often repeat a single chord, evoking the reciting tone of Gregorian chant or the Orthodox liturgical chant that Stravinsky would have known from his childhood in Saint Petersburg. Clear setting of the text is favored over an expressive interpretation of its meaning, as is the tradition for conservative mass music. The music features examples of polyvalency. Faith Stravinsky chose to compose this Roman Catholic Mass despite his own Orthodox faith. He stated that this was because: “I wanted my Mass to be used liturgically, an outright impossibility as far as the Russian Church was concerned, as Orthodox tradition proscribes musical instruments in its services- and as I can endure unaccompanied singing in only the most harmonically primitive music.” Stravinsky also said of the Credo: “One composes a march to facilitate marching men, so with my Credo I hope to provide an aid to the text. The Credo is the longest movement. There is much to believe.” Recordings Below is a list of recordings—ordered alphabetically by conductor—of the Mass as of 2016. Ančerl, Karel, dir. 1967 (re-released 2004). Stravinsky: Les Noces/Mass/Cantata, from Ančerl Gold Edition 32. Czech Philharmonic Orchestra & Prague Philharmonic Choir. Supraphon 3692, CD. Bernstein, Leonard, dir. 1988. Stravinsky: Les Noces/Mass. English Bach Festival Chorus & Orchestra, and the Trinity Boys Choir. Deutsche Grammophon 20th Century Classics ADD 0289-423-2512-8-GC, compact disc. Craft, Robert, dir. 2006. Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms/Three Russian Sacred Choruses/Mass/Cantata/Babel. The Gregg Smith Singers, Orchestra of St. Luke, and Philharmonia Orchestra. Naxos 8.557504, compact disc. Davis, Colin, dir. 1963 (re-released 2007). Stravinsky: Cantata/Mass. English Chamber Orchestra, and St. Anthony Singers. Deutsche Grammophon ADD 0289-475-8716-3-DH, compact disc. Ferguson, Duncan, dir. 2016. Stravinsky: Choral Works. Choir of St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh. Delphian Records Ltd DCD34164, compact disc. Herreweghe, Philippe, dir. 2010. Igor Stravinsky: Monumentum/Mass/Symphonie de Psaumes, J.S. Bach/Stravinsky: Choral-Variationen. Collegium Vocale Gent, and the Royal Flemish Philharmonic. Pentatone Classics PTC 5186349, compact disc. Higginbottom, Edward, dir. 2005. Twentieth Century Masters · Volume 3: Copland and His American Contemporaries. Choir of New College Oxford and instrumentalists. Avie AV2086, compact disc. Leeuw, Reinbert de, dir. 1999. Stravinsky: Sacred Choral Works. Netherlands Chamber Choir, and the Schönberg Ensemble. Philips 454477, compact disc. Marlow, Richard, dir. 1995. Stravinsky: Mass & Gesualdo: Responsoria. The Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge, London Musici. Conifer 51232, compact disc. O’Donnell, James, dir. 1993. Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms/Mass/Canticum Sacrum. The Choir of Westminster Cathedral, and City of London Sinfonia.