The Mass no. 2 in G major by Franz Schubert, D 167, was composed in 1815.
This is the best known of the three "shorter" mass compositions which Schubert
composed between the more elaborate first and fifth masses. In addition, the later
Deutsche Messe or German Mass, D 872,and the ultimate sixth mass would be longer.
The mass no. 2, commonly referred to as "Schubert's Mass in G," was composed in less
than a week (March 2 to 7, 1815), the year after his first mass had been successfully
performed in Schubert's home parish.The second mass was originally more modestly
scored than the first, requiring only a string orchestra and organ in addition to the
soloists and choir. However, in the 1980s a set of parts for the mass were discovered at
Klosterneuburg which are dated later than Schubert's full score.They not only include
minor changes throughout the work, which would apparently represent Schubert's
"final" intentions,they also include trumpet and timpani parts.
Apart from some passages for the soprano soloist, the solistic interventions are very
modest. Characteristically for Schubert, he is more interested in an overall devotional
mood of a religious composition than in individualistic romantic text-expression.
In this edition for women's voices, I use Schubert's first version for strings and organ
which fits excellently to the sound of the women's choir.