Mozarts Requiem Analysis Essay - 1026 Words

Mozart’s Requiem is â€Å"one of the most performed and studied pieces of music in history† (Stango, n.d.). The story behind the start of this piece begins with Count Franz von Walsegg, who commissioned a requiem mass for his wife Anna (who had passed away). Throughout his work on this piece, Mozart began to get so emotionally involved with the piece that he believed that he was writing a death mass for himself. Mozart died December 5, 1791, with only half of the Requiem finished (through Lacrimosa). Franz Xaver Sà ¼ssmayr finished the Requiem based on Mozart’s specifications from notes and what he had already written. The completed work is dated 1792 by Sà ¼ssmayr and was performed for the first time on January 2, 1793. Mozart’s intent for this†¦show more content†¦Deliver them from the lions mouth. Neither let them fall into darkness nor the black abyss swallow them up. And let St. Michael, Thy standard-bearer, lead them into the holy light wh ich once Thou didst promise to Abraham and his seed† (â€Å"Full Text Lyrics,† n.d.). I was asked to explain why the Corni di Bassetto is the only instrument not in the key of Bb/g. This is because the Corni di Bassetto, a basset horn, is in F, a perfect fifth below concert pitch. Everything the Corni di Bassetto plays sounds a perfect fifth below the written note. Getting down to some smaller details, I have Neapolitan chords, nonchord tones, voice leading, sequences, elisions, and imitation to discuss. In measure 12, beat 1, there is a major chord built on the lowered second scale degree of C minor. This chord is a Db major. Following some research on this chord, I found that it is what’s called a Neapolitan chord, its name coming from its association with the â€Å"Neapolitan school† of 18th century Italian opera composers (â€Å"Neapolitan Chord,† n.d.). What is unusual about the one found in measure 12 is that it is not found in its common fir st inversion form, but rather in second inversion. This chord’s harmonic function is to prepare for the dominant. The fifth of the chord (Ab) usually resolves down a semitone to G (which is what happens in the bass part on beat 3). Another curious thing about thisShow MoreRelatedThe Problem Of Mozart s Requiem959 Words   |  4 PagesIn the last decade, the problem of Mozart’s Requiem has divided itself into three categories which most of the scholars have majored on in an attempt to come up with a clear analysis of the arguments and various evidence. The three main problems include the authenticity problem viewed in a narrower sense, the instrumentation problem and the dating problem. 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