Composer

:

Franz Joseph Haydn

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Mass

Compose Date

:

1768

Average_duration

:

6:16

Movement_count

:

2

Movement ....

Franz Joseph Haydn's 'Missa Sunt Bona Mixta Malis in D minor, H. 22/2' is a sacred choral work composed in 1768. It was premiered in the same year at the Bergkirche in Eisenstadt, Austria, where Haydn was employed as the court musician for the Esterházy family. The mass is divided into six movements: Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Benedictus, and Agnus Dei. The 'Missa Sunt Bona Mixta Malis' is a prime example of Haydn's early sacred music, which was heavily influenced by the Baroque style. The mass is written for a four-part choir, soloists, and a small orchestra consisting of two oboes, bassoon, two horns, strings, and continuo. The use of the orchestra is limited, and the focus is on the vocal parts, which are richly harmonized and ornamented. The Kyrie is a somber and introspective movement, with the choir singing in unison and the soloists adding melodic embellishments. The Gloria is a joyful and exuberant movement, with the choir and soloists alternating between homophonic and polyphonic textures. The Credo is the longest movement of the mass, and it is divided into several sections, each of which reflects the meaning of the text. The Sanctus is a bright and lively movement, with the choir and soloists singing in a call-and-response style. The Benedictus is a duet for two sopranos, with the orchestra providing a delicate accompaniment. The Agnus Dei is a solemn and prayerful movement, with the choir and soloists singing in a mournful and plaintive style. The 'Missa Sunt Bona Mixta Malis' is characterized by its expressive melodies, rich harmonies, and intricate counterpoint. It is a testament to Haydn's skill as a composer, and it foreshadows the great works that he would go on to write in the years to come.

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