Composed by Gabriel Fauré and André Messager during their holidays in Villerville in 1881, Fishermen Mass in Villerville is a mass dedicated to the fishermen of this city located in Normandy. Initially for Female choir, Harmonium and solo Violin, it was arranged by the authors in 1882 for Female choir and Chamber Orchestra. These scores, based on the two manuscripts, are the arranged version for Female choir and Piano by Odette Gartenlaub. Written in Latin, this mass features five parts which had been distributed in-between the two composers:
1. Kyrie – Messager,
2. Gloria – Fauré,
3. Sanctus – Fauré,
4. O Salutaris (motet) – Messager,
5. Agnus Dei – Fauré.
This mass is really soft, melodious and delicate, reminding sometimes of the motets by Gounod.
