2023 Repertoire
This year's festival provides a foray into two lesser-known Mass settings by way of one of the most famous.
On the Feast of the Kingship of Jesus Christ, Oct. 29, 10:30 A.M., singers familiar with Mozart will enjoy discovering his Czech contemporary, Franz Xaver Brixi, through the regal and percussive Missa Brevis in C, a Mass setting which survived in manuscript form until as recent as 2004, when it was published for the first time by Dr. J. Butz of Germany. The 2023 Christ the King Music Festival will be the St. Louis debut of this work, and one of the only known performances in the United States since the 2004 publication.
Overshadowed by his substantial organ output, Alexandre Guilmant's Missa Brevis Op. 9 reveals the often overlooked choral side of the Romantic-era composer, providing on the Feast of All Saints, Nov. 1, 6:30 P.M., a stylistic contrast to the classical Masses of the surrounding Feast Days.
Having resurrected these nearly-forgotten sacred works, the festival concludes with select movements from the never-forgotten Süssmayr edition of the Requiem in D Minor by W.A. Mozart interspersed with the Gregorian Requiem Mass, which will unite the prayers for the dead on the Feast of All Souls, Nov. 2, 6:30 P.M.
Sunday, October 29: Christ the King

10:30am - Missa Brevis in C, František Xaver Brixi (1732-1771)
Trumpets, Violins, Timpani, SATB chorus.
Gregorian Proper of Mass.
Wednesday, November 1: All Saints

6:30pm - Missa Brevis Op. 9, Alexandre Guilmant (1837-1911)
SATB Chorus with youth, organ.
Thursday, November 2: All Souls

6:30pm - Requiem in D Minor, KV 626, W. A. Mozart (1756-1791)
Horn in F, Bassoon, Trumpet in D, Timpani, Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass, SATB Chorus.
Distribution of movements between Mozart's KV 626 and the Gregorian Requiem Mass:
I. Introit - KV 626
II. Kyrie - KV 626
III. Dies Irae - KV 626
IV. Tuba Mirum, V. Rex Tremendae, & VI. Recordare - Gregorian Requiem Mass Proper
VII. Confutatis - KV 626
VIII. Lacrymosa - KV 626
IXa. Domine Jesu Christe - Gregorian Requiem Mass Proper
IXb. Quam olim Abrahae promisisti - KV 626.
IXc. Hostias - Gregorian Requiem Mass Proper
X. Sanctus - KV 626
XI. Benedictus - KV 626
XII. Agnus Dei - Gregorian Requiem Mass Proper
XIII. Lux aeterna - KV 626
XIV. Libera me - Gregorian Requiem Mass Proper