Charles Pons

Messe brève

The circle of students of the French masters Guilmant and Widor certainly suggests some musical characteristics: high conciseness, mastery of form, noble melody, indulgent harmony and, despite all this, always guaranteed practicality. The present Messe brève for two equal voices and organ by the cathedral organist of Nice, Charles Pons, which has been out of print for a long time, also fulfils these criteria to a large extent. The winning work, which stands on the threshold of Romanticism to moderate modernism, offers the choir no difficulties and represents a worthwhile rediscovery with which the liturgy can be stylishly enriched even in small ensembles or with only limited preparation time.