Maurerische Trauermusik
The Maurerische Trauermusik in C minor, K. 477, is an orchestral work composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in 1785 in his capacity as a member of the Freemasons.
The autograph manuscript of the work is preserved in the Berlin State Library.
History
Mozart's own entry into his catalogue under the heading "July 1785" may be an error; he most likely forgot to enter a new heading for November. It was performed during a Masonic funeral service held on 17 November 1785 in memory of two of Mozart's Masonic brethren, Duke [George Augustus of Mecklenburg|Duke Georg August of Mecklenburg-Strelitz] and Count Franz Esterházy von Galántha, members of the Viennese aristocracy.The work uses the Gregorian chant reciting tone tonus peregrinus. The work is scored for 2 oboes, 1 clarinet, 3 basset horns, 1 contrabassoon, 2 horns and strings. The basset horn parts were written for fellow Freemasons Anton David and Vincent Springer.
In 2021 a new arrangement by, created to match the orchestration of Mozart's Requiem in D minor, K. 626,, was premiered in the by the baroque orchestra La Banda conducted by Sebastian Ruf as an introduction to a performance of the Requiem.