Little is known about the origin of the Mass No. 6 other than that Schubert
wrote it in 1828, just a few months before his death. He does not seem to
have had a specific performance in mind, and the work was only premiered in
November 1829, a year after his death. Critics have since given the Mass an
honored place among the composer's great works, many ranking it as his
finest church composition. Although Schubert calls for five soloists
(soprano, alto, two tenors and bass), the Mass is essentially a choral
Mass. The composer calls for a large orchestra, including three trombones,
but he omits the flutes and keeps the violins in their lower register,
thereby giving the piece a dark, shaded tone.
Schubert's E flat major Mass was recorded at the Court Music Chapel
("Hofmusikkapelle") in Vienna in June 1976. The eminent conductor Karl Böhm
leads the Vienna Philharmonic and the male choir of the Hofmusikkapelle.
The upper registers are provided by the world-renowned Vienna Boys' Choir.
The distinguished soloists are Walter Berry, Peter Schreier and Hans Krenn.
Schubert's E flat major Mass was recorded at the Court Music Chapel
("Hofmusikkapelle") in Vienna in June 1976. The eminent conductor Karl Böhm
leads the Vienna Philharmonic and the male choir of the Hofmusikkapelle.
The upper registers are provided by the world-renowned Vienna Boys' Choir.
The distinguished soloists are Walter Berry, Peter Schreier and Hans Krenn.
