Benevoli was director of the Papal choir, the 'cappella giulia' but also worked as a fixer, providing music and singers for other churches in Rome on their feast days.  Until now his music has not existed in performance editions and as a result, the music of this important historical figure - an exact contemporary of Carissimi's - has remained unknown. 

This mass is joyous, rich and melodic though tricky in places so music will be available before the day to rehearse (alongside the new recording).  Unlike the heavily instrumental dependent Venetian music of 50 years earlier, Roman polychoral music is written for all-vocal choirs so the ranges are more manageable for singers.  However doubling vocal lines with instrumental colour (for instruments at A440) is very much welcome and encouraged.