The Credo Mass in C major, K. 257, 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 and basso continuo.
| Missa in C major | |
|---|---|
| "Credo" | |
| Mass by W. A. Mozart | |
 Salzburg Cathedral may have been the first performance venue of the mass. | |
| Catalogue | K. 257 |
| Composed | 1776: Salzburg |
| Movements | 6 |
| Vocal | SATB choir and soloists |
| Instrumental |
|
The Credo Mass has been classified as either a missa solemnis,[2] a missa brevis or a missa brevis et solemnis[1] – its performance time of approximately 25 minutes makes it difficult to categorise in a definitive manner. Its name derives from the long setting of the Credo, in which the word "Credo" is repeatedly sung in a two-note motif.[3] It thus joins a tradition of so-called "Credo Masses", including Mozart's own Kleine Credo Messe (K. 192) and Beethoven's later Missa solemnis.[4] The first performance was in Salzburg in November 1776. This is one of three masses Mozart composed in November and December 1776, all set in C major, including the Piccolominimesse (K. 258) and the Organ Solo Mass (K. 259).[5]
The work consists of six movements.
- Kyrie Andante maestoso, C major, 3
4- "Kyrie eleison" Allegro, C major,
- "Kyrie eleison" Allegro, C major,
- Gloria Allegro assai, C major,
- Credo Molto allegro, C major, 3
4- "Et incarnatus est" Andante, C major, 6
8 - "[Credo, credo] Et resurrexit..." Molto allegro, C major, 3
4
- "Et incarnatus est" Andante, C major, 6
- Sanctus Allegretto, C major,
- "Hosanna in excelsis" Molto allegro, C major,
- "Hosanna in excelsis" Molto allegro, C major,
- Benedictus Allegro, F major,
- "Hosanna in excelsis" Molto allegro, C major,
- "Hosanna in excelsis" Molto allegro, C major,
- Agnus Dei Andante maestoso, C major, 3
4- "Dona nobis pacem" Allegro vivace, C major,
- "Dona nobis pacem" Allegro vivace, C major,
References
edit- ^ a b Sadie, Stanley (2006). Mozart: The Early Years 1756–1781. p. 388. ISBN 9780198165293.
- ^ Eisen, Cliff; Keefe, Simon, eds. (2006). The Cambridge Mozart Encyclopedia. p. 271. ISBN 9781139448789.
- ^ Shrock, Dennis (2009). Choral Repertoire. p. 379. ISBN 9780199886876.
- ^ Stauffer, George B. (2003). Bach - The Mass in B Minor: The Great Catholic Mass. p. 103. ISBN 0300099665.
- ^ Einstein, Alfred (1945). Mozart: His Character, His Work. p. 338. ISBN 9780195007329.
External links
edit- Missa in C K. 257: Score in the Neue Mozart-Ausgabe
- Free scores of Missa brevis in C major (Credo Mass), K 257 in the Choral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki)
- Mass in C major, K.257: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project