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K. 220/196b

Missa brevis in C, "Spatzen"

Music historians differ on where and when they believe this Mass was written. Alfred Einstein, who describes it as "surely his weakest, his most Salzburgian, church work," suggests Mozart composed it under duress while he was in Munich putting the finishing touches on La finta giardiniera (K. 196). It may very well have been the result of a direct order by the Archbishop of Salzburg, whose requirement for brevity was followed to the letter: "The task of setting the text to music is discharged rapidly, chiefly in a homophonic concertante style; and there is scarcely more than a hint at anything mystic or emotional." The nickname, "Sparrow Mass," was given in the 19th century because of the accompanying figure of the violins in the Sanctus.

Recommended recordings:

• Mozart: Masses K. 49, 65, 140, 220 & Church Sonatas, EMI CDC 7 54100 2

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.