Opera Scotland

Mass in C major, K317 'Coronation Mass' Mass in C major, K317 'Coronation Mass'

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Music

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (born Salzburg, 27 January 1756; died Vienna, 5 December 1791)

Text

Liturgy.

 

Premieres

Completed 23 March 1779.

Flrst Performance: Possibly Salzburg, Easter 1779.

First Performance in UK: tbc

First Performance in Scotland: tbc

 

Background

Mozart's church music was largely composed during his years in Salzburg. It gave him an opportunity to compose for a public audience, rather than the more elevated court audience. The musical sections of the Mass were expected to be concise - no longer than 45 minutes. This encouraged conciseness, and this mass was the most popular in his lifetime, rich in cheerful melody. Unusually, the opening melody of the Kyrie is used again at the end for Dona nobis pacem.