Mass in G major, K. 140 "Pastoral"

The Missa brevis[1] in G major, K. 140, K3 Anh. 235d, K6 Anh. C 1.12, was probably composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart shortly after returning to Salzburg, in March 1773, from his third trip to Italy.[2]

Missa brevis in G major
Mass by W. A. Mozart
The composer in 1777
KeyG major
CatalogueK. 140
Composed1773 (1773): Salzburg
Movements6
VocalSATB choir and soloists
Instrumental
  • strings
  • organ

Walter Senn, who published the Mass in 1968 for the Neue Mozart-Ausgabe, notes that this Mass is the only one Mozart composed along the lines of the Pastoral Mass type.[2]

Attribution to Mozart - time of origin

Ludwig von Köchel, in the first edition of his catalog of Mozart's music, thought the Mass roughly contemporary with Lucio Silla and "Exsultate, jubilate" (1772-1773). Alfred Einstein thought its original composition to be closer to that of the sixth Serenade (1776) with his revision of Köchel's catalog in 1937. Otto Jahn, Franz Giegling and others thought it not to be by Mozart at all.

The work was accepted as genuine by Walter Senn: he published the Mass as No. 5 in the Neue Mozart-Ausgabe in 1968.[2] The earliest surviving score and parts, found in a cloister in Augsburg, Germany, were prepared by a copyist, with completions and corrections in Mozart's hand.[3] Senn assumes the Mass was composed in 1773, after Mozart had returned from Italy in March.[2]

Movements and orchestration

The mass is scored for soloists, choir, strings and organ, the latter playing from figured bass. The setting is divided into six movements:

  1. Kyrie Andantino, G major, 3/4
  2. Gloria Allegro, G major, 6/8
    "Laudamus te" Andantino, 3/8
  3. Credo Allegro, G major, common time
    "Et incarnatus est" Andantino, E-flat major, 3/4
    "Et resurrexit" Allegro, G major, common time
  4. Sanctus Andante, G major, 3/4
    "Pleni sunt caeli" Allegro vivace, 2/4
  5. Benedictus Andante, C major, 2/4
    "Osanna" Allegro vivace, G major
  6. Agnus Dei Andante, G major, common time
    "Dona nobis pacem" Allegro, G major, 3/8

References
  1. David Humphreys. "Sacred Music" in The Mozart Compendium: A Guide to Mozart's Life and Music, H. C. Robbins Landon (ed.). New York: Schirmer; London: Thames and Hudson. 1990. pp. 312–314.
  2. Senn 1968, pp. XIII-XV
  3. Green 2002, p. 104

Sources
  • Missa brevis in G, KV 140: Score and critical report (in German) in the Neue Mozart-Ausgabe
  • Free scores by Missa Brevis in G Major, KV 140 (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart) in the Choral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki)
  • Pajot, Dennis. "K140 --"Pastoralis" Mass in G--Are We Dealing with Authentic Mozart?". Mozartforum.com. Archived from the original on 8 August 2007.
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