The long and the short of it: Zelenka's Missa brevis

Jan Dismas Zelenka's Missa Dei Filii is the second of three transmitted Missae ultimate, but consists, like other “short masses” of the 18th century, solely of a Kyrie and Gloria. Nevertheless, it is an extensive work, and the lengthy, multipartite Gloria is considered as the most impressive Gloria setting that Zelenka created in his over 20 masses. What remains to be answered is whether Zelenka had originally planned a complete mass composition. The musical text of the conducting score corresponds to Volume 100 of the series das Erbe deutscher Musik.

The musical text of the present conductor’s score is based on that of Volume 100 of the Denkmäler edition Das Erbe deutscher Musik.