César-Auguste-Jean-Guillaume-Hubert Franck (December 10, 1822 – November 8, 1890), a composer, organist, and music teacher of Belgian origin, was one of the great figures in classical music in the world during the second half of the nineteenth century. Franck's skill and dedication to the musical organ led him to be a renowned and sought after performer in his own time. A gifted musician, as a young man, Franck gave up his father's wishes and the path of a virtuoso. From 25 years old, he spent his life teaching music and offering his talent in some of the finest churches and basilicas in Paris. 
 
Franck’s great orchestral Mass in A major op. 12  of 1861 is one of the works which the composer wrote for liturgical use at St. Clotilde in Paris, the church where he played for many years as a famous organist and organ improviser. Probably because of concerns on the part of his publisher, a few years after Franck composed his orchestral Mass he reworked it for much smaller forces: instead of orchestra, just organ, harp, cello, and double bass are required. It was this version of the work was first published in 1872 in Paris.
The womens choir version was done for my choir Womens Choir Embla and was premiered in the church in Akureyri, Iceland.
Fossbrekka 13th December2008
Roar Kvam