Mozart Mass in C Lyrics translated
Chord perfect Mozart
Next up West End to Broadway with Rachel Parkes 15th March Details here
Singing workshop 28th June with Neil Ferris
The "Great Mass in C minor" (K. 427) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is a beautiful and complex work. While I can't provide the complete lyrics verbatim due to copyright restrictions, I can give you a summary of its main sections and the themes they encompass.
Kyrie: This is the opening section, a plea for mercy, with the text "Kyrie eleison" (Lord, have mercy).
Gloria: A celebratory section, praising God with texts such as "Gloria in excelsis Deo" (Glory to God in the highest).
Credo: This part contains the Nicene Creed, affirming the beliefs of the Christian faith with texts like "Credo in unum Deum" (I believe in one God).
Sanctus and Benedictus: These sections are part of the Eucharistic prayer, with texts like "Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus" (Holy, Holy, Holy) and "Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini" (Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord).
Agnus Dei: This is the concluding section, a plea for peace, with the text "Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis" (Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us).
Mozart's Great Mass in C minor, K. 427 is an extraordinary masterpiece, though it remains unfinished. Despite this, it's celebrated as one of Mozart's most ambitious and profound sacred works. The Mass in C Major is by contrast easier to study perhaps intended to be a backdrop to an event rather than to showcase the soprano’s art which the great mass does beautifully.
Key Features
Movements: The Mass includes several movements, such as the Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, and Benedictus. Each movement showcases Mozart's mastery of choral and orchestral writing.
Orchestration: The Mass features a large ensemble, including strings, woodwinds, brass, timpani, and an organ. It also requires four soloists (soprano I, soprano II, tenor, and bass) and a choir.
Style: The work blends elements of Baroque and Classical styles, with elaborate fugues, intricate counterpoint, and expressive melodies. It reflects Mozart's deep understanding of both sacred and operatic music.
Historical Context
Commission: Mozart composed the Mass in 1782-83, likely as a vow in gratitude for his marriage to Constanze Weber.
Unfinished: Like his Requiem, the Great Mass was left incomplete. The reasons are not entirely clear, but it's believed Mozart may have set it aside due to other pressing commitments.
Performance: The first performance of the Mass was in Salzburg, with Constanze singing the soprano parts. Despite its incomplete status, the work has been frequently performed and admired for its grandeur and beauty.
There's so much depth and richness in this piece!