Mass No. 3 (Schubert)

Mass No. 3
by Franz Schubert
Lichtental Church
KeyB-flat major
CatalogueD 324
Year1815 (1815)
FormMissa brevis et solemnis
Movements6
VocalSATB choir and soloists
Instrumentalorchestra and organ
Portrait of Franz Schubert by Franz Eybl (1827)

The Mass No. 3 in B-flat major, D 324, is a mass composed by Franz Schubert in 1815. It is written for four soloists, a four-part choir and orchestra. While by length it could be a missa brevis, its large orchestral force with trumpets, timpani and woodwinds has also led to its classification as a missa solemnis.[1][2]

Background

Schubert composed this mass setting a few months after his mass in G major, beginning on 11 November 1815.[2][3] The occasion for which it was composed is unknown; however, it is thought that the soprano soloist in the first performance was Therese Grob.[4] This suggests that it was written for the Lichtental Parish Church; Schubert may also have been attempting to create opportunities to spend time with Grob, with whom he was deeply in love.[3]

Its large orchestral component and extended orchestral interludes have been called "Haydnesque";[2] the latter's Nelson Mass has been cited as a particularly strong influence.[5] References to Mozart and Bach have also been noted.

While little is now known about the circumstances of the original performance, the mass was familiar outside Vienna. Schubert received a letter from his brother Ferdinand on 6 October 1824, saying that he had been asked to play the organ for a performance of a mass in Hainburg. The mass was by a famous composer whose identity was unknown to the invitees; upon receiving it, Ferdinand recognised his brother's work.[2][4]

Structure and scoring

The mass consists of six movements. Performances require approximately 30 minutes. It is scored for soprano, alto, tenor and bass soloists, a four-part choir (SATB) and an orchestra of 2 trumpets, timpani, 2 oboes, 2 bassoons, violin I and II, viola and basso continuo (cello, double bass and organ).

In the following table of the movements, the markings, keys and time signatures are taken from the choral score, using the symbol for alla breve (2/2). The voices are abbreviated for the four-part choir (SATB), and the solo voices soprano (S), alto (A), tenor (T) and bass (B).

No. Part Incipit Voices Marking Key Time
1 Kyrie SATB S A T Adagio con moto B-flat major 3/4
2 Gloria SATB Allegro vivace B-flat major common time
Gratias agimus tibi S T
Domine Deus, Rex coelestis SATB
Domine Deus, Agnus Dei B T S SATB Adagio D minor 3/4
Quoniam tu solus sanctus SATB Allegro vivace B-flat major common time
3 Credo Credo in unum Deum SATB Allegro vivace B-flat major 3/4
Et incarnatus est B S A T Adagio F minor common time
Crucifixus SATB
Et resurrexit SATB Allegro vivace B-flat major 3/4
4 Sanctus SATB Adagio maestoso B-flat major common time
5 Benedictus S A T B Andante con moto F major common time
Osanna SATB B-flat major
6 Agnus Dei S A T SATB Andante molto G minor common time
Dona nobis pacem S A T B SATB Allegro moderato B-flat major 6/8

There is an interesting problem in the structure: the music for the Osanna is the same in the Sanctus and the Benedictus, but the tempo indications of the two movements are not the same (first Adagio then Andante). Performers have therefore to decide how to deal with this, either by changing tempo on arriving at the Osanna or by accepting that the same music can in fact be performed at two different tempi.

References

  1. ^ Shrock, Dennis (2009). Choral Repertoire. p. 383. ISBN 9780199716623.
  2. ^ a b c d Black, Leo (2003). Franz Schubert: Music and Belief. p. 38. ISBN 9781843831358.
  3. ^ a b Newbould, Brian (1999). Schubert: The Music and the Man. p. 36. ISBN 9780520219571.
  4. ^ a b Howie, Crawford (2008). "Small is beautiful: Schubert's smaller sacred works". In Reul, Barbara M.; Bodley, Lorraine Byrne (eds.). The Unknown Schubert. p. 66. ISBN 9780754661924.
  5. ^ Gibbs, Christopher H. (1997). The Cambridge Companion to Schubert. Cambridge Companions to Music. p. 209. ISBN 9780521484244.