Franz Schubert is well known for his
lieder, secular vocal works, but not many know about the 7 complete masses that
he composed. The masses were composed from 1814 to 1828. The mass that we are
going to look at today is Schubert's 2nd mass called Mass no. 2 in G major,
also known as Schubert's Mass in G major". This is Schubert's 2nd mass
that he wrote and he wrote it between March 2-7 in 1815. He only needed less
than a week to compose it! This mass is one of Schubert's most popular short
masses that he wrote. Schubert wrote the piece in G major to make it easier to
compose and gave the mass more of a "traditionally folksy
[t]one" (franzpeterschubert.com). The piece is very simple like and is not
to terribly difficult. It requires a string orchestra, organ, soprano soloist,
tenor soloist, a bass soloist, and a choir. However, it was found in the 1980's
that he had also written it for timpani and trumpets as well.
Schubert wrote the
mass for Therese Grob. Schubert fell in love with Therese and would write many
soprano solos just for her. She is the soprano soloist for Schubert's Mass in G
major. It was first premiered at parish church in Lichtental, but there is no
proof that it was ever premiered there in 1815.
The mass is a
Missa brevis which includes all 6 movements of the mass. It is a very typical
thing that composers would write a mass. Most composers wrote masses, but
Schubert's is different. His is very simple and short. Schubert wrote a lot of
"folksy" music that was simple and short during his time.
As stated earlier,
the mass is in the form of a missa brevis which means short mass. It is very
typical for composers of Schubert's time to create larger masses as well as
short ones. He didn't have any rules to follow.
This piece is
obviously a classical piece because Schubert doesn't follow the same emotional
attachment that composer's like Beethoven would have used. Schubert believed
that his listeners should connect to the piece through the "overall
devotional mood of a religious composition.
I wonder why his masses are not as well-known as his other works? Maybe they weren't as successful during his lifetime since he performed mainly privately? Also it's interesting that many other composers composed masses but they also weren't as popular as other works.
ReplyDeleteI would guess that the difference between the reception of Schubert's Masses and his salon pieces has to do with purpose. His Lieder and chamber music are meant to be heard as artistic expression, whereas his Masses are purely utilitarian. They're meant to help facilitate a Catholic church service, and that's about it. They're beautiful, but not intended for contemplation as musical works.
ReplyDeleteI actually sang this in my choir in high school. It's kind of funny to me that he composed such a sacred, church work for a woman he fell in love with. Just because I'm curious, how do they know the premier was at the church in Lichtental if there was no proof? Was it is written in firsthand accounts?
ReplyDelete