Missa Hispanica Explained

Austrian composer, Michael Haydn's Missa Hispanica or Missa a due cori, Klafsky I:17, MH 422, was presumably written for Spain, but there is no evidence of its ever having been performed there during Haydn's lifetime. The mass is scored for 2 oboes, 2 bassoons, 2 horns in low C, F and G, 2 trumpets in C, timpani, strings, basso continuo, SATB soloists, and two mixed choirs.

The mass setting is divided into the usual six movements:

1. "Kyrie" Largo, C major, common time

—"Kyrie eleison" Allegro, 3/4

1. "Gloria" Allegro con spirito, C major, common time

—"Qui tollis peccata mundi..." Adagio, F major, 3/4

—"Quoniam tu solus sanctus..." Vivace, C major, common time

1. "Credo" Vivace, C major, 3/4

—"Et incarnatus est..." Adagio molto, G major, 2/4

—"Et resurrexit..." Allegro spiritoso, C major, 3/4

1. "Sanctus" Andante con moto, C major, common time

1. "Benedictus" Allegro moderato, C major, 3/4

—"Osanna..." Allegro, C major, common time

1. "Agnus Dei" Largo, C major, 3/4

—"Dona nobis pacem..." Allegro con fuoco, C major, common time

The Austrian premiere was in Kremsmünster on June 24, 1792, a performance in Salzburg followed in 1796. When Empress Marie Therese visited Salzburg in 1805, she liked the music so much she wanted to have her own copy of the score.^[1]

References

• Rice (2003) John A. Cambridge Empress Marie Therese and music at the Viennese court, 1792 — 1807 Cambridge University Press
• Sherman (1966) Charles H. Vienna Messa à 2 cori. Vocal score Foreword Haydn Mozart Presse

Notes and References

1. p. 52 (2003) Rice