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Missa in C major
"Credo"
Mass by W. A. Mozart
Salzburg Cathedral may have been the first performance venue of the mass.
Catalogue	K. 257
Composed	1776 (1776): Salzburg
Movements	6
Vocal	SATB choir and soloists
Instrumental	brass strings continuo

The Credo Mass in C major, K. 257, is a mass composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in 1776. It is scored for SATB soloists, SATB choir, violin I and II, 2 oboes, 2 clarini (high trumpets), 3 trombones colla parte and basso continuo.

The Credo Mass has been classified as either a missa solemnis, a missa brevis or a missa brevis et solemnis – its performance time of approximately 25 minutes makes it difficult to categorise in a definitive manner. Its name derives from the long setting of the Credo, in which the word "Credo" is repeatedly sung in a two-note motif. It thus joins a tradition of so-called "Credo Masses", including Mozart's own Kleine Credo Messe (K. 192) and Beethoven's later Missa solemnis. The first performance was in Salzburg in November 1776. This is one of three masses Mozart composed in November and December 1776, all set in C major, including the Piccolominimesse (K. 258) and the Organ Solo Mass (K. 259).

The work consists of six movements.

1. Kyrie Andante maestoso, C major,
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   "Kyrie eleison" Allegro, C major,

2. Gloria Allegro assai, C major,
3. Credo Molto allegro, C major,
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   "Et incarnatus est" Andante, C major,
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   " Et resurrexit..." Molto allegro, C major,
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4. Sanctus Allegretto, C major,

   "Hosanna in excelsis" Molto allegro, C major,

5. Benedictus Allegro, F major,

   "Hosanna in excelsis" Molto allegro, C major,

6. Agnus Dei Andante maestoso, C major,
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   "Dona nobis pacem" Allegro vivace, C major,

References

1. ^ Sadie, Stanley (2006). Mozart: The Early Years 1756–1781. p. 388. ISBN 9780198165293.
2. Eisen, Cliff; Keefe, Simon, eds. (2006). The Cambridge Mozart Encyclopedia. p. 271. ISBN 9781139448789.
3. Shrock, Dennis (2009). Choral Repertoire. p. 379. ISBN 9780199886876.
4. Stauffer, George B. (2003). Bach - The Mass in B Minor: The Great Catholic Mass. p. 103. ISBN 0300099665.
5. Einstein, Alfred (1945). Mozart: His Character, His Work. p. 338. ISBN 9780195007329.

External links

•  Missa in C K. 257: Score in the Neue Mozart-Ausgabe
• Free scores of Missa brevis in C major (Credo Mass), K 257 in the Choral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki)
• Mass in C major, K.257: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project

• Masses by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
• 1776 compositions
• Compositions in C major