The work is dedicated to Robert Buttimore, a friend who died during the final months of composition in Autumn 1999. The Introit, Kyrie, Sanctus and Agnus Dei are all developed from the plainchant Introit. The Dies Irae is based on the traditional plainchant Dies Irae, and sets all 24 verses of the poem. Initially the plainchant is sung by the basses and alternating verses are embellished by the choir. Gradually the choir unravels and develops the plainchant until by the end of the piece, its presence is barely felt. The piece concludes with a re-statement of the final words 'Pie Jesu?' to the original plainchant. Whilst the full version of the mass was written primarily as a concert work, a shorter liturgical version is also available - Introit, Kyrie, Dies Irae, Offertory, Sanctus, Benedictus, Agnus Dei, Communion, In Paradisum. 'firmly anchored in the glorious polyphony of the English renaissance', John Humphries, BMS Newsletter