ChoralExpress

Mass in C (K 337) by W. A. Mozart (1756-1791)

Seldom heard in concert halls and rarely recorded, this Mass nonetheless offers lovely, joyful music appropriate for Mass at the Church of Saint Agnes. Although titled, Missa Solemnis in C major, its succinctness would qualify it as a missa brevis.  The Credo you will hear, which lasts less than six minutes, is actually the second Credo Mozart composed for this Mass. He completed about two-thirds of the first Credo, up to “non erit finis,” and then put the piece aside. Some musicologists speculate that he feared the first Credo was too theatrical for liturgical use; later in 1780 he recycled it as a chaconne in his opera, Idomeneo.

We complete our 38th season today with this wonderful Mozart Mass. 

The Chorale has been presenting full seasons (October through June with the exception of Advent and Lent) of choral Masses with orchestration by the great composers of the 18th and 19th centuries during the 10 a.m. Latin High Mass at St. Agnes for 38 years. The Chorale is led by Dr. Robert Peterson and composed of professional soloists and instrumentalists and a trained volunteer choir.