Mass in C major, K. 262 "Missa longa"

Missa longa in C major
Mass by W. A. Mozart
Salzburg Cathedral may have been the first performance venue of the mass.
Catalogue	K. 262/246a
Composed	1775 (1775): Salzburg
Movements	6
Vocal	SATB choir and soloists
Instrumental	orchestra continuo

The Missa longa in C major, K. 262/246a, is a mass composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in May 1776. ^[1] Other sources claim it was composed in May 1775. ^[2] It is scored for SATB soloists, SATB choir, violins I and II, 2 oboes, 2 horns in C, 2 clarini (high trumpets) in C, 3 trombones colla parte , timpani and basso continuo.

The mass is classed as a missa longa due to its length. However, due to its lack of extended writing for the solo parts, it has also been categorised as a missa brevis . ^[1] The occasion the mass was composed for remains debatable. It may have been composed at the Archbishop Colloredo's request for a special occasion at the Salzburg Cathedral, or at the directive of a different priest – Colloredo's preference for brief settings makes it unlikely that he would have approved of the missa longa. ^{[2] : 387  [3]} Alternatively, it may have been composed for performance at St Peter's Church. ^{[1] [2]}

The mass is divided into six movements.

1. KyrieAllegro, C major,
2. GloriaAllegro con spiritu, C major,

   "Qui tollis peccata mundi" Andante, G minor, ³
   ₄

   "Quoniam tu solus Sanctus" Allegro con spiritu, C major,

3. CredoAllegro, C major, ³
   ₄

   "Et incarnatus est" Adagio ma non troppo, C major,

   "Et resurrexit" Molto allegro, C major,

   "Et in Spiritum Sanctum Dominum" Allegro, G major, ³
   ₄

   "Et unam sanctam" Allegro, C major, ³
   ₄

   "Et expecto resurrectionem" Adagio, C major,

   "Et vitam venturi saeculi" Allegro, C major,

4. SanctusAndantino, C major, ³
   ₄
5. BenedictusAndantino, F major, ³
   ₄
6. Agnus DeiAndante, C major,

   "Dona nobis pacem" Allegro, C major,

References

1. Einstein, Alfred (1945). Mozart: His Character, His Work . Oxford University Press. p. 338 – via Internet Archive.
2. Sadie, Stanley (2006). Mozart: The Early Years 1756–1781. Oxford University Press, UK. p. 276. ISBN   9780191622663.
3. Kenyon, Nicholas (2006). The Pegasus Pocket Guide to Mozart . p.  63. ISBN   978-1-933648-23-1.

Further reading

• Welch, Susan C. (September 1989). "Mozart's Missa Solemnis K.262: An Overlooked Masterpiece" . Choral Journal . 30 (1): 9–13. ISSN   0009-5028. JSTOR   23547756 . Retrieved 14 June 2024.

External links

• Missa longa in C, KV 262 (246a): Score in the Neue Mozart-Ausgabe
• Free scores of Missa Longa in C major, KV 262 in the Choral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki)
• Mass in C major, K. 262/246a : Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
• Animated score on YouTube