Mass of the Children represents something new in the composer's work insofar as it was conceived with an integral role for a children's choir alongside an adult mixed choir, two soloists, and orchestra (now band). The role of the children's choir is to add a further dimension to the traditional Latin Mass sung by the adult choir, sometimes commenting, sometimes amplifying the meaning and mood. His musical understanding, sense of melody, harmony and orchestration are oftentimes fully capable of telling the story even without the text. In the setting for band alone, the children's choir part is generally set for solo trumpet.
