Composer

:

Johann Sebastian Bach

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Mass

Compose Date

:

1738 - 1739

Publication Date

:

1858

Average_duration

:

32:43

Movement_count

:

9

Movement ....

Johann Sebastian Bach's Mass in A major, BWV 234, was composed in Leipzig in the early 1730s. It is believed to have been premiered in the Thomaskirche in Leipzig, where Bach served as the cantor, sometime between 1732 and 1735. The Mass in A major is one of four Lutheran masses that Bach composed, and it is the only one that survives in its entirety. The Mass in A major is divided into four movements: Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, and Sanctus. The Kyrie is a three-part setting that begins with a choral plea for mercy, followed by a duet between soprano and tenor, and concluding with a choral affirmation of faith. The Gloria is a nine-part setting that includes a choral opening, a duet between alto and tenor, a choral setting of the Nicene Creed, a duet between soprano and bass, and a choral conclusion. The Credo is a twelve-part setting that includes a choral opening, a duet between alto and tenor, a choral setting of the Apostles' Creed, a duet between soprano and bass, and a choral conclusion. The Sanctus is a six-part setting that includes a choral opening, a duet between alto and tenor, and a choral conclusion. The Mass in A major is characterized by its use of counterpoint, which is the art of combining two or more melodic lines in a way that is harmonically pleasing. Bach was a master of counterpoint, and he uses it extensively in the Mass in A major. The Mass is also characterized by its use of fugues, which are musical compositions in which a theme is introduced in one voice and then imitated by other voices. Bach was also a master of fugue writing, and he uses fugues extensively in the Mass in A major. Overall, the Mass in A major is a beautiful and complex work that showcases Bach's mastery of counterpoint and fugue writing. It is a testament to his skill as a composer and his devotion to his faith.

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