Kyrie eleison

[Late Latin Kȳrie eleison. See Kyrie.]

The first acclamation in the Ordinary of the Latin Mass, sung directly after the introit. The basic text, which is Greek, consists of ‘Kyrie eleison’ (three times), ‘Christe eleison’ (three times), ‘Kyrie eleison’ (three times): ‘Lord, have mercy ... Christ, have mercy ... Lord, have mercy’. The phrase ‘Kyrie eleison’ was used in Eastern and Western litanies from at least the 4th and 5th centuries, and St Gregory the Great (pope 590-604) is credited with establishing its use together with ‘Christe eleison’ in the Roman Mass. By the 10th century the ninefold shape was established.

In Renaissance and later polyphonic settings of the Mass the Kyrie may be in three movements. The Lutheran Mass consists of the Kyrie and Gloria only.

The term ‘Kyriale’ is used for a collection or a book of chants not only for the Kyrie of the Mass but for the entire Ordinary.