K. 194/186h

Missa brevis in D

Origin: Salzburg, Aug. 8, 1774
Scoring: S, A, T, B, SATB, [3 trombones,] 2 violins, bass, organ

Mozart wrote this Mass and the one immediately preceding, his Missa brevis in F, "Little Credo" (K. 192), for ordinary liturgical use. Both observe the strict rules set by Archbishop Colloredo, who required that church music be both simple and brief.

Mozart apparently was satisfied with his efforts: His father, Leopold, conducted performances of these Masses in Munich the following year, about the same time Mozart's opera La finta giardiniera (K. 196) was being performed there.

References:

Einstein, Alfred. Mozart, His Character, His Work. New York, 1962.
Giegling, Weinmann and Sievers, eds. Chronologisch-thematisches Verzeichnis samtlicher Tonwerke Wolfgang Amadé Mozarts. 6th edition. Wiesbaden, 1964.
Sadie, Stanley. The New Grove Mozart. New York, 1983.
Zaslaw, Neal, and Cowdery, William, eds. The Compleat Mozart. New York, 1990.