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Draft:Grabmusik

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Mozart in 1767, by Joseph Duplessis

Grabmusik, K. 42/35a, is an cantata by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The name Grabmusik can be translated as ‘Cantata on Christ’s Grave’, or literally, 'Grave music'.[1]

History

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In 1765, the Mozart family traveled to England and met the lawyer Daines Barrington. Barrington gave the young Mozart several music tests, all of which he passed. In 1769, Barrington gave this anecdote;

The prince of Saltzbourg, not crediting that such masterly compositions were really those of a child, shut him up for a week, during which he was not permitted to see any one, and was left only with music paper, and the words of an oratorio. During this short time he composed a very capital oratorio, which was most highly approved of upon being performed.[1]

Most musicologists believe Grabmusik was the result of this challenge. However, there is no documentation of this proof. Grabmusik was believed to have been first performed in Salzburg Cathedral during Holy Week 1767. In the 1770s, Mozart revisited this cantata and added a final recitative and chorus.[1]

Cantata

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The cantata is a dialogue between a tormented soul, lamenting on the crucifixion of Jesus, and an angel. The libretto's origins are unknown. However, among others, Johann Andreas Schachtner comes up as a librettist, since he was a family friend of the Mozarts.[2]

There are 8 movements in this cantata, and Mozart wrote separate autographs for movements 1-6 and 7-8.

References

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