Mass in D minor, K. 65

The Missa brevis in D minor, K. 65/61a, is a mass composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (12 years old at the time) and completed on 14 January 1769.[1] It is scored for SATB soloists and choir, violin I and II, 3 trombones colla parte, and basso continuo.

Missa brevis in D minor
Mass by W. A. Mozart
Kollegienkirche, the University Church of Salzburg, c. 1712
KeyD minor
CatalogueK. 65/61a
OccasionForty-hour vigil held at the Kollegienkirche
Composed1769 (1769): Salzburg
Movements6
VocalSATB choir and soloists
Instrumental
  • 3 trombones
  • 2 violins
  • continuo

It is thought that this mass was performed in the University of Salzburg's Kollegienkirche to open a forty-hour vigil.[2][3] As a Lenten mass, it is likely that the Gloria could not have been performed on this occasion, and would have been composed for subsequent use.[4] This is Mozart's shortest setting of the Order of Mass, and his only missa brevis set in a minor key.[3]

The mass is divided into six movements.

  1. Kyrie Adagio, D minor, common time
    "Kyrie eleison" – Allegro, D minor, 3/4
  2. Gloria Allegro moderato, D minor, common time
  3. Credo Allegro moderato, D minor, 3/4
    "Et incarnatus est" Adagio, D minor, cut common time
    "Et resurrexit" Allegro moderato, D minor, 3/4
    "Et vitam venturi saeculi" Più mosso, D minor, cut common time
  4. Sanctus Adagio, D minor, cut common time
    "Pleni sunt coeli et terra" Allegro, D minor, common time
    "Hosanna in excelsis" Allegro, D minor, 3/4
  5. Benedictus Andante, G minor, common time; soprano/alto duet
    "Hosanna in excelsis" Allegro, D minor, 3/4
  6. Agnus Dei Andante, D minor, common time
    "Dona nobis pacem" Vivace, D minor, 3/8

References
  1. Deutsch, Otto Erich (1966). Mozart: A Documentary Biography. Stanford University Press. p. 86.
  2. Sadie, Stanley (2006). Mozart: The Early Years 1756–1781. p. 163. ISBN 978-0-19-816529-3.
  3. Eisen, Cliff; Keefe, Simon, eds. (2006). The Cambridge Mozart Encyclopedia. p. 273. ISBN 978-1-139-44878-9.
  4. Einstein, Alfred (1945). Mozart: His Character, His Work. p. 326. ISBN 978-0-19-500732-9.
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