The Missa brevis No. 7 in C major, K. 258, 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.
| Missa in C major | |
|---|---|
| "Piccolomini" | |
| Mass by W. A. Mozart | |
 The original score of this mass was discovered in the archives of the cathedral in Brixen. | |
| Other name | Spaur Mass |
| Catalogue | K. 258 |
| Composed | 1776: Salzburg |
| Movements | 6 |
| Vocal | SATB choir and soloists |
| Instrumental |
|
Although classed as a missa brevis (brief mass), the inclusion of trumpets in the scoring makes it a missa brevis et solemnis.[1]
The autograph manuscript of the mass is preserved in the Berlin State Library.
Background
editThe mass is often referred to as the Spaur Mass,[1][2] although this is misleading; Leopold Mozart wrote in 1778 of a mass the family nicknamed the Spaur, as Wolfgang had written it for the consecration of Count Ignaz Joseph von Spaur. However, this could refer to one of many masses, including K. 257, K. 262 and K. 275/272b.[3] The original score of this mass was discovered in the archives of the Brixen Brixen Cathedral in 2007; this provides another link to the Spaur family, some of whom held power in the Bishopric of Brixen.[4]
An alternative nickname, Piccolomini Mass, is speculated to refer to the brevity of the mass;[5] it does not appear to have any connection with the Piccolominis, a Sienese noble family.
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 Organ Solo Mass (K. 259).[6]
Structure
editThe mass is divided into six movements.
References
edit- ^ a b c Sadie, Stanley (2006). Mozart: The Early Years 1756–1781. ISBN 9780198165293.
- ^ Kenyon, Nicholas (2006). The Pegasus Pocket Guide to Mozart. p. 264.
- ^ Gutnam, Robert (2011). Mozart. ISBN 9781446477076.
- ^ "Trovata a Bressanone la partitura originale della Spaur-Messe di Mozart" [Original score of Mozart's Spaur Mass found in Bressanone] (in Italian). Provincia autonoma di Bolzano. 15 June 2007. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
- ^ Zaslaw, Neal; Cowdery, William (1990). The Compleat Mozart: A Guide to the Musical Works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. ISBN 9780393028867.
- ^ Einstein, Alfred (1945). Mozart: His Character, His Work. p. 338. ISBN 9780195007329.
External links
edit- Mozart's autograph in the Berlin State Library
- Missa in C K. 258: Score in the Neue Mozart-Ausgabe
- Free scores of Missa brevis (Piccolomini, or Spaur Messe) in C major, KV 258 in the Choral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki)
- Missa brevis in C major, K.258: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project