The Harmoniemesse is the last of the "High Masses" which Haydn composed between 1796 and 1802 for the name day of the Princess Esterházy, and at the same time it was the last composition which Haydn ever completed. It was given its name because of the important role which the wind instruments play in the Mass. In a number of passages the present critical edition differs from previous editions and, consequently, it follows other readings of the sources. Hence it is also to be regarded as a contribution towards a new evaluation of the work.
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Composer
Joseph Haydn
| 1732-1809As Kapellmeister to Prince Esterházy, Haydn composed numerous instrumental works and various operas, as well as making important contributions to the genre of church music, including fourteen Latin masses, of which only twelve are authentic or complete; these are complemented by motets and offertories, two important Te Deum settings, two Salve Reginas, a Stabat Mater, and the different versions of the Sieben Worte des Erlösers am Kreuze. The masses were composed continually between 1749 and 1802, except for the years 1783–1795, and therefore constitute the genre with which Haydn was occupied over the longest period of time. The six (authentic or complete) masses composed before 1782 are stylistically very different, and as well as short Missae breves there are more extended masses with rich orchestral scoring; by contrast the six so-called late masses, written from 1796 onwards, form a comparatively homogeneous group of more extensive works scored for large forces. With his two great oratorios Die Schöpfung (The Creation) (1798) and Die Jahreszeiten (The Seasons) (1801) Haydn established the tradition of the German oratorio for middle-class music making. Personal details
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Editor
Andreas Traub
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