Mass in B minor
The Mass in B minor (), BWV 232, is an extended setting of the Mass ordinary by Johann Sebastian Bach. The composition was completed in 1749, the year before the composer's death, and was to a large extent based on earlier work, such as a Sanctus Bach had composed in 1724. Sections that were specifically composed to complete the Mass in the late 1740s include the "Et incarnatus est" part of the Credo.

As usual for its time, the composition is formatted as a Neapolitan mass, consisting of a succession of choral movements with a broad orchestral accompaniment, and sections in which a more limited group of instrumentalists accompanies one or more vocal soloists. Among the more unusual characteristics of the composition is its scale: a total performance time of around two hours, and a scoring consisting of two groups of SATB singers and an orchestra featuring an extended winds section, strings and continuo. Its key, B minor, is rather exceptional for a composition featuring natural trumpets in D.

Even more exceptional, for a Lutheran composer such as Bach, is that the composition is a Missa tota. In Bach's day, Masses composed for Lutheran services usually consisted only of a Kyrie and Gloria. Bach had composed five such Kyrie–Gloria Masses before he completed his Mass in B minor: the Kyrie–Gloria Masses, BWV 233–236, in the late 1730s, and the Mass for the Dresden court, which would become Part I of his only Missa tota, in 1733. The Mass was likely never performed in its entirety during Bach's lifetime. Its earliest documented complete performance took place in 1859. With many dozens of recordings, it is among Bach's most popular vocal works.
Q214203
BWV
ORG
None
Mass ordinary
UNK
Q1339
Johann Sebastian Bach
PER
Q831388
Sanctus Bach had composed in 1724
UNK
None
the "Et incarnatus est" part of the Credo
UNK
Q217295
Neapolitan mass
Concept
Q1948826
SATB
PER
Q173453
winds
Concept
Q2997126
strings
Concept
Q724321
continuo
Concept
Q534932
key
Concept
None
B minor
UNK
Q1662735
natural trumpet
Concept
Q75809
Lutheran
Concept
Q217295
Missa tota
Concept
Q1352567
Kyrie–Gloria Mass
Concept
Q55640293
Kyrie–Gloria Masses, BWV 233–236
UNK
Q6878134
Mass for the Dresden court
MEDIA
Q6784049
many dozens of recordings
ORG
Q310549
Mass in B minor
ORG
1749-01-01T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
1749
DATE
1724-01-01T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
1724
DATE
1740-01-01T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
1740
DATE
1730-01-01T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
1730
DATE
1733-01-01T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
1733
DATE
1859-01-01T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
1859
DATE
+233^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
233
NUMBER
+236^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
236
NUMBER
composer
form of creative work
form of creative work
based on
notable work
instance of