Composer’s note: I am delighted that this my first setting of the Latin Mass was commissioned by Jack Wilson, Organist and Master of Music at Belfast Cathedral, alongside the Dean and Cathedral Board. My maternal grandparents were from southern Ireland and my mother grew up and went to school in Belfast. I have always embraced my Irish ancestry keenly and with pride so it was with joy that I accepted this commission. Melody is of paramount importance in all of my compositions and this piece is no exception. Here, I derive the main melodic theme from the word BELFAST: B and E form the distinctive and recurring descending 5th; L is represented by the note A, as in la from solfège (where C is the “fixed do”); F becomes F# in keeping with the E minor tonality; A becomes A# so as to distinguish it from the previous A§ and because ST in this instance stands for Semi-Tone, which is the interval between the A# and the B to which it ascends as the melody repeats. I enjoyed building the material for all of movements of the mass from this opening theme, first heard in the organ before the choir enters with the Kyrie. The only piece in which I have previously employed this idea of musical notes corresponding to letters of the alphabet is in The Mountains Shall Bring Peace, my coronation anthem for King Charles III, in which the word “King” is always sung on the note C for Charles. Kyrie - take care with intonation when presenting the main melodic ‘Belfast’ theme, in particular nice bright A#s!. Gloria - the outer sections of this movement should be performed as metronomically as possible in order to maximise the impact of the syncopations. Sanctus & Benedictus - close attention should be paid to the dynamic contrasts to prevent pp/ff from sounding like mp/mf. Agnus Dei - from b.200 until the end, each “pacem” in the soprano line is a plea for peace. This should begin softly and build in intensity until the climax in b.212. Today, as I write this composer’s note, Dame Sarah Mullally has been installed as the Archbishop of Canterbury, the first woman to hold the post. She will also be among the first people to hear my Missa Brevis which is being sung in Belfast Cathedral on July 4th 2026 in her presence.