Sarum Kyrie eleison. No. 7.

VII. Cunctipotens Genitor Deus Omnicreator

Almighty King, God, creator of all things, have mercy on us.

Fountain and source of all good, light everlasting, have mercy on us.

Good ruler, let your loving-kindness save us, and have mercy on us.

Christ, the brightness of God, the strength and wisdom of the Father, have mercy on us.

You made humanity in your image, and you restored us when we fell, have mercy on us.

Do not condemn the work of your hands, Jesus, have mercy on us.

Holy Spirit of the Father and the Son, the bond of love, have mercy on us.

Kindling fire, proceeding from the Father and the Son, fountain of life, purifying force, have mercy on us.

Purger of sin, most excellent bestower of pardon,
blot out our offences, enlighten us with your holy gifts,
O gracious Spirit, have mercy on us.

Source: The Sarum Missal in English, Part II, Alcuin Club Collections, No. XI

Original (or variant text) in Latin:

Cunctipotens genitor deus omnicreator eleyson.
Fons et origo boni, pie, luxque perhennis eleyson.
Saluificet pietas tua nos, bone rector, eleyson.
Christe dei splendor, uirtus, patrisque sophia eleyson.
Plasmatis humani factor lapsi reparator eleyson.
Ne tua damnetur iesu factura benigne eleyson.
Amborum sacrum spiramen, nexus amorque, eleyson.
Procedens fomes uitę fons sensificans uis, eleyson.
Purgator culpę ueniae largitor pie.
Offensas dele sancto nos munere reple Spiritus alme eleyson.

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Sarum Kyrie eleison. No. 6.

VI. Lux et Origo
On Holy Cross Day especially.

O Light, source of the highest light, God over all, have mercy on us. 

All things came to be at your command, have mercy on us.

You alone can have mercy, have mercy on us.

Redeemer of humanity and our salvation, have mercy on us.

By your cross you redeemed us from everlasting death, have mercy on us.

You are the Word of the Father, the author of mercy, and the Light of truth, have mercy on us.

O Counselor, Holy Spirit, God, have mercy on us.

You are our compassionate physician, have mercy on us.

O Holy Trinity and unity, always, have mercy on us.

Source: The Sarum Missal in English, Part II, Alcuin Club Collections, No. XI

A variant text has this in place of the last three petitions above:

O Adonai, Lord God, just Judge, have mercy.
Who governest the engine of things, O nurturing Father, have mercy.
Whom alone becometh praise and honour, now and always, have mercy.

Original in Latin:

Lux et origo lucis summę deus eleyson.
In cuius nutu constant cuncta clemens eleyson.
Qui solus potes misereri nobis eleyson.
O mundi redemptor cunctorum et factor nostri christe eleyson.
Per crucem redemptis a morte perhenni rex pie christe eleyson.
Qui es uerbum patris salus et humana lux uera christe eleyson.
Adonay domine deus iuste iudex eleyson.
Qui machinam gubernas rerum alme pater eleyson.
Quem solum laus et honor decet nunc et semper eleyson.

Original in Latin, with Gregorian notation:

Trope - Lux et origo

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Sarum Kyrie eleison. No. 5.

V. Kyrie Rex Splendens Celi Arce Salue 
On the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels especially.

Lord, King of glory in the fortress of heaven, hail forevermore, and in your loving-kindness, have mercy on us.

The chanting hosts of cherubim proclaim your praise continually, have mercy on us.

The companies of seraphim on high shout to each other in your praise, have mercy on us.

Christ, King enthroned on high, whom the ranks of the angels sing in endless praise, have mercy on us.

Christ, whom the one only Church throughout the whole world sings out, sun and moon, stars, earth, sea: and to whom they evermore do service, have mercy on us.

All the saints, heirs of the glorious eternal kingdom, triumphantly proclaim you in noble strains, have mercy on us.

Gracious offspring of the loving virgin Mary, King of kings, blessed Redeemer, you ransomed us from the power of death by your own blood, have mercy on us.

Most illustrious, unbegotten,  begotten already without beginning, and without effort excelling all things, have mercy on us.

Sun of brilliant glory, dispenser of justice, when you judge all nations, we earnestly pray, in pity, have mercy on us.

Source: The Sarum Missal in English, Part II, Alcuin Club Collections, No. XI

Original in Latin:

Kyrie rex  splendens celi arce salue iugiter et clemens plebi tue semper
ymnidice quem turme cherubin laude perhenniter proclamant incessanter nobis eleyson.
Insigniter caterue precelse et quibus seraphin respondent te  laudantes nostri eleyson.
Christe rex altithrone ordines angelorum nouem quem laudant incessanter pulchre dignare seruis tuis semper eleyson .
Christe quem toto orbe unica ecclesia ymnizat sol et luna astra tellus mare cui et famulantur semper eleyson. ‘
Ipsi idem inclite patrie perpetue heredes sancti omnes digno carmine pro clamant quem ouanter nobis eleyson.
Virginis pie marie o alma proles rex regum benedicte redemptor cruore mercatis  proprio mortis ex potestate semper eleyson .
Insignissime ingenite o genite origine iam expers et fine uirtute excellens omniacaterue huic tue clemens eleyson.
acaterue huic tue clemens eleyson.
Limpidissime glorie sol iusticie arbiter omnes gentes districte dum iudices turme obnixe precamur nunc astanti clemens eleyson.

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Sarum Kyrie eleison. No. 4

IV. Kyrie omnipotens pater ingenite

Lord, almighty Father, unbegotten, have mercy on us.

Lord, by your own Son you redeemed the work of your hands, have mercy on us.

Lord, Adonai, blot out our sins,  have mercy on us.

Christ, brightness of the glory of the Father, and the express image of his person, have mercy on us.

Christ, by command of the Father, you saved the world, have mercy on us.

Christ, salvation of all and the eternal life of the angels, have mercy on us.

Lord, the Spirit, the Counselor, bestower of pardon, have mercy on us.

Lord, fountain of mercy and of sevenfold grace, have mercy on us.

Lord, most merciful forgiver, proceeding from both the Father, and the Son,  have mercy on us.

Most bountiful giver of gifts, teacher, quickener, compassionate, have mercy on us.

Source: The Sarum Missal in English, Part II, Alcuin Club Collections, No. XI

Original in Latin:

Kyrie omnipotens pater ingenite nobis miseris eleyson.
Kyrie qui proprio plasma tuum filio redemisti eleyson.
Kyrrie adonay nostra dele crimina plebique tue eleyson.
Christe splendor glorie patrisque figura substancie eleyson.
Christe patris qui mundum precepto saluasti nobis eleyson .
Christe salus hominum uitaque eterna angelorum eleyson .
Kyrrie spiritus paraclite largitor uenie nobis eleyson.
Kyrrie fons misericordie septiformis gracie eleyson.
Kirrye indultor piissime procedens ab utroque.
Carismatum dator largissime doctor uiuifice clemens eleyson. eleyson.

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Sarum Kyrie eleison. No. 3.

III. Kyrie, Fons Bonitatis
On the Epiphany, Whitsun (Pentecost) Day especially.

O Lord, fountain of goodness, Father unbegotten, from whom all good things come, have mercy on us.

O Lord, you sent your Son to suffer for the sins of the world that he might save it, have mercy on us.

O Lord, you bestow the sevenfold gifts of the Spirit, by whom heaven and earth are filled, have mercy on us.

O Christ, the only-begotten of God the Father, whom the holy prophets wondrously foretold to be born into the world of a virgin, have mercy on us.

O holy Christ, Lord of heaven, theme of glorious song, before whom the highest angels ever stand, chanting the praise of your divinity, have mercy on us.

O Christ, from heaven accept our prayers. We devoutly and humbly worship you on earth, calling to you, gentle Jesus, have mercy on us.

O Lord, gracious Spirit, in union with the Father and the Son, consisting of one nature, proceeding from both, have mercy on us.

O Lord, who appeared in the form of a dove when Christ was baptized in the water of Jordan, have mercy on us.

O Lord, fire divine, kindle our hearts that we may proclaim you, have mercy on us. 

Source: The Sarum Missal in English, Part II, Alcuin Club Collections, No. XI

Original in Latin:

Kyrie, fons bonitatis, Pater ingenite a quo bona cuncta procedunt, eleison.
Kyrie, qui pati natum mundi pro crimine, ipsum ut salvaret, misisti, eleison.
Kyrie, qui septiformis dans dona pneumatis, a quo cælum, terra replentur, eleison.

Christe, unice Dei Patris genite, quem de Virgine nasciturum mundo mirifice sancti predixerunt prophetæ, eleison.
Christe hagie, cæli compos regiæ, melos gloriæ cui semper astans pro numine angelorum decantat apex, eleison.
Christe cælitus, adsis nostris precibus, pronis mentibus quem in terris devote colimus, ad te pie Iesu clamamus, eleison.

Kyrie, spiritus alme, cohærens Patri natoque, unius usiæ consistendo, flans ab utroque, eleison.
Kyrie, qui baptizato in Iordanis unda Christo, effulgens specie columbina apparuisti, eleison.
Kyrie, ignis divine, pectora nostra succende, ut digni pariter decantare possimus semper, eleison.

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Sarum Kyrie eleison. No. 2

II. Kyrie,  Rex Genitor Ingenite
On all other double Feasts.

Lord, King, Father unbegotten, true Being, have mercy on us.

Lord, fountain of light and maker of all things, have mercy on us.

Lord, you sealed us with the form of your image, have mercy on us.

Christ, in the form of God, partaker of our human nature, have mercy on us.

Christ, the rising dawn, by whom all things were made, have mercy on us.

Christ, perfect Wisdom, have mercy on us.

Lord, quickening Spirit, power of life, have mercy on us.

Lord, proceeding from both the Father and the Son, in whom are all things, have mercy on us.

Lord, the cleanser of iniquities and bestower of grace, have mercy on us.

Lord, on account of our offenses, do not leave us, have mercy on us.

Comforter of the sorrowing soul, have mercy on us.

Source: The Sarum Missal in English, Part II, Alcuin Club Collections, No. XI

Original in Latin:

Kirrie rex genitor ingenite uera essentia eleyson.
Kirrie luminis fons et rerum conditor eleyson .
Kirrie qui nos tuę imaginis signasti specie eleyson.
Christe lux oriens per quem sunt omnia eleyson.
Christe qui perfecta es sapientia eleyson.
Christe dei forma humane particeps eleyson.
Kirrie spiritus uiuifice uitę uis eleyson.
Kirrie utriusque uapor in quo cuncta’ eleyson.
Kirrie expurgator scelerum et largitor gratie
Petimus: propter nostras offensas noli nos relinquere
O consolator dolentis anime eleyson,

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Sarum Kyrie eleison. No. 1.

I. Pater Creator Omnium
On all principal Feasts.

God, Creator of all things, our God, in your pity, have mercy on us.

To you, Christ, King of kings, rejoicing in praise together, we pray, have mercy on us.

To you belongs praise, virtue, peace, and dominion forever and ever, have mercy on us.

Christ, our only king, co-eternal Son of the gracious Father, have mercy on us.

You saved lost humanity, restoring all from death to life, have mercy on us.

Jesus, good Shepherd, so the sheep of your pasture will not perish, have mercy on us.

Spirit, Comforter, we your people pray, have mercy on us.

Lord, our strength and our eternal salvation, have mercy on us.

Supreme and one God, mercifully grant us the gifts of life, and in your kindness, have mercy on us.

Source: The Sarum Missal in English, Part II, Alcuin Club Collections, No. XI,11th-15th centuries

Original (or similar text) in Latin:
Pater creator omnium tu theos ymon nostri pie eleyson .
Tibi laudes coniubilantes regum rex pie orainus te eleyson.
Laus uirtus pax et imperium cui est semper sine fine eleyson .
Christe rex unice patris almi nate coeternęt eleyson.
Qui perditum hominem saluasti de morte reddens uitę eleyson.
Ne pereant pascue oues tuę ihesu pastor bone eleyson .
Kirri soter agye supplices imas te exoramus eleyson.
Uirtus nostra domine atque salus uera in eternum eleyson.
Trine deus et une uite donat nobis tribue misertus nostrique tu digneris eleyson.

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Confession and Prayer for Forgiveness

O Lord, O King,
magnificent in the stronghold of heaven,
always worthy of praise.
In your grace for your people:
have mercy.

Lord,
to whom the hosts of cherubim sing in endless praise:
have mercy.

Lord,
the heavenly armies sing high praise to you,
and the seraphim reply to them:
have mercy.

O Christ,
enthroned as King above,
whom all orders of angels in their beauty praise without ceasing,
on us, your servants, always:
have mercy.

O Christ,
your Church throughout the world sings to you.
The sun, the moon, and stars, the land and sea, always serve you:
have mercy.

O Christ,
your saints, the heirs of the eternal country,
one and all with utter joy proclaim you in a most worthy strain:
have mercy.

O Lord,
O gentle Son of Mary,
O King of Kings,
blessed Redeemer,
on those you have ransomed from the power of death
by your own blood:
have mercy.

O noblest unbegotten, yet begotten Son,
having no beginning of age,
yet excelling all things,
on this your congregation in your pity:
have mercy.

O Sun of Righteousness,
in all unclouded glory,
supreme dispenser of justice,
in that great day when you will come to be our judge,
on this your people, who here stand before your presence,
in your pity:
Lord, then have mercy on us. Amen.

Source: Dunstan of Canterbury
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.

Adapted to be a Christmas Kyrie:

O Lord, O King,
magnificent in the stronghold of heaven,
always worthy of praise.
Be gracious to us, your people.
Lord, have mercy.

O Christ, enthroned as King above,
whom all orders of angels in their beauty praise without ceasing,
Be gracious to us, your servants.
Lord, have mercy.

O Christ, your Church throughout the world sings to you.
The sun, the moon, and stars, the land and sea, always serve you.
Be gracious to us, your creatures.
Lord, have mercy.

O Lord, gentle Son of Mary, King of Kings, blessed Redeemer,
be gracious to those you have ransomed from death by your own blood.
Lord, have mercy.

O noblest eternal, yet begotten Son,
having no beginning of age, yet excelling all things,
Be gracious to us, your congregation.
Lord, have mercy. Amen.

Service Builder element link: https://builder.christianworship.com/share/XFBI9d_b

The Litany of Gelasius

Gelasius was the bishop of Rome (or Pope) from 492-496, and is best known for his Gelasian Sacramentarythe second oldest known book of Christian liturgy. 

Hear us, Lord, and have mercy.

With every confidence
we call on the Father of the Only-Begotten,
the Son of the eternal Father,
and our Lord the Holy Spirit.
Lord, have mercy.

For the Church of the living God
everywhere throughout the world,
we appeal to the God who is rich in goodness.
Lord, have mercy.

For the servants of God
who stand at his sacred altar
and for all people who worship the true God,
we offer our prayers to Christ the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For those who preach the Word of truth as they ought,
we pray with special earnestness to God’s Word
who was made flesh for his infinite wisdom.
Lord, have mercy.

For all who keep themselves pure in soul and body
for the sake of the kingdom of heaven,
who spend themselves in God’s service,
we implore the Giver of spiritual gifts.
Lord, have mercy.

For Christians in public office
who labor for justice and equity,
we pray to the omnipotent God.
Lord, have mercy.

For mild and pleasant weather,
for rain at the time it is needed,
for healthy and gentle winds
and for the seasons to follow one another to our advantage,
we pray to the Ruler of the universe.
Lord, have mercy.

For those who have acquired some knowledge of Christianity
and the desire to grow in God’s heavenly grace,
we beg the all-powerful God to show his mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

For those afflicted by the frailty and weakness of human nature,
we ask our Redeemer’s mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

For those who are forced to live abroad,
those persecuted by rulers who wield their power unjustly,
and those harassed by enemies,
we pray to our Lord and Savior.
Lord, have mercy.

For those deceived by false teaching and crooked reasoning,
and for those sunk in superstition,
we make our prayer to the God of truth.
Lord, have mercy.

For those whose faith moves them to help the poor in their needs,
we pray to the Lord to show his great mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

For all who enter the doors of this holy house,
and for those assembled here now in humble devotion,
we offer our prayers to the Lord in his glory.
Lord, have mercy.

For the cleansing of our bodies and souls
and the forgiveness of all our sins,
we pray to the God of boundless compassion.
Lord, have mercy.

In remembrance of all the faithful,
especially those ministers of the Lord who have served this church,
we give thanks to the Lord of the spirits and Judge of all flesh.
Thanks be to God.

Bodies dead to sin and souls alive by faith:
Grant us, O Lord.

Holy fear and true love:
Grant us, O Lord.

Lives that please you, deaths that cling to you:
Grant us, O Lord.

Brothers and sisters in the faith to console us,
angels to carry us to peace:
Grant us, O Lord.

Our lives and all that we have we owe to the Lord.
He gave them, he increased them,
he gives us the means to sustain them.
To his mercy and providence we commend ourselves.
Lord, have mercy. Amen.

Source: Unknown. Included in a handout at a past WELS National Worship Conference, “Being General in the General Prayer.” Modified and edited. The petition “In remembrance…” is modified to be a thanksgiving in remembrance of the faithful departed.

Note: There are several versions of the Litany of Pope Gelasius. The one presented here was chosen for A Collection of Prayers because it is the longest and most complete in its petitions when compared with the original below. Other versions of the Litany of Pope Gelasius can be viewed at these links below:

Original in Latin:

DEPRECATIO QUAM PAPA GELASIUS PRO UNIVERSALI ECCLESIA CONSTITUIT CANENDAM ESSE

Dicamus omnes: Domine exaudi et miserere

Patrem Unigeniti et Dei Filium Genitoris ingeniti et Sanctum Deum Spiritum fidelibus animis invocamus — Kyrie eleison

I — Pro immaculata Dei vivi ecclesia, per totum orbem constituta divinae bonitatis opulentiam deprecamur — Kyrie eleison

II — Pro sanctis Dei magni sacerdotibus et ministris sacri altaris cunctisque Deum verum colentibus populis Christum Dominum supplicamus — Kyrie eleison

III — Pro universis rette tractantibus verbum veritatis multiformem Verbi Dei sapien­tiam peculiariter obsecramus — Kyrie eleison

IV — Pro his qui se mente et corpore propter caelorum regna castificant, et spiritalium labore desudant, largitorem spiritalium munerum obsecramus — Kyrie eleison

V — Pro religiosis principibus omnique militia eorum, qui iustitiam et rectum iudicium diligunt, Domini potentiam obsecramus — Kyrie eleison

VI — Pro iucunditate serenitatis et opportunitate pluviae atque aurarum vitalium blan­dimentis ac diversorum temporum prospero cursu rectorem mundi Dominum depre­camur — Kyrie eleison

VII — Pro his quos prima christiani nominis initiavit agnitio, quos iam desiderium gratiae caelestis accendit, omnipotentis Dei misericordiam obsecramus — Kyrie eleison

VIII — Pro his quos humanae infirmitatis fragilitas, et quos nequitiae spiritalis invidia, vel varius saeculi error involvit, Redemptoris nostri misericordiam imploramus — Kyrie eleison

IX — Pro his, quos peregrinationis necessitar, aut iniquae potestatis oppressio vel hostilitatis vexat aerumna, Salvatorem Dominum supplicamus — Kyrie eleison

X — Pro iudaica falsitate… aut haeretica pravitate deceptis vel gentilium superstitione perfusis veritatis Dominum deprecamur — Kyrie eleison

XI — Pro operariis pietatis et his, qui necessitatibus laborantum fraterna caritate subve­niunt, misericordiarum Dominum deprecamur — Kyrie eleison

XII — Pro omnibus intrantibus in haec sanctae domus Domini atria, qui religioso corde et supplici, devotione convenerunt, Dominum gloriae deprecamur — Kyrie eleison

XIII — Pro emundatione animarum corporumque nostrorum, et omnium venia peccatorum clementissimum Dominum supplicamus — Kyrie eleison

XIV — Pro refrigerio fidelium animarum, praecipue sanctorum Domini sacerdotum, qui huic ecclesiae praefuerunt catholicae, Dominum spirituum et universae carnis iudi­cem deprecamur — Kyrie eleison

XV — Mortificatam vitiis carnera et viventem fide animam — praesta, Domine, praesta

XVI — Castum timorem et veram dilectionem — praesta, Domine, praesta

XVII — Gratum vitae ordinem et probabilem exitum — praesta, Domine, praesta

XVIII — Angelum pacis et solatia sanctorum — praesta, Domine, praesta.

Nosmetipsos et omnia nostra, quae orto quae aucta per Dominum ipso auctore suscipimus, ipso custode retinemus, ipsiusque misericordiae et arbitrio providentiae commendamus

— Domine miserere.

 

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Kyrie, Eleison / Lord, Have Mercy

Kyrie eleison (KI-ree-ay ay-LAY-ee-zonn) or “Lord, have mercy” is a short prayer that is important in Christian worship. It is a prayer from the heart about human need. God owes us nothing. Everything he gives comes from his mercy. 

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Original in Greek:

Κύριε, ἐλέησον.
Χριστέ, ἐλέησον.
Κύριε, ἐλέησον.

Greek transliterated:

Kyrie eleison.
Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison.

Some worship traditions translate Kyrie eleison as “Lord, have mercy.” Some leave it untranslated as is done for words like “Amen” and “Alleluia.”

Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison are the first words in the main part of the Divine Service, either as a cry of repentance or as a prayer for God’s mercy in all aspects of life.

Kyrie eleison Deutsches Messe
Kyrie eleison, found in Evangelisches Gesangbuch für Rheinland und Westfalen, 1902. It was taken from Luther’s Deutsches Messe.
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The Threefold Kyrie, tune from Luther’s German Mass with English Text. Book of Hymns (WELS, 1920, 1931)

The second use, as a prayer for God’s mercy in all aspects of life, often includes Kyrie eleison or” Lord, have mercy” as a response in a litany that brings the requests for the Lord to have mercy.  The Kyrie as a deacon’s litany or troped Kyrie also has a long history, and is the original use of the Kyrie in the divine service.

See the Kyrie of Dunstan.

The following troped Kyrie litanies are from the Sarum Missal.

I. Pater Creator Omnium (God, creator of all things, our God)

II. Kyrie, Rex genitor ingenite (Lord, King, Father unbegotten, true Being)

III. Kyrie, Fons Bonitatis (Lord, fountain of all goodness)

IV. Kyrie omnipotens pater ingenite (Lord, almighty Father, unbegotten)

V. Kyrie Rex Splendens Celi Arce Salue (Lord, King of glory in the fortress of heaven)

VI. Lux et Origo (Light, source of the highest light)

VII. Cunctipotens Genitor Deus Omnicreator (Almighty King, God, Creator of all things)

VIII. Conditor omnium imas creaturarum (Lord, maker of all creatures)

IX. Kyrie, orbis factor (Lord, creator of the world) 

These short Kyrie litanies are in current use: 

Kyrie from the Church of Finland

Kyrie from the Church of Sweden

In Matins (Morning Prayer) and Vespers (Evening Prayer) Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison or their translation appear in some form at the end of the service before the Lord’s Prayer. A version of “Help, Save, Have Mercy on Us” is currently used by many churches as a responsive Kyrie in Evening Prayer.

As short as the Kyrie is, it has been set to music, both as the short Kyrie, and as a Kyrie with extended petitions.

Here it is from Bach’s Mass in B Minor:

Here it is in German, known to English-speaking Lutherans as “Kyrie, God, Father in heaven above”:

Here it is as a responsive litany, sung by pastor and people. The text uses some of the petitions from “Help, Save, Have Mercy on Us” (Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom). (Video and audio quality aren’t the best, but the performance was led by Regina H. Fryxell, who was the composer / arranger.)  Here the Kyrie is followed by the Gloria.

See also: