Composer

:

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Oratorio

Compose Date

:

1785

Average_duration

:

45:51

Movement_count

:

10

Movement ....

Davidde penitente, K. 469, is a sacred choral work composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in 1785. The piece was commissioned by the Masonic Lodge in Vienna, and it was intended to be performed during their annual Good Friday service. The text of the work is based on Psalm 51, which is a prayer of repentance. The premiere of Davidde penitente took place on April 13, 1785, at the Church of the Teutonic Order in Vienna. The performance was conducted by Mozart himself, and it featured a choir of around 60 singers and a small orchestra. The piece was well-received by the audience, and it has since become one of Mozart's most popular choral works. Davidde penitente is divided into three movements, each of which is based on a different section of Psalm 51. The first movement is a choral fugue that begins with the words "Asperges me, Domine" ("Sprinkle me, O Lord"). The second movement is a soprano aria that features the text "Tibi soli peccavi" ("Against you alone have I sinned"). The final movement is a choral setting of the text "Cor mundum crea in me" ("Create in me a clean heart"). One of the most notable characteristics of Davidde penitente is its use of counterpoint. The piece features intricate vocal lines that weave in and out of each other, creating a complex and rich texture. Another characteristic of the work is its use of chromaticism, which adds a sense of tension and drama to the music. Overall, Davidde penitente is a powerful and moving work that showcases Mozart's skill as a composer of sacred music. Its combination of intricate counterpoint, expressive chromaticism, and powerful choral writing make it a masterpiece of the genre.

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