| MOZART - CORONATION MASS
EXSULTATE, JUBILATE • VESPERAE SOLENNES DE CONFESSORE
As one of the most amazing of child prodigies, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) evolved into an expert of every musical form in the incredibly brief span of just 35 short years. His compositions ran the complete musical gamut of operas, symphonies, concerti, masses and songs. His music contains vistas of emotion and meaning found in few other classical composers.
Historical Context
1752: Benjamin Franklin discovers lightning rod.
1756: Seven Years’ War where Britain and Prussia defeat France, Spain, Austria, and Russia. Mozart is born.
1776: The birth of the United States of America. Mozart is 20.
1783: Beethoven’s first printed works.
1789: French Revolution begins with the storming of the Bastille. George Washington elected first U.S. president.
When he was only three, Mozart was able to memorize complete pieces of music after listening once only. Not long after, he began composing. He quickly started living the life of the child star, being carried around Europe by his “stage-father,” winning him favour with royalty and commoners across the continent. All this at only six years of age.
Quickly, people began to be more interested in Mozart the person, than in his music, sending Mozart’s career into a downward spiral. While once a star, the teen Mozart had great difficulty making ends meet. His father desired for his genius son to find work in the service of the Archbishop of Salzburg, his hometown. This ended with Mozart literally being kicked out, and moving to Vienna, then the musical capital of the world. Here he was appointed Chamber Composer to the Emperor Joseph II. During this time, Mozart composed his most popular works, The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, and The Magic Flute, until his death from exhaustion and kidney disease on December 5, 1791.
While modern-day writers and movie makers have painted the picture of him as being a kind of crazy eccentric (no question, he certainly had his moments), Mozart was a man of unparalleled generosity. He was known to step in and help a friend in need, even to the point of his own financial distress.
Much of his spiritual life was documented in letters he had written to family and friends. According to Friedrich Kerst, one of the editors of Mozart’s published letters, states, “Mozart was of a deeply religious nature. Mozart stood toward God in a relationship of a child full of trust in his father.” In fact, in a letter to his father, Leopold, a deeply pious Catholic, Mozart writes: “Papa must not worry, for God is ever before my eyes. I realize His omnipotence and I fear His anger; but I also recognize His love, His compassion, and His tenderness towards His creatures. He will never forsake His own. If it is according to His will, so let it be according to mine. Thus all will be well and I must needs be happy and contented.”
He offers a taste of peace and contentment to believers today with words taken from a letter he wrote: “Let us put our trust in God and console ourselves with the thought that all is well, if it is in accordance with the will of the Almighty, as He knows best what is profitable and beneficial to our temporal happiness and our eternal salvation.”
The Coronation Mass, as well as his other large masses, is one of the best places to see the depth of Mozart’s Christian faith. Here he displays some of his most glorious and emotive music, together with lyrics that encapsulate his firmly held beliefs. The words of praise, especially heard in the “Gloria,” are extremely similar to many of the 21st century praise and worship choruses sung around the world. The other pieces, Exsultate, Jubilate and Vesperae Solennes de Confessore are filled with words of encouragement and inspiration, guiding believers to a place of hope and contentment found alone in a life of faith.
Produced by Eric Wyse
Executive Producers: Peter Sternberg & Richard Martin
(P) & © MMIII Classic Fox Records
www.foxrecords.co.uk
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE MASTERWORKS OF WORSHIP SERIES
Classical music can be a most exhilarating and satisfying sensory experience. However you uncover the gems of classical masterpieces, whether on a recording or in a live concert, the genius of the composer, as well as the emotional and spiritual underpinings all contribute to the uniqueness of each piece.
For Christians there is an added bonus to listening to much of this kind of music, since it was, in fact the praise and worship music of its time. This was the music that came out of the church, written to encourage and inspire believers to turn their attention toward the Kingdom of Heaven. Have you ever listened to a passage of classical music and felt something spiritual, that you couldn’t put your finger on? Many of these composers lived lives that were intensely spiritual, and used their music as a way to communicate their faith. Sounds like the contemporary Christian music scene of today, doesn’t it?
The Masterworks of Worship collection is an opportunity for you to sink into some of the greatest sacred classical masterpieces ever composed. You may have heard some of the music before, but perhaps you’ve never taken the time to find out what they were really saying in the lyrics. Here is a chance for you to pump new life into your daily worship through an inspirational connection with the classics as you find that these composers have put into words the thoughts you’ve only had in your heart.
The following notes provide an insight to each composer and their work. Wherever possible lyric translations have been included for pieces performed in languages other than English - a resource which we hope will provide you with the greatest possible understanding, enjoyment and appreciation of these celebrated classics.
TITLES AVAILABLE IN THE SERIES:
MASTERWORKS OF WORSHIP VOLUME 1
1. Handel - MESSIAH (Highlights)
2. Mozart - CORONATION MASS
3. Brahms - REQUIEM
4. GREAT CHORUSES (With Full Orchestra)
MASTERWORKS OF WORSHIP VOLUME 2
1. Bach - ST. JOHN’S PASSION (Highlights)
2. Vivaldi - GLORIAS
3. Haydn - CREATION (Highlights)
4. GREGORIAN CHANT
MASTERWORKS OF WORSHIP VOLUME 3
1. Beethoven - MISSA SOLEMNIS
2. GREAT INSTRUMENTALS
3. Rachmaninov - VESPERS
4. Stainer - CRUCIFIXION
Produced by Eric Wyse
Executive Producers: Peter Sternberg & Richard Martin
(P) & © MMIII Classic Fox Records
www.foxrecords.co.uk |
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