Kyrie (2010)

Scott Villard's Kyrie is a setting for SATB choir of the opening acclamations of the Mass. The text, traditionally sung in both Greek and Latin, forms a plea for mercy: "Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy." This short but profound invocation has been set by composers for centuries, from Gregorian chant to the polyphonic masters of the Renaissance and beyond. Villard’s contemporary approach to this ancient liturgical text offers a fresh perspective for choirs seeking engaging and spiritually resonant repertoire within the sacred music tradition.