Missa Brevis Sancti Joannis de Deo

Also known as the Little Organ Mass because of the extensive organ solo in the Benedictus. For SATB Choir, Soprano Solo (Benedictus), Organ, 2 Violins and Cello/Bass. Written in 1775, this is one of Haydn's most charming small-scale settings, and with its emphasis on accessibility, brevity, and practicality, it was much admired during his lifetime and thereafter. Being a "missa brevis," several clauses of the text (in the Gloria) are set simultaneously in different voices. When it was premiered in Salzburg however, textual compression was deemed “unacceptable” and so Michael Haydn expanded the Gloria. However, very few performances these days use Michael’s expansion. In this original version, the Gloria lasts less than a minute. The Credo has also been omitted in this edition due to its length and rarity of performance in a liturgical setting.

If you have occasion to use a choral mass setting, this is a classic!

Included in the "EXTRAS" ZIP FILE

• Full (Director's) Score
• Instrumental Parts