W.A. Mozart, Mass No. 11 in C Major “Große Credo Messe”, K 257 (1776)

Composed by W.A. Mozart (b.Salzburg1756; d.Vienna1791) in 1776, the Credo Mass was designed to meet the time constraints required by Prince-Archbishop Count Hieronymus von Colloredo (r.1771-1803) of Salzburg. The Mass derives its name 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 Mass No. 7, Missa Brevis No. 3 in F Major, “Kleine Credo Messe”, K. 192 (1774) and Beethoven's Missa Solemnis in D Major, Op, 123 (1823). The Credo Mass 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 a missa solemnis, a missa brevis, and a missa brevis et solemnis – its presentation time of approximately 25 minutes makes it difficult to definitively categorize it. The inclusion of trumpets in the scoring arguably makes the Mass a missa brevis et solemnis, or possibly even a missa longa. The first presentation of the Credo Mass was in Salzburg in November of 1776 most likely at the Cathedral Church of Saints Rupert & Vergilius. It is one of three Masses Mozart composed in November and December of 1776. All of those Masses are set in C major and include, in addition to the Credo Mass, Mass No. 12, Missa Brevis No. 7 in C Major “Piccolomini” (K 258) and Mass No. 13 in C Major, Missa Brevis No. 8, “Orgelsolo” (K 259)