20th Century Folk Mass

After about 1955, British hymnody ran into troubled waters, stirred in part by the emergence of the 20th Century Church Light Music Group. Founded by Geoffrey Beaumont (1904-1971), who in 1956 published the 20th Century Folk Mass (sometimes called the "Jazz Mass"), this group of lay musicians produced tunes in various secular styles in the hope of popularizing the singing of familiar hymns for the evangelizing the youth. Causing a shock wave in some church music circles, Beaumont deliberately wrote in the "big tune" style of the Broadway musical and succeeded in having two of his best tunes published in a standard Hymnal -- The Baptist Hymn Book (1962), a comprehensive and eclectic collection after the manner of Congregational Praise. Its chief claim to distinction may be its inclusion of Beaumont's CHESTERTON to H.W. Baker's "Lord, thy word abideth," and his GRACIAS to "Now thank we all our God" (Rinkart-Winkworth).

[From Sing with Understanding, by Harry Eskew and Hugh McElrath (Nashville: Church Street Press, 2nd edition, 1995, pp. 160-165.]

Geoffrey Beaumont (1904-1971) wrote songs for the "Foot-lights" reviews while an undergraduate at Cambirdge University. After qualifying as a solicitor he discovered his vocation and in 1932 he was ordained. During the war he served as a chaplain with the Royal Marines. It was while Fr. Beaumont was chaplain to Trinity College, Cambridge, the he began working seriously on the 20th Century Folk Mass. He spent four years as chaplain to the British embassy in Madrid, returning in the spring of 1957 to become vicar of St. George's, Camberwell.

[From the liner notes, 20th Century Folk Mass, Fiesta Record Company, Inc., 1619 Broadway, New York, NY]

Frank Weir conducted the orchestra for the recording of the Folk Mass. He was one of Britain's most popular conductors of "light music" in Britain. Peter Knight orchestrated the Mass for his Singers and Frank Weir's 45 piece orchestra

Here's the individual pieces from the Mass:

Recorded May 25, 1957 in England by Frank Weir and his Concert Orchestra with The Peter Knight Singers. Cantor: Charles Young. Printed and Packaged by GEM Alums, Inc., NY

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