Missa brevis

Telemann's Missa brevis on the Christmas hymn "Ein Kindelein so löbelich" is one of eleven surviving Latin Missae breves based on church hymns. The motetlike composition calls for a mixed choir accompanied by a basso continuo, reinforced by colla-parte instruments. However, the mass can also be performed solely with an organ accompaniment. Gottlob Harrer, the successor to Johann Sebastian Bach as Thomaskantor, performed the mass in Leipzig at Christmas in 1750 and 1751 with an instrumental accompaniment and for this purpose he added two horns. They are included in the present edition as ad libitum parts.