Missa in Simplicitate for one voice or unisson choir and organ

Kyrie- Gloria - Credo - Sanctus et Benedictus - Agnus Dei

Archiac, June 26, 1961

"Dear Father,

Sunday, I was listening to the mass sung on the radio by the Jeunes Aveugles as I looked after our two young daughters. During the Credo I was preparing some green beans with our eldest, who is three years old. She was doing as one expects at that age, snapping the beans rather badly. I was especially taken by the melody in the Credo at the “Et incarnatus est,” which I found very beautiful. At that moment I noticed that my daughter had stopped working. She sat quietly with her hands folded, seemingly in another world. My wife and I feel sure that the composer of this mass would be happy to hear this marvelous anecdote. There can be no doubt that it proves his music beautiful and sacred. Who will ever know to what extent a child’s soul can be close to God?

We would ask you then to communicate this little story to the composer.

Truth comes from the mouths of children, resulting in a compliment devoid of all flattery. I wish for him that his faith will inspire him to write more sacred music and that his soul will be as enlightened by it as was our child’s."

Letter sent to Jean Langlais, July 15, 1961

Jeannine Collard, mezzo soprano at the Paris Opera, who was the inspirer and the dedicatee of this work, died on March 23, 2016 in Paris. She was 93 years old.