In January 1779, Mozart began a job as a court organist in Salzburg. Although he had been well received as a child prodigy, and was admired for his fantastic skills as a keyboard player, he was at the age of twenty-three not yet widely regarded as a mature composer. His Salzburg job required that he compose for church services, and this Mass was completed in March to serve as part of that year's Easter festivities in early April. The majestic sound and general grandeur of this Mass were probably the result of the composer's attempt to demonstrate that his qualifications for the job were more than adequate, and that he deserved wider consideration as a composer. The "Coronation" nickname comes from the use of the Mass during a later coronation celebration, probably that of Franz I, as Emperor of Austria, in August 1792. By this time the Mozart had already died, but we can consider that the young genius had been celebrating an ascent of his own: his arrival as a great composer could no longer be denied.
KYRIE
Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison. Kyrie eleison.
Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy.
GLORIA
Gloria in excelsis Deo et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis. Laudamus te. Benedicimus te. Adoramus te. Glorificamus te. Gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam. Domine Deus, Rex coelestis, Deus Pater omnipotens; Domine Fili unigenite, Jesu Christe; Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris. Qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. Qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram. Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, miserere nobis. Quoniam tu solus Sanctus, tu solus Dominus, tu solus Altissimus, Jesu Christe, cum sancto Spiritu in gloria Dei Patris. Amen.
Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men of good will. We praise you. We bless you. We adore you. We glorify you. We give you thanks for your great glory. Lord God, heavenly king, almighty God the Father; Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father; Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father. You who take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. You who take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. You who sit at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For you alone are holy, you alone are Lord, you alone are most high, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
CREDO
Credo in unum Deum, Patrem omnipotentem, factorem coeli et terrae, visibilium omnium et invisibilium. Et in unum Dominum Jesum Christum, Filium Dei unigenitum; et ex Patre natum ante omnia saecula. Deum de Deo, lumen de lumine, Deum verum de Deo vero; genitum, non factum, consubstantialem Patri, per quem omnia facta sunt. Qui propter nos homines, et propter nostram salutem, descendit de coelis. Et incarnatus est de Spiritu sancto ex Maria virgine, et homo factus est. Crucifixus etiam pro nobis sub Pontio Pilato, passus, et sepultus est. Et resurrexit tertia die secundum Scripturas. Et ascendit in coelum, sedet ad dexteram Patris. Et iterum venturus est cum gloria judicare vivos et mortuos, cujus regni non erit finis. Et in Spiritum sanctum, Dominum et vivificantem, qui ex Patre et Filio simul adoratur et conglorificatur; qui locutus est per Prophetas. Et unam, sanctam, catholicam, et apostolicam Ecclesiam. Confiteor unum baptisma in remissionem peccatorum. Et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum, et vitam venturi saeculi. Amen.
I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father. God from God, light from light, true God from true God; begotten, not made, one in being with the Father, through him all things were made. For us, and for our salvation, he came down from heaven. By the power of the Holy Spirit, he became incarnate of the virgin Mary and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, suffered and was buried. One the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He shall come to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom shall have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son; with the Father and the Son, he is worshipped and glorified; he has spoken through the prophets. And [I believe] in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church. I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
SANCTUS
Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus, Domine Deus Sabaoth. Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua. Hosanna in excelsis.
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.
BENEDICTUS
Benedictus, qui venit in nomine Domini. Hosanna in excelsis.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
AGNUS DEI
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant us peace.