Mass in C major, K. 257 "Credo"

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.
CatalogueK. 257
Composed1776 (1776): Salzburg
Movements6
VocalSATB choir and soloists
Instrumental
  • brass
  • strings
  • continuo

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.

  1. Kyrie Andante maestoso, C major, 3/4
    "Kyrie eleison" Allegro, C major, common time
  2. Gloria Allegro assai, C major, common time
  3. 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
  4. Sanctus Allegretto, C major, common time
    "Hosanna in excelsis" Molto allegro, C major, common time
  5. Benedictus Allegro, F major, common time
    "Hosanna in excelsis" Molto allegro, C major, common time
  6. Agnus Dei Andante maestoso, C major, 3/4
    "Dona nobis pacem" Allegro vivace, C major, common time

References
  1. Sadie, Stanley (2006). Mozart: The Early Years 1756–1781. p. 388.
  2. Eisen, Cliff; Keefe, Simon, eds. (2006). The Cambridge Mozart Encyclopedia. p. 271.
  3. Shrock, Dennis (2009). Choral Repertoire. p. 379.
  4. Stauffer, George B. (2003). Bach - The Mass in B Minor: The Great Catholic Mass. p. 103.
  5. Einstein, Alfred (1945). Mozart: His Character, His Work. p. 338.
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