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Missa brevis in C major
"Organ Solo"
Mass by W. A. Mozart
Salzburg Cathedral may have been the first performance venue of the mass.
Key	C major
Catalogue	K. 259
Composed	1776 (1776): Salzburg
Movements	6
Vocal	SATB choir and soloists
Instrumental	orchestra continuo

The Missa brevis No. 8 in C major, K. 259, 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, timpani and basso continuo.

Although classed as a missa brevis (brief mass), the inclusion of trumpets in the scoring makes it a missa brevis et solemnis. The mass derives its nickname Orgelmesse or Orgelsolomesse (Organ Solo Mass) from the obbligato organ solo entry of the Benedictus. This is one of three masses Mozart composed in November and December 1776, all set in C major, including the Credo Mass (K. 257) and the Piccolominimesse (K. 258).

The autograph manuscript of the mass is preserved in the Berlin State Library.

The work consists of six movements. Performances require approximately 10–15 minutes.

1. Kyrie Andante, C major,
2. Gloria Allegro, C major,
   ₄
3. Credo Allegro, C major,
4. Sanctus Adagio maestoso, C major,
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   "Pleni sunt coeli et terra" Allegro, C major,

5. Benedictus Allegro vivace, G major,
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   "Hosanna in excelsis" Allegro, C major,
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6. Agnus Dei Adagio, C major,

   "Dona nobis pacem" Allegro, C major,
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References

1. ^ Sadie, Stanley (2006). Mozart: The Early Years 1756–1781. ISBN 9780198165293.
2. Eisen, Cliff; Keefe, Simon, eds. (2006). The Cambridge Mozart Encyclopedia. p. 276. ISBN 9781139448789.
3. Kennedy, Michael; Bourne, Joyce, eds. (2004). The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. p. 535. ISBN 9780198608844.
4. Einstein, Alfred (1945). Mozart: His Character, His Work. p. 338. ISBN 9780195007329.

External links

• Mozart's autograph in the Berlin State Library
•  Missa in C K. 259: Score in the Neue Mozart-Ausgabe
• Free scores of Missa brevis in C Major (KV 259) 'Organ solo' in the Choral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki)
• Missa brevis in C major, K.259: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project

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