building up personal capital. It also helps spread the art and (in this case) the gospel.
Thank you for this clarification, and I do congratulate Jacob for his chosen path. I see your point about no commerce restrictions.
How about the question of publishing the ICEL Mass translation:
http://www.icelweb.org/copyright.htm
It seems to me that there still could be some snags here concerning ICEL's policies of text approval, permissions and royalties.
Jeffrey & Kevin,
Jacob's licence terms don't preclude commercial use of his work; they do give him the opportunity to exercise judgement in the matter.
There may, for example, be publishers with whom he would not wish to be associated.
Looking for a mass setting for the New Translation, I was led to Jacob Banck's Mass of the Most Sacred Heart for my small parish in Dorset, England. There has been universal acceptance of it as a most singable – and memorable – mass setting. It is currently being tested in a variety of parishes in the Plymouth Diocese – and at least one in Edinburgh. Great work!