MUSCATINE, Iowa – Mass is seldom  in Latin anymore.

Sometimes, there’s even a bit of a twang to it, as will be the case when two musical forces, the Muscatine Civic Chorale and bluegrass phenomenon Monroe Crossing, join forces at Muscatine’s Wesley United Methodist Church.

The Chorale will perform, followed by the Minnesota-based Monroe Crossing, and then the two will perform together at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20.

The joint performance will be a piece called “The World Beloved — A Bluegrass Mass.”

“It’s an exciting work,” said Chorale director Jan Phillips. “It does use the Latin text of the mass, combined with English. It definitely has a bluegrass flavor and yet it has audience appeal. Any music lover will enjoy it.”

Bluegrass, Phillips said, is a combination of “mountain music with gospel and folk thrown into it.” Bluegrass instruments include guitar, banjo, bass, mandolin and fiddle.

“When we perform bluegrass, we perform around a single microphone, just like in the early days of bluegrass,” said Matt Thompson, Monroe Crossing member and press representative. “The four guys wear vintage ties from the 1940s, when bluegrass began.”

The five-piece band and 35-piece choir are looking forward to working together on “The World Beloved,” especially since it was created solely for a bluegrass and choir mix.

Thompson said the idea came up four or five years ago, when a Minnesota choir, Vocal Essence, approached Minneapolis composer Carol Barnett to create a choir and bluegrass harmony.

“It hadn’t been done before,” Thompson said.

Monroe Crossing was contacted as the featured band to try it out, but three of the five members couldn’t read music.

To fix the problem, the choir’s pianist recorded the piano version of the individual parts, so the band could learn the piece by ear.

“It took some work but that made it easier,” Thomp-son said. “The first performances were a huge success. The audience loved it.”

More choir directors approached the band, including Jan Phillips. To date the band’s performed “The World Beloved” with nearly 12 different choirs across the country.

With 120 to 125 shows per year, Thompson said a full-time bluegrass band keeps everyone busy. Phillips, a fan of Monroe Crossing, is excited to have them come to Muscatine.

“I’m thrilled,” she said. “Once the Chorale heard their music, they were excited, too. I think it’s going to be an amazing opportunity for our Chorale to participate with these professional musicians, and for Muscatine to get the opportunity to hear this world-renowned bluegrass group.”

Phillips said all ages are encouraged to attend the Nov. 20 concert.

“I think they are crowd-pleasers,” Phillips said. “This is not going to be a dry, classical-type performance. I think this is going to be fun, entertaining evening.”

Details

What: Monroe Crossing and the Muscatine Civic Chorale present “The World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass,” 

When: 7:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 20, at Wesley United Methodist Church, Fourth Street and Iowa Avenue, Muscatine.

Tickets: $12 in advance or $15 at the door. Available at Fareway, Hy-Vee, Central State Bank and First National Bank.

Info: Call 563-264-1926 for questions, tickets and reservations.

Online www.monroecrossing.com for audio clips, band biographies and merchandise.