Freischtz-MesseWeV A.2

Carl Maria von Weber wrote hisMissa sancta no. 1in E flat major in just two months, despite his heavy workload as Kapellmeister at the Dresden court. The work acquired the nickname Freischtz Mass because the composer interrupted work on his opera of the same name in January and February 1818 to compose the mass. And so Weber presented himself to his new employer King Friedrich August I of Saxony as a versatile composer, for as well as his main task of developing a German opera alongside the existing Italian opera at court, his duties also included writing church music.

In the Mass Weber responded to the local conditions in a particular way: he took into account liturgical practice at the Dresden court by adding an Offertorium to the sections of the mass ordinary, setting this as a bravura aria specially written for the Dresden star soprano Filippo Sassaroli. Because of the reverberant acoustics in the Hofkirche, he avoided rapid changes of harmony. Although the Mass was perceived as too operatic by critics, it was very well received by audiences and also pleased the King.

• Practically oriented edition based on the sources, performance material available on sale for the first time
• Easy to medium difficulty level
• Text of the Mass includes an Offertorium in accordance with liturgical practice at the Dresden court at the time