Mathis, Troyanos, Laubenthal & Engen - Mozart "Missa Brevis No. 10" in C major "Sparrow Mass" part l

W.A. Mozart "Missa Brevis No. 10" in C major "Sparrow Mass" part l
Kyrie-Gloria-Credo
Edith Mathis - Soprano
Tatiana Troyanos - Alto
Horst R. Laubenthal - Tenor
Kieth Engen - Bass
Rafael Kubelik - Conductor
Regensburger Domchor
Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Photos: Sagrada Familia, Barcelora by Antoni Gaudí (1852-1926)

- Missa Brevis (Sparrow Mass)
The Missa Brevis No. 10 in C major, K. 220, was written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in 1775 or 1776 for Salzburg. The mass is scored for soloists, choir, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, timpani, strings and organ, the latter supplying figured bass for most of the duration. It is called the Sparrow Mass on account of "the violin figures in the "Hosanna" of the "Sanctus" and "Benedictus" which recall the chirping of birds." The Sparrow Mass is the first of five Mozart wrote in the same key, C major, as if he was setting himself a compositional challenge. Furthermore, Mozart wrote four other missae brevae in C major.
The setting is divided into six movements.
1. "Kyrie" Allegro, C major, common time
2. "Gloria" Allegro, C major, 3/4
3. "Credo" Allegro, C major, common time —"Et incarnatus est..." Andante —"Et resurrexit..." Allegro
4. "Sanctus" Andante, C major, 3/4 —"Pleni sunt caeli..." Allegro, common time
5. "Benedictus" Andante, G major, common time —"Osanna..." Allegro, C major
6. "Agnus Dei" Adagio, C major, 3/4 —"Dona nobis pacem..." Allegro, common time
Even in a missa brevis, fugues are expected to conclude the Gloria and the Credo, but Mozart does not write fugues at those points in this mass. Following the example of Joseph Haydn (such as in the Nicolaimesse) and Michael Haydn, Mozart in this mass recalls the music of the Kyrie in the Dona nobis, something which Franz Xaver Süssmayr did in his completion of Mozart's Requiem.By the way, the Requiem contains an almost literal quotation from this mass in the Requiem aeternam.

- The Sagrada Familia
The Sagrada Familia was designed by Antoni Gaudí (18521926), who worked on the project from 1883 and devoted the last 15 years of his life entirely to the endeavor. In 1882, prior to Gaudí's involvement, Francesc del Villar was commissioned to design a church on the site. He resigned a year later and Gaudí was appointed the project architect, redesigning the project entirely. The project is scheduled to be completed in 2026. On the subject of the extremely long construction period, Gaudí is said to have remarked, "My client is not in a hurry." After Gaudí's death in 1926, work continued under the direction of Domènech Sugranyes until interrupted by the Spanish Civil War in 1936. Parts of the unfinished church and Gaudí's models and workshop were destroyed during the war by Catalan anarchists. The present design is based on reconstructed versions of the lost plans as well as on modern adaptations. Since 1940 the architects Francesc Quintana, Isidre Puig Boada, Lluís Bonet i Gari and Francesc Cardoner have carried on the work. The illumination was designed by Carles Buigas. The current director and son of Lluís Bonet, Jordi Bonet i Armengol, has been introducing computers into the design and construction process since the 1980s. Mark Burry of New Zealand serves as Executive Architect and Researcher. Sculptures by J. Busquets, Etsuro Sotoo and the controversial Josep Subirachs decorate the fantastical façades.

According to the newspaper El Periódico de Catalunya, 2.26 million people visited the partially built church in 2004, making it one of the most popular attractions in Spain. The central nave vaulting was completed in 2000 and the main tasks since then have been the construction of the transept vaults and apse. As of 2006, work concentrates on the crossing and supporting structure for the main tower of Jesus Christ as well as the southern enclosure of the central nave which will become the Glory façade.

Recently, the Ministry of Public Works of Spain (Ministerio de Fomento in Spanish), has projected the construction of a tunnel for the high speed train just under where the principal façade of the temple has to be built. Although the ministry claims that the project poses no risk to the church, the engineers and architects of the temple disagree as there is no guarantee that the tunnel will not affect the stability of the building. A campaign is being waged by the Sagrada Família preservation society (Patronat de la Sagrada Família) and the neighbourhood association AVE pel Litoral.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Missa
• Brevis
• Sparrow
• Mass
• Tatiana
• Troyanos
• Edith
• Mathis
• Laubenthal
• Engen
• Mozart
• Exsultate
• jubilate
• Great
• minor
• fairlytaleofnewyork
• Auger
• Bernstein
• Coronation
• kyrie
• gloria
• Credo
• Sanctus
• Benedictus
• Agnues
• Dei

[evewiemer]

Heavenly Mozart and heavenly voices!

[younglemeshevist]

Beautiful!

[77Opera]

Superbe!

[Shabannie]

The architecture is fascinating too.

[Kievest]

Both Mozart's music and Gaudi's Sagrada have an inner glow of faith! They reach for the stars with spires and cascades of voices the better to express the divine on Earth! Kubelik, the orchestra and soloists harmoniously collaborate in this fine recording! Particularly enjoyed the detailed images of Gaudi's work especially the lovely roses in stone and the entire incredible facade! Interesting political drama in the informative side text! Unique video... well done! Thank you!