Mass in C major, K. 66 "Dominicus"

Not to be confused with Mass in C, 'Solemnis', K. 337; Great Mass in C minor, K. 427; or Missa solemnis in C minor, 'Waisenhaus', K. 139.

The Missa solemnis in C major, K. 66, is a mass composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in 1769.^[1] It is scored for SATB soloists and choir, violins I and II, viola, 2 oboes, 2 horns, 2 clarini (high trumpets), 2 trumpets and basso continuo.

Missa solemnis in C major
"Dominicus"
Mass by W. A. Mozart
Interior of St Peter's Abbey, Salzburg
Key	C major
Catalogue	K. 66
Occasion	Ordination of Cajetan Hagenauer [de] as Pater Dominicus
Composed	15 October 1769 (1769-10-15): Salzburg
Movements	6
Vocal	SATB choir and soloists
Instrumental	Orchestra

Mozart composed the mass for the ordination of Cajetan Hagenauer [de], son of Lorenz Hagenauer [Wikidata], the Mozarts' landlord and family friend. Cajetan had entered St Peter's Abbey, a Benedictine monastery, whilst the Mozarts were on their grand tour.^[2] When he became a priest in 1769, he took the name Pater Dominicus and celebrated his first solemn high mass; this gives the work its nickname, Dominicusmesse.^[3] Leopold Mozart conducted the première on 15 October to a packed church in Salzburg;^[4][5] it is thought that the success of this performance led to Wolfgang's first Italian tour.^[6]

Due to its length, the mass is classified as a missa solemnis.^[7] It is divided into six movements.

1. Kyrie Adagio, C major,

   "Kyrie eleison" Allegro, C major, ³
   ₄

2. Gloria Allegro moderato, C major, ³
   ₄

   "Laudamus te" Andante grazioso, F major, ²
   ₄; soprano/alto duet

   "Gratias agimus tibi" Adagio, C major,

   "Propter magnam gloriam tuam" Allegro, C major,

   "Domine Deus" Un poco andante, G major, ³
   ₄; tenor solo

   "Qui tollis peccata mundi" Un poco adagio, G minor,

   "Quoniam tu" Andante ma un poco allegro, F major, ³
   ₄; soprano solo

   "Cum Sancto Spiritu" Alla breve, C major,

3. Credo Molto allegro, C major,

   "Et incarnatus est" Adagio, F major, ³
   ₄; soloists

   "Crucifixus" Adagio, C minor,

   "Et resurrexit" Molto allegro, C major,

   "Et in Spiritum Sanctum Dominum" Andante, G major, ³
   ₄; soprano solo

   "Et in unam sanctam" Moderato, C major,

   "Et vitam venturi saeculi" Allegro, C major, ³
   ₄

4. Sanctus Adagio, C major,

   "Pleni sunt coeli et terra" Allegro, C major, ³
   ₄

   "Hosanna in excelsis" Moderato, C major,

5. Benedictus Allegro moderato, G major, ; soloists

   "Hosanna in excelsis" Moderato, C major,

6. Agnus Dei Allegro moderato, C major,

   "Dona nobis pacem" Allegro, C major, ³
   ₈

Recordings

• 1989 – Edith Mathis (soprano), Rosemarie Lang (contralto), Uwe Heilmann (tenor), Jan-Hendrik Rootering (bass) – Rundfunkchor Leipzig, Radio-Sinfonie-Orchester Leipzig, Herbert Kegel – CD Philips. This recording was used in volume 19 (Missae/Requiem) of The Complete Mozart Edition. During the 1980s, Kegel recorded Mozart's complete large-scale religious music (i.e. masses, missae breves, offertoriums etc.) for Philips.