Misericordias Domini K. 222 (205a)

Mozart’s “Misericordias Domini” K. 222 (205a) was commissioned by the Elector Prince of Bavaria, as is evident from a letter of the composer to P. Martini. It was probably composed during the first two months of the year 1775 in Munich. This small-scale sacred work was premiered on 5 March of the same year. Closely basing his masterpiece on the meticulously crafted works of his admired Salzburg colleagues, and using a motif from Johann Ernst Eberlin’s “Benedixisti Domine”, Mozart merges polyphony and the expressive power of enthralling harmonic progressions in this work of effective contrasts. As the copy Mozart sent to P. Martini in Bologna cannot be traced, the authenticity of the viola part cannot be guaranteed.