The Missa tempore Quadragesimae (Mass for the time of Lent), Klafsky 1:19, MH 553, is a mass without a Gloria by Michael Haydn. The work in D minor was written in 1794 in Salzburg, scored for a four-part choir and organ.[1] It is suitable also for Advent.[2]
History
Michael Haydn composed the mass as a director of music in Salzburg under archbishop Colloredo.[3] According to a recording's notes, the "Missa is perfectly in accord with the then current ideals for reform in the Catholic Church: functional, short, simple, modest and linked to the Gregorian tradition."[4]
Scoring and structure
The autograph is titled: "Missa, tempore Quadragesimae. à 4 Voci in pieno, col Organo. Di Giov: Michele Haydn" (Mass for Lent for four voices, with organ by Giov. Michele Haydn).[5] In the following table of the movements, the markings, keys and time signatures are taken from the choral score of the Carus edition, using the symbol for alla breve (2/2).[1]
Publication
The mass was first published around 1820, possibly 1827, in Augsburg by Anton Böhme, titled Missa in tempore Adventus et Quadragesimae and supplemented by J. Eybler, who added a Gloria and a second Et incarnatus. It appeared in Vienna in 1915, edited by Anton Maria Klafsky, in Denkmäler der Tonkunst in Österreich, volume 45, by the Österreichischer Bundesverlag.[2]
Recordings
The mass was recorded in 2006 by the Ex Tempore choir, conducted by Florian Heyerick, together with other works by the composer. A review notes its "beautiful, concise soberness unlike anything in the Mozart oeuvre or that of anyone else",[6] pointing at the section "Et incarnatus est" which is free in tempo, similar to harmonized chant.[1] The mass was recorded in 2008 by the Purcell Choir, conducted by György Vashegyi, combined with other lenten music by the composer, titled Sacred music for the season of Lent.[7] A reviewer notes the homophonic setting and simple rhythm, resulting in a floating meditative sound.[8]
