Schubert: Mass in G Major, D 167

Description

Franz Schubert's Mass in G Major (D 167) was composed in 1815 for his home parish in Vienna-Lichtenthal. It was initially intended as a Missa brevis with string orchestra and organ, but was soon supplemented by two trumpets and timpani ad libitum for more festive occasions. This instrumentation is documented in a set of parts that Schubert himself wrote shortly after his full score was completed. Numerous other copies of parts from Schubert's circle prove that the composer continued to experiment with the form and scoring of the mass during and after the first performances and adapted it to the respective performance conditions. Even today, the Mass in G Major is one of his most popular and most frequently performed compositions.

This "New Schubert Edition" volume includes the work in its first version for strings for the first time. Furthermore, it contains the second version with trumpets and timpani which, in addition to the altered scoring, also includes numerous Minor changes to the musical text. The appendix offers two variants of individual movements from Viennese part copies, which Schubert most probably would also have tolerated. in the Foreword, Christine Martin places the mass and its various versions in the context of Viennese church music of the early 19th century and comments on references to the historical performance practice of the mass, which emerge from contemporary sources.

In addition to a mixed four-part choir, string orchestra and organ, the scoring includes three solo voices (soprano, tenor and bass) and, in the second version, two trumpets and timpani ad libitum.