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MPC Choir Presents Haydn’s “Kleine Orgelmesse” (“Little Organ Mass”)

On Sunday, June 11, the MPC Choir presented their spring major choral work, the “Missa brevis Sancti Joanni de Deo” (or the brief Mass in honor of St. John of God) by Franz Josef Haydn (1732-1809). Set for choir, organ, strings, and soprano solo, this mass was written for the order of the Barmherzige Brüder, also called Brothers of Mercy, in Eisenstadt, Hungarian Kingdom (now Austria), whose founder and patron saint was St. John of God.

The mass is nicknamed the “Kleine Orgelmesse,” or “Little Organ Mass,” because of the beautiful organ/soprano duet in the “Benedictus” movement. Written in the mid-1770s, the music has all of the wit, grace, and clarity of Haydn at his compositional peak. The MPC Choir was joined by Anne Daniel, soprano soloist; Yuko Tanaka, guest organist; and a chamber string ensemble.

Inter Natus Mulierum — W.A. Mozart (performed during the prelude)

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“Missa brevis Sancti Joanni de Deo” by Franz Josef Haydn

Music Director Kim Rankin’s commentary prior to the performance

Kyrie Eleison

Gloria in excelsis Deo

Credo in unum deum

Sanctus

Benedictus

Agnus Dei

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Ave Verum Corpus — W.A. Mozart (performed during the offertory)

Read more about Franz Josef Haydn on Wikipedia