Mass in D major, K. 194 explained

Missa brevis in D major
Type:	Mass by W. A. Mozart
Image Upright:	1.1
Key:	D major
Catalogue:	K. 194/186h
Movements:	6
Vocal:	choir and soloists

The Missa brevis in D major, K. 194/186h, is a mass composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and completed on 8 August 1774.^[1] It is scored for SATB soloists, SATB choir, violin I and II, 3 trombones colla parte, and basso continuo.

This missa brevis is thought to have been composed for ordinary liturgical use in the Salzburg Cathedral,^{[1] [2]} under the directive of Archbishop Colloredo. Mozart tried to satisfy Colloredo's demands for brevity and concision in the composition of this mass  - none of the movements have an orchestral prelude, the orchestra itself is highly reduced, there is very little fugal writing, and much of the setting is homophonic.^[3] In 1793, the Lotter house published the mass posthumously;^[4] it was the first of Mozart's works to appear in print.^[3]

The mass consists of six movements. Performances require approximately 15 minutes.

1. Kyrie Andante, D major,
2. Gloria Allegro moderato, D major,
3. Credo Allegro, D major,

"Et incarnatus est" Andante moderato, D major,

"Et resurrexit" Allegro, D major,

1. Sanctus Andante, D major,

"Pleni sunt coeli et terra" Allegro, D major,

1. Benedictus Andante ma non troppo, G major,

"Hosanna in excelsis" Allegro, D major,

1. Agnus Dei Andante, B minor → D major,

"Dona nobis pacem" Allegro, D major,

Notes and References

1. Book: The Cambridge Mozart Encyclopedia. Cliff. Eisen. Cliff Eisen. Simon. Keefe. 2006. 274. 9781139448789.
2. Book: Einstein, Alfred. Alfred Einstein

   . Mozart: His Character, His Work. Alfred Einstein. 1945. 334. 9780195007329.

3. Book: Sadie, Stanley. Stanley Sadie

   . Mozart: The Early Years 1756 - 1781. Stanley Sadie. 2006. 349. 9780198165293.

4. Book: Deutsch, Otto Erich. Otto Erich Deutsch

   . Mozart: A Documentary Biography. Stanford University Press. Otto Erich Deutsch. 1966. registration. 9.