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K. 192/186f

Missa brevis in F, "Little Credo"

There is a good reason why this is called a Missa brevis. According to Belgian musicologist Harry Halbreich, it is "an utterly concentrated work." Only two movements -- the Kyrie and the Agnus Dei -- begin with an instrumental prelude. All of the others begin immediately with the voices.

Commentators note that Mozart's signature four-note motive -- which many years later would be a recurrent theme in the final movement of the "Jupiter" symphony -- occurs prominently in the Credo.

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.