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K. 262/246a

Missa longa in C

	Kyrie
	Missa longa in C
	© 1985 Phonogram International B.V.
	412 232-2

Musicologist Alfred Einstein assigns a date of composition of May 1776 to this Mass; recent scholarship based on watermarks, however, places it in mid-1775.

The work's grand scale is well-served by Mozart's designation Missa longa: Its elaborate instrumental preludes and contrapuntal displays -- including lengthy fugues at the conclusion of both the Gloria and Credo -- distinguish it from the other, much briefer Masses that Mozart was writing at this time. But technically it should be considered a missa brevis, "a choral Mass enlivened with solo parts but lacking arias."

The Archbishop of Salzburg allowed extravagant musical displays such as this only on very special occasions. So far as anyone knows, there were no such occasions in mid-1775, so the reason why this Mass was composed remains a mystery.

Recommended recordings:

• Mozart: Missa Longa. Sony SK 46493

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.