arrangement; originally for orchestra. In its original version this work for soli, choir, organ and orchestra became known as Gounod’s most well known setting of the Mass both in France and beyond its borders and it was considered the representative contribution to French church music of the 19th century. Already during his lifetime several (some anonymous) arrangements for smaller ensembles were made, including the present version for two equal voices. The fourvoiced vocal part from the full score was reduced to a version for two voices, while the organ or piano accompaniment of the original vocal score was, for the most part, retained.