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filius_Immacula
Guest
Are choral liturgies ever done at your parish that sond like mozart or schuberts, i always see masses like this, but are they ever in actial masses
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Operalan
Guest
Yes. There are countless compositions written by composers where the music is for the Mass. Mozart and Schubert wrote many such compositions. These are not operas. I’m not sure why you labeled this thread as such.
In many parishes, a Mass will be celebrated with the music from those compositions used for the various portions of the Mass—Gloria, Creed, Sanctus, etc. Composers wrote Masses for specific occasions as well as for more general use—i.e, Mozart’s Mass in C, Schubert’s Mass #2, Gounod’s St. Cecelia Mass. And, there are the major Masses of Beethoven, Verdi, and others–Requiem Masses, etc. These are all cherished compositions that are often performed outside of Liturgies and enjoyed in concerts in some of the great venues of the world—in major orchestra/choral presentations or in smaller presentations.
In many parishes, a Mass will be celebrated with the music from those compositions used for the various portions of the Mass—Gloria, Creed, Sanctus, etc. Composers wrote Masses for specific occasions as well as for more general use—i.e, Mozart’s Mass in C, Schubert’s Mass #2, Gounod’s St. Cecelia Mass. And, there are the major Masses of Beethoven, Verdi, and others–Requiem Masses, etc. These are all cherished compositions that are often performed outside of Liturgies and enjoyed in concerts in some of the great venues of the world—in major orchestra/choral presentations or in smaller presentations.
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filius_Immacula
Guest
Ignore te thread title, i didnt know what else to call it
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Terra_Rosarum
Guest
It’s okay. “Opera” in Latin is the plural of"opus" which means “work.” It’s a term often applied to musical compositions.Ignore te thread title, i didnt know what else to call it
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Operalan
Guest
Opus is often applied to musical competitions–Opera is a specific genre.
Opus numbers, for a composition, tell you when in the composer’s output a specific work was done. For example, if you have something that is Opus 21, it is the 21st set of compositions (works) by that composer. A few exceptions are the works of Mozart which uses a number system that starts with a “K” (for Köchel)–It is the Köchel numbering system. For example, Mozart’s “Great Mass in C minor” is K. 427 (Köchel #427). It was his 427th set of works.
Similarly, Bach’s numbering system goes by a numbering system called BWV. One of his Toccatas and Fuges in d minor is BWV 565—BWV stands for “Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis”—German for Bach’s Work Catalogue.
So, you can see, Opus #*** is merely a numbering system (and more generic, less specific to any certain composer). It does indeed translate to “work”
As I said before, Opera—however, derives from Opus–but is more associated with a specific type of musical composition for singers, orchestra, and dancers. It is theatrical in nature–unlike an Oratorio which is non-theatrical and often based on Biblical text. One generally sees and hears an oratorio in more of a concert setting or in churches. However, there have been more and more attempts to actually stage oratorios as of late–including, Handel’s great “Messiah”–which is an oratorio.
Opus numbers, for a composition, tell you when in the composer’s output a specific work was done. For example, if you have something that is Opus 21, it is the 21st set of compositions (works) by that composer. A few exceptions are the works of Mozart which uses a number system that starts with a “K” (for Köchel)–It is the Köchel numbering system. For example, Mozart’s “Great Mass in C minor” is K. 427 (Köchel #427). It was his 427th set of works.
Similarly, Bach’s numbering system goes by a numbering system called BWV. One of his Toccatas and Fuges in d minor is BWV 565—BWV stands for “Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis”—German for Bach’s Work Catalogue.
So, you can see, Opus #*** is merely a numbering system (and more generic, less specific to any certain composer). It does indeed translate to “work”
As I said before, Opera—however, derives from Opus–but is more associated with a specific type of musical composition for singers, orchestra, and dancers. It is theatrical in nature–unlike an Oratorio which is non-theatrical and often based on Biblical text. One generally sees and hears an oratorio in more of a concert setting or in churches. However, there have been more and more attempts to actually stage oratorios as of late–including, Handel’s great “Messiah”–which is an oratorio.
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pianistclare
Guest
They can be, but they generally require huge chorus and orchestra or a pipe organ of magnificent quality. So these things are not exactly accessible to the average parish. Sometimes the Cathedral here has such a Mass, but it’s generally like for a big celebration, one that stands alone, with no Masses waiting afterward.
I like these works very much…but IMHO, they take away from the “prayer” of the moment, and make it more about the “werke”. People make a big deal out of non-performance music at Mass, but then go in for these massive choral pieces.
Peace.
I like these works very much…but IMHO, they take away from the “prayer” of the moment, and make it more about the “werke”. People make a big deal out of non-performance music at Mass, but then go in for these massive choral pieces.
Peace.
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mgn2010
Guest
Operalan - thanks for that great lesson on musical numeral catagories!
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Deo_Gratias42
Guest
According to an FSSP priest, such music sometimes is used at the FSSP parish in Rome. He said that for a priest not being used to such music during Mass, “offering Mass can be quite an interesting experience” 
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Operalan
Guest
You’re welcome!!!
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