Simply Classical

The Octavian Singers’ forthcoming concert will present the lyrical elegance of the Classical era as composed by the three giants of that time: Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven.

The Haydn Little Organ Mass, named in honour of St John of God, was composed for a little chapel of the Brothers of Mercy in Eisenstadt, where there were few singers available, and includes a florid organ part probably played by the composer at its first use in Mass. It is a typical “Missa Brevis”, which involves telescoping the texts of the Gloria and Credo so each voice part sings different words at the same time, reducing the length of time spent singing during what would have been a rather intimate church service.

Other miniatures in the concert include the famous Mozart Ave Verum, and two other Eucharistic motets possibly composed by Beethoven, who was not known as a composer of music for church services, but who had certainly been the organist for Mass in Bonn as a young, developing musician.

The other main choral work in our concert is the Coronation Mass by Mozart. This probably dates from the first  Easter Sunday Mass after Mozart began employment in Salzburg Cathedral in 1779. It is a relatively short work, designed to be no longer than 30 minutes, but isn’t quite as brief as the other settings of Missa Brevis (like Haydn’s). There are glorious solo lines and slow, deeply spiritual settings of the texts “Et incarnatus est” and “Crucifixus”.

As a contrast to the choral works performed in the concert, we will also hear the Pathetique Sonata by Beethoven played by our talented alto Svetlana Barsky. This work dates from 1798, and mirrors some of the emotional intensity shown in the slow sections of the Mozart Mass.

We look forward to seeing you in St Mary of Bethany Church, Woking, 19:30 on Saturday, 21st March.

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