New Orleans composer and musician Jay Weigel’s The Mass of Pope John Paul II The Great was commissioned by St. Louis Cathedral to commemorate the anniversary of the Pope’s inauguration on October 16, 1978. Two weeks before its premiere, Pope John Paul II passed away.

The music here is not as accessible as some of Weigel’s other compositions, most notably his previous release, the oratorio The River May Cry that incorporated pop elements in a seemingly New Orleans-themed classical format. This piece is a traditional reading of the Mass, where the composition is tonal but does not use popular elements or reflect Louisiana culture.

The highlight and most melodic and compelling piece is the third movement “Alleluia.” This is Weigel at his most original, and incorporates a rhythmic syncopation as the choir intones a capella, “Sing alleluia.” The last movement, “Agnus Dei,” is complex, and somber, ending with a whimper rather than a joyous bang.

When Weigel’s Mass was first performed, Haydn’s “Te Deum” preceded it. Here “Te Deum” follows it and it works much better at the conclusion as it provides an uplifting conclusion to the recording.

The cover art is off-putting in its seeming neglect of Weigel. It shows an image of Pope John Paul II without any indication that this is a piece of music written by Weigel. In fact, the spine also fails to name the composer, and only the fine print on the back cover indicates who composed the work. I’m sure the thought in the design was that Pope John Paul II would sell better than Jay Weigel, but still, New Orleans’ premier “classical” composer deserves more prominent recognition than he’s given here.