SUMMER FESTIVAL OF SACRED MUSIC at St. Bartholomew's Church Continues with Mozart Today

The 19th annual Summer Festival continues today, September 8 at 11 am with a service featuring Mozart's Missa in C Major, ("The Sparrow"), K. 220.

Mozart composed his Missa in C, K. 220, in 1776, during his time as Konzertmeister at the Court of the Archbishop of Salzburg. The then Archbishop, Count Hieronymous Joseph Franz von Colloredo specified that a fully celebrated high mass should last only three quarters of an hour, prompting Mozart to utilize the Missa Brevis et Solemnis form, a short mass with festive scoring including trumpets and tympani. The Missa in C is the first mass Mozart composed in this form. It received its nickname, "Spatzen" or "Sparrow" because of a delightful bird-like figure appearing in the violins during the Sanctus. The mass is scored for SATB choir, four soloists, strings, trumpets and tympani.

St. Bartholomew's Choir, St. Bart's Singers and St. Bartholomew's Boy and Girl Choristers will be accompanied by an orchestra of period instruments. William K. Trafka will conduct.

The Summer Festival of Sacred Music takes place each Sunday morning at 11 am at St. Bartholomew's Church during the summer months. At a time when most churches reduce their musical offerings, St. Bartholomew's Church provides outstanding sacred music sung by St. Bartholomew's Choir and Boy and Girl Choristers, two of New York City's most renowned choirs. Works include an array of mass settings from the 15th century to the present embracing a diversity of cultures from around the world. The music is sung as part of the 11 am service, the liturgical context for which it was composed. All Summer Festival events are free and open to the public.

The Summer Festival of Sacred Music takes place at St. Bart's, located at the corner of Park Avenue and 51st Street. Subway: 6 to 51st Street. For more information, call (212) 378-0222 or
visit our website for the complete schedule.

Photo Credit: Billy Carpio