Mozart believed he was writing his own funeral music for the Requiem, a conviction his wife Constanze could not dissuade him from.
Historical Context
Haydn's Te Deum was likely composed for Empress Marie Theresa, wife of Franz I, but he performed a downsized version for the Esterhazy court due to available orchestral forces.
Composition History
Mozart's Requiem was left largely unfinished at his death and was completed by Franz Xavier Süssmayr after Joseph Eybler returned the incomplete manuscript.
Critical Reception
The authenticity of Mozart's Requiem is widely debated, with numerous 20th-century scholars providing alternate versions based on perceived mistakes by Süssmayr.
Recording & Production
This recording features the full-scale version of Haydn's Te Deum, including all extant parts, which required more players than Haydn had on staff for his Esterhazy performances.
Composition History
Mozart's Requiem was commissioned by an anonymous messenger on behalf of Herr Count von Walsegg, who intended to pass the work off as his own.
Compositional Technique
Bach's cantata Ein feste Burg is structurally based on Martin Luther's hymn of the same name, using the hymn tune and all four of its verses within its eight movements.
