When
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was working at
Salzburg Cathedral, he set the Latin
Marian antiphon for
Eastertide three times. The earliest is
K. 108, a setting for
soprano, choir and orchestra, written in May 1771 after Mozart's return from Italy. A year later, he wrote K. 127 for the same vocal forces, as a work in three
movements. The solo part was composed for Maria Magdalena Haydn, the wife of
Michael Haydn, sister in law of
Joseph Haydn and court singer, probably in 1779, after his return from Paris. Mozart composed a setting for four soloists,
four-part choir and orchestra, K. 276.
K. 108 The in C major, KV 108, was written in 1771. It is in four movements for solo soprano and orchestra. Mozart adapted the style of the Italian
concerto, with the choir mostly in
motet style. The orchestra features
trumpets and
timpani.
K. 127 The in B-flat major, K. 127, is styled like an concerto, with an opening fast movement in
sonata form, a slow middle movement, and another fast movement, again in sonata form. In the first movement, the instruments present the themes. In the second movement, the setting of the text is dominant, with precedence over musical form, such as choral interjections "Resurrexit" within an arioso "Quia quem meruisti". In the final movement, "Alleluja", the virtuoso soprano interacts with the choir.
K. 276 Mozart's third setting of the Marian calls for an orchestra of two trumpets and timpani, two
oboes,
strings and
basso continuo. It is in
C major, and in one movement, in which the soloists often alternate with the choir. The complete text is rendered again at the end, giving it the idea of a recapitulation. == References ==