Gloria, Old Hall 6

This Gloria setting, from the Old Hall manuscript, is a substantial setting of the Mass Ordinary text, suitable for a major feast day or celebration. The composer is anonymous, but the style suggests a date in the early 15th century. The three-part setting for countertenor, tenor, and bass (ATT) is typical of the period, offering a rich, sonorous texture. The Latin text, beginning "Gloria in excelsis Deo", moves from the heavenly praise of the angels to a more personal supplication, "miserere nobis", before concluding with a powerful affirmation of the Trinity. The structure is cohesive, with the "Qui tollis" and "Qui sedes" sections offering moments of profound reflection within the overall exultation.