Theresienmesse
Mass by Joseph Haydn
Maria Theresa of the Two Sicilies, for whom the mass is nicknamed
KeyB-flat major
CatalogueHob. XXII/12
Performed8 September 1799 (1799-09-08): Eisenstadt
VocalSATB choir and soloists
Instrumentalorchestra

Theresienmesse (H. XXII/12) is a mass in B-flat major written by Joseph Haydn and named after Maria Theresa of the Two Sicilies, empress consort of Francis II. The empress herself was the soprano soloist at private performances of both The Creation and The Seasons in May 1801 at the Viennese Court.[1] The title does not appear on the autograph score, which is labeled simply with the Latin word "Missa".

Between 1796 and 1802, Haydn composed six masses to celebrate the name-day of Princess Maria Josepha Hermenegilde (1768-1845), who was the wife of his patron Prince Nikolaus Esterhazy II. The Theresienmesse, written in 1799, belongs in this series. The work is thought to have been premiered on 8 September 1799.[2] The location was the Bergkirche, near the Esterházy family seat in Eisenstadt, Austria.

The mass is scored for solo quartet, chorus, strings, two clarinets, two trumpets, timpani and organ continuo. Concerning the paucity of winds (no oboes, bassoons, horns, or flutes) John W. Ehrlich has written:[2]

The drastic reduction of the wind choir ... is unusual. We are indebted to [Haydn scholar Carl Maria] Brand for an explanation: a shortage of wind players at Eisenstadt in 1798 and 1799. This is why the Nelsonmesse, in its original version, also lacks winds. But Haydn has turned this lack into a virtue, the ensemble in each case imparting to the work a unique aura or personality that sets it off from its neighbors: in the Nelsonmesse the hard, metallic, fiery brilliance of D trumpets and solo organ; in the Theresienmesse the mellow glow and at times darkish hues of the B-flat instruments.

While probably not as frequently performed as its companions the Nelson Mass or the Missa in tempore belli, the Theresienmesse has attracted critical admiration; Ehrlich for instance refers to it as an "extraordinary work."[2] Another commentator writes, "Haydn's choral writing has all the variety, rhythmic energy and contrapuntal skill of a composer at the height of his powers."[1]

Scoring and structure

The vocal parts of the mass are performed by four soloists (soprano, alto, tenor and bass) and a four-part choir. The soloists often appear as an ensemble, without arias. Haydn scored the mass for a large orchestra.

In the following table of the movements, the markings, keys and time signatures are taken from the choral score, using the symbols for common time and alla breve. The choir is present in all movements, except the Et incarnatus of the Credo.

No. Part Incipit Solo voices Marking Key Time
1KyrieS A T B

S A T B
Adagio
Allegro
Adagio
B-flat majorcommon time
2GloriaGloria in excelsis DeoAllegroB-flat major3
4
Gratias agimus tibiS A T BModeratoC major
C minor
common time
Quoniam tu solus SanctusS A T BVivaceB-flat majorcommon time
3CredoCredo in unum DeumAllegroB-flat majorcommon time
Et incarnatus estS A T BAdagioB-flat minorcommon time
Et resurrexitS A T BAllegroB-flat majorcommon time
Et vitam venturi saeculiS A T BAllegroB-flat major6
8
4SanctusSanctus DominusS A T BAndanteB-flat major3
4
Pleni sunt coeli et terraAllegro
5BenedictusBenedictus qui venitS A T BModeratoG majorcommon time
6Agnus DeiAgnus DeiAdagioG minor3
4
Dona nobis pacemS A T BAllegroB-flat major

Notes

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