Ave verum corpus (K. 618) - W.A. Mozart (1756-1791)

Ave verum corpus by W.A. Mozart was written in 1791, and is perhaps one of Mozart’s most frequently performed motets. Mozart, born in 1756, wrote this piece in the summer or the fall (depending on the source) of 1791 shortly before his death in December of the same year. The piece was written and gifted to a choirmaster in the town of Baden, Germany, which Mozart’s wife often visited during bouts of illness. Mozart composed the piece concurrently with his Requiem in D Minor, K 626, the pair of which stands as a stark contrast to each other, both in style and size. Ave verum corpus is a humble piece, suited for small choirs due to its lack of range and dynamic contrast, both of which were likely considerations of Mozart during his composition. The piece is divided into three vocal sections, with instrumental transitions between each. Special conducting considerations should be made to the gentle quality of the piece; it never moves into anything louder than an mf or a subdued f. Despite this, the middle section is slightly more harmonically dense and could benefit from wider gestures before returning to a more vertical, lighter gesture for the ending section. The piece can be performed with strings, although most churches will perform it with an organ using flute/string stops instead. I would advise against brass or principal stops that have a fanfare texture, as well as being cautious with the pedals, as they should support but not overwhelm the choir in the piece. This piece is available in the public domain through IMSLP or CPDL, as well as through the Digital Mozart Edition with several of his other works (https://dme.mozarteum.at/DME/nma).

Ave verum corpus, Hail, true body,

natum de Maria Virgine, born of the Virgin Mary

vere passum, immolatum truly suffered, sacrificed

in cruce pro homine on the cross for mankind

cuius latus perforatum from whose pierced side

fluxit aqua et sanguine flowed water and blood:

esto nobis prægustatum Be for us a foretaste (of the Heavenly banquet)

in mortis examine. in the trial of death!

Rayl, D. (1991, April). An Annotated Listing of Mozart's Smaller Sacred Works. The Choral Journal, 31(9), 11-17. Schwarm, B. (2016, 30). Ave Verum Corpus, K618 work by Mozart. Retrieved from Encyclopedia Britannica: https://britannica.com/topic/ave-verum-corpus-k-618