Kyrie in C

Scoring: Coro SATB, 2 Ob, 2 Fg, 2 Ctr, Timp, 2 Vl, Va, Bc

Both of the Kyrie settings in E flat major K. 322 (1778/79) and C major K. 323 (probably not prior to 1790) belong to those works by Mozart which were only handed down as incomplete draft scores. However, in both cases Mozart’s original drafts were so extensive and well advanced that Abbé Maximilian Stadler, Mozart’s friend and known from the history associated with the Requiem, could complete both settings.

In 1830, for the first edition of the Kyrie K. 323 Stadler employed the text of the Marian Antiphon for Easter Regina coeli laetare for the vocal parts. The Carus edition presents both the original text (Kyrie), as well as the text from the first edition (Regina coeli), so that the work may be performed in the Mass or in the context of a solemn Vespers during the time of Easter.