Maurerische Trauermusik

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First page of Mozart's manuscript

The Maurerische Trauermusik (Masonic Funeral Music) in C minor, K. 477 (K. 479a), is an orchestral work composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in 1785[1] in his capacity as a member of the Freemasons.

The autograph manuscript of the work is preserved in the Berlin State Library.

History

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Mozart's own entry into his catalogue under the heading "July 1785" may be an error; he most likely forgot to enter a new heading for November.[2] It was performed during a Masonic funeral service held on 17 November 1785 in memory of two of Mozart's Masonic brethren,[3] Duke Georg August of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and Count Franz Esterházy von Galántha,[4] members of the Viennese aristocracy.

Mozart (1783, dubious), attributed to Josef Grassi

The work uses the Gregorian chant reciting tone tonus peregrinus.[5] The work is scored for 2 oboes, 1 clarinet, 3 basset horns, 1 contrabassoon, 2 horns and strings.[6] The basset horn parts were written for fellow Freemasons Anton David and Vincent Springer.[1]

In 2021 a new arrangement by Giulio Castronovo [scores], created to match the orchestration of Mozart's Requiem in D minor, K. 626, (2 basset horns in F, 2 bassoons, 2 trumpets in D, 3 trombones, timpani and strings),[7] was premiered in the Schlosskirche Bayreuth [de] by the baroque orchestra La Banda conducted by Sebastian Ruf as an introduction to a performance of the Requiem.[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Heartz, Daniel (2009). Mozart, Haydn and Early Beethoven: 1781–1802. New York: W. W. Norton. p. 443.
  2. ^ "Symphonies: Series IV — Orchestral Works" (PDF). Neue Mozart-Ausgabe. 10 (11): IX. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  3. ^ Rosselli, John (1998). The Life of Mozart. Cambridge University Press. p. 116.
  4. ^ Cliff Eisen (2006). The Cambridge Mozart Encyclopedia, Cambridge University Press, p. 168
  5. ^ Müller-Blattau, Joseph (1936). Hohe Schule der Musik: Handbuch der gesamten Musikpraxis (in German). Vol. 1. Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft Athenaion. p. 235.
  6. ^ NMA score, p. 12
  7. ^ "Mozart: Masonic Funeral Music (Maurerische Trauermusik) KV 477 – arrangement by Giulio Castronovo matching the orchestration of the Requiem KV 626". Universal Edition.
  8. ^ "Masonic Funeral Music, score sample, pp. 1–3", Universal Edition

Further reading

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  • Konrad, Ulrich (2020). "Fragen zur Maurerischen Trauermusik KV 477", Mozart Studien 27, pp. 155–176.
  • W. A. Mozart: Maurerische Trauermusik KV 477 (479a). Originale Besetzung (Mozart), Spätere Besetzung (Mozart), Postume Doppelbesetzung. Kritische Ausgabe, ed. Konrad, Ulrich (2024) Kassel: Bärenreiter (BA 9189).
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