Among the various scoring options originally given, there is also a “minimum scoring” for 2 trumpets (or flugelhorns) in Bb, 2 trombones (or tenor horn and baritone) and tuba (could be omitted if necessary). The many cue notes in the original parts have been written out to make them easier to read, and thus Dieter Viehweider’s existing sheet music has been carefully transferred to today’s standard wind instrumentation. Only the new and optional timpani part was specially composed by Gottfried Veit, always in the style of the complete work.
The present edition in the form of 1st and 2nd parts in Bb/C/Eb (trumpets, flugelhorns, clarinets, oboes, alto saxophones), 3rd part in C/Bb/F/Eb (trombone, tenor horn, tenor saxophone, horn), 4th part in C/Bb/Es (trombone, baritone, bassoon, baritone saxophone) and optional 5th part in C/Bb (tuba B.C. and T.C.) is set in a practical marching book format, including the part for congregational singing. This is intended to give the work, conceived as a “community mass”, a wide range of performance possibilities and can easily be used in church and at field masses.