Field Mass

The Field Mass (Czech: Polní mše), H. 279, is a Czech language cantata from 1939 by Bohuslav Martinů.

[1] It was written to honor Czech volunteers fighting in the French army.

[2] The libretto does not follow a traditional mass text but a free libretto written by Jiří Mucha based on Psalm texts and liturgical texts.

[3][4] The work is written for a baritone singer, male chorus, wind instruments, piano, harmonium and percussion.

[5] The Czech choreographer Jiří Kylián created his ballet for 12 male dancers, Soldier's Mass, to this music in 1980 with the Nederlands Dans Theater.