Chancel Choir presents Charles-Marie Widor Mass, Op. 130 On February 29, 2004, the first Sunday of Lent, the Chancel Choir will present Charles-Marie Widor's Mass, Op. 36 during the morning Worship service. Widor (1844-1937) was a late Romantic French composer. Born to a family of organ builders, he showed early his proclivity toward the organ and musical composition. After studying in Brussels, Widor became acquainted with Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, one of the finest French organ builders of the day. Cavaillé-Coll took great interest in Widor's career and was instrumental in his appointment as organist at Saint-Sulpice, Paris, where Cavaillé-Coll had installed his magnificent instrument of 100 stops. Widor was to remain at this post for 64 years. Widor's only Mass was written around 1890 and was originally scored for a choir of male singers and a mixed choir, to be accompanied by two organs. The work was well received when introduced to the repertoire at Saint-Sulpice. His setting of the Mass is designed to reinforce the splendor of the liturgy without extending it to an inconvenient length. Although conciseness is achieved through a minimal repetition of the words, Widor is able to maintain a style of grandeur through soaring harmonies and sweeping vocal lines. Of particular beauty is the final movement Agnus Dei, considered by many to be one of the most delicate and inspired of Widor's creations. The musical scores used for the Worship service were given in memory of John MacMillan Smeaton.