Mass in C major, K. 259 "Organ solo"

Missa brevis in C major
"Organ Solo"
Mass by W. A. Mozart
Salzburg Cathedral may have been the first performance venue of the mass.
Key	C major
Catalogue	K. 259
Composed	1776 (1776): Salzburg
Movements	6
Vocal	SATB choir and soloists
Instrumental	orchestra continuo

The Missa brevis No. 8 in C major, K. 259, is a mass composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in 1776. ^[1] It is scored for SATB soloists, SATB choir, violin I and II, 2 oboes, 2 clarini (high trumpets), 3 trombones colla parte , timpani and basso continuo.

Although classed as a missa brevis (brief mass), the inclusion of trumpets in the scoring makes it a missa brevis et solemnis . ^{[1] [2]} The mass derives its nickname Orgelmesse or Orgelsolomesse (Organ Solo Mass) from the obbligato organ solo entry of the Benedictus. ^{[1] [3]} This is one of three masses Mozart composed in November and December 1776, all set in C major, including the Credo Mass (K. 257) and the Piccolomini Mass (K. 258). ^[4]

The autograph manuscript of the mass is preserved in the Berlin State Library.

The work consists of six movements. Performances require approximately 10–15 minutes.

1. KyrieAndante, C major,
2. GloriaAllegro, C major, ³
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3. CredoAllegro, C major,
4. SanctusAdagio maestoso, C major, ³
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   "Pleni sunt coeli et terra" Allegro, C major,

5. BenedictusAllegro vivace, G major, ³
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   "Hosanna in excelsis" Allegro, C major, ³
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6. Agnus DeiAdagio, C major,

   "Dona nobis pacem" Allegro, C major, ³
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References

1. Sadie, Stanley (2006). Mozart: The Early Years 1756–1781. Oxford University Press. ISBN   9780198165293.
2. Eisen, Cliff; Keefe, Simon, eds. (2006). The Cambridge Mozart Encyclopedia. Cambridge University Press. p. 276. ISBN   9781139448789.
3. Kennedy, Michael; Bourne, Joyce, eds. (2004). The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. Oxford University Press, USA. p. 535. ISBN   9780198608844.
4. Einstein, Alfred (1945). Mozart: His Character, His Work . Oxford University Press. p. 338 – via Internet Archive.

External links

• Mozart's autograph in the Berlin State Library
• Missa in C, KV 259: Score in the Neue Mozart-Ausgabe
• Free scores of Missa brevis in C major (KV 259) 'Organ solo' in the Choral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki)
• Missa brevis in C major, K. 259 : Scores at the International Music Score Library Project