The Theresienmesse was composed by Joseph Haydn (b.Rohrau,1732; d.Vienna,1809) in the summer of 1799. It is one of a series of six Masses requested annually by Haydn’s patron, Prince Nikolaus II Esterhazy (r.1794-1833), to celebrate the name-day (September 12, the Most Holy Name of Mary) of Nikolaus’ wife, Princess Maria Hermenegild (1768-1845), and to be presented at the Prince's chapel in Eisenstadt.  The autograph score of this Mass bears the simple title Missa.  The nickname, Theresienmesse is thought to have originated after a presentation in the Viennese court chapel in which the soprano soloist was Maria Theresa of Naples & Sicily (1772-1807), Empress Consort of Holy Roman Emperor Franz II (r.1792-1806).  The Empress was also a soprano soloist in both of Haydn’s oratorios, The Creation and The Seasons, composed during the same period. The other five Masses composed by Haydn during this period are the Paukenmesse (1796), Heiligmesse (1796), Nelsonmesse (1798), Schöpfungsmesse (1801), and Harmoniemesse (1802).

(Adapted from program notes compiled by Graham Caldbeck and published by the Wells Cathedral, Somerset, UK, 2005)