Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Kyrie, Agnus Dei (Vokalversionen arr. Breuer)

From the outset my two vocal versions of Mozart orchestral works were conceived as twins. Both models shared not only key of C minor, but the fact that they were composed towards the end of Mozart’s life seemed to suggest they were predestined to be arranged as a pair; and finally, their formal structure and, above all, the quotation of a cantus firmus in each piece seemed to bind these two works together. It was more difficult to consider which text was now suitable to render vocally what previously was an orchestral movement. Naturally it should stand out and textually the movement should be raised to another level. The answer was to use another language here. Therefore, I chose the texts “Kyrie eleison” and “Agnus Dei,” i.e., the opening and concluding texts of the Ordinary of the Mass. For a performance of both vocal versions in concert I suggest joining them by playing Mozart‘s great F minor Fantasy K. 608 as an instrumental intermezzo between them. (Heribert Breuer) Kyrie: Vocal arrangement of the Choral of the "Zauberflöte" Agnus Dei: Vocal arrangement of "Maurerische Trauermusik" KV 477