Mozart,WolfgangAmadeus (1756–1791)

Abstract

Mozart was a believing Catholic, although his faith was intermingled with Enlightenment ideas. He joined the Masonic lodge “Zur Wohlthätigkeit” in 1784. His letters refer to the will of God, submission to God, and belief in heaven. Although he composed in all genres of classical music, he had a special love of church music which, according to his wife Constanze, was his favorite genre. His earliest works include two masterworks of sacred music: the motet Exsultate Jubilate , with its brilliant final Alleluia ; and the Mass in C Minor, K139 ( Waisenhausmesse , 1768), which, because of its profundity, was until recently believed to be a much later work.