Theresienmesse is a Mass in B flat major written by Joseph Haydn and named after Maria Theresa of the Two Sicilies, empress consort of Francis II. The empress herself was the soprano soloist at private performances of both The Creation and The Seasons in May 1801 at the Viennese Court. The title does not appear on the autograph score, which is labeled simply with the Latin word "Missa".

Written and premiered in 1799, the location was the Bergkirche, near the Esterházy family seat in Eisenstadt, Austria.

The Mass is scored for solo quartet, chorus, strings, two clarinets, two trumpets, timpani and organ continuo. Concerning the paucity of winds (no oboes, bassoons, horns, or flutes) John W. Ehrlich has written:

The drastic reduction of the wind choir ... is unusual. We are indebted to [Haydn scholar Carl Maria] Brand for an explanation: a shortage of wind players at Eisenstadt in 1798 and 1799. This is why the Nelsonmesse, in its original version, also lacks winds. But Haydn has turned this lack into a virtue, the ensemble in each case imparting to the work a unique aura or personality that sets it off from its neighbors: in the Nelsonmesse the hard, metallic, fiery brilliance of D trumpets and solo organ; in the Theresienmesse the mellow glow and at times darkish hues of the B-flat instruments.

While probably not as frequently performed as its companions the "Nelson" mass or the Missa in tempore belli, the Theresienmesse has attracted critical admiration; Ehrlich for instance refers to it as an "extraordinary work." Another commentator writes, "Haydn’s choral writing has all the variety, rhythmic energy and contrapuntal skill of a composer at the height of his powers."

Pergolesi's Stabat Mater, a sacred work, was written in 1736, for male soprano, male alto, string orchestra and basso continuo. It is his best known sacred work.

Stabat Mater is a 13th-century Roman Catholic hymn to Mary

There are two Stabat Mater hymns:
i. Stabat Mater Dolorosa is about the Sorrows of Mary
ii. Stabat Mater Speciosa joyfully refers to the Nativity of Jesus

Pergolesi sets his music to the Dolorosa

Get the music by clicking on the image above!

Get the music by clicking on the image above!

Saturday 24th March 7.30pm
The Emms Centre, Cranleigh School
Conducted by Catherine Beddison accompanied by the Merriman Concert Orchestra
Ticket price TBA