When Joseph Haydn assumed the position as music director of the Court of Esterházy in 1766, following the death of his predecessor, Gregor Joseph Werner, he began by composing his first and most extensive Missa solemnis. The title "Missa Cellensis" (later also known as the "St. Cecilia Mass") and the date of an autograph score suggest that this work was probably commissioned by Prince Nicolaus Esterházy for the 600th anniversary of the pilgrimage church Mariazell located in Styria. With regard to the scoring as well as form, this Mass is still in the tradition of the late baroque"“number mass." In contrast to previous "mixed" versions based on various sources, the Carus edition follows the authentic (original) version using the most reliable sources.
Contents
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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
Leonhard Riedel