Maurerische Trauermusik
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. Mozart's own entry into his catalogue under the heading "July 1785" must be considered in 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.
The work uses the Gregorian chant psalm-tone, tonus peregrinus. The work is scored for strings; woodwind instruments including two oboes, a clarinet, three basset horns and a contrabassoon; and two horns.[5] The basset horn parts were written for fellow Freemasons Anton David and Vincent Springer.[1]
See also
Notes
References
- Heartz, Daniel (2009). Mozart, Haydn and Early Beethoven: 1781–1802, W. W. Norton & Co., New York
- Rosselli, John (1998). The Life of Mozart, Cambridge University Press
External links
- Maurerische Trauermusik KV 477: Score and critical report (German) in the Neue Mozart-Ausgabe
- Mozart : Requiem, Musique maçonnique funéraire, KV 477 (Vienna Philharmonic, Herbert von Karajan) on YouTube
