Convertentur sedentes in D major (K. Anh.C 3.09)
by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Convertentur sedentes (K. Anh.C 3.09) is a Latin-text Offertory in D major that was once transmitted under Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s name, but is now regarded as spurious and attributed to his father, Leopold Mozart. No secure composition date or place is established in the major online catalog record, although the work survives in sources and was printed in the early 19th century.
What Is Known
The title Convertentur sedentes in umbra ejus points to a liturgical text rather than a keyboard miniature, and the principal modern catalogue entry treats K. Anh.C 3.09 as an Offertory “for soloists, choir and orchestra” by Leopold Mozart, with authenticity explicitly marked as falsely attributed to Wolfgang [1]. The same work appears on IMSLP under Leopold’s name, noting its former attribution to Wolfgang as K. 177, and giving scoring for soprano, tenor and orchestra [2]. The Mozarteum catalogue further indicates that the work is erhalten (surviving) and documents early printed dissemination (including an “Erstdruck, 1820”), alongside part-material that bears Wolfgang’s name on the title—evidence of how the misattribution circulated [1].
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Musical Content
A detailed, bar-by-bar description cannot be securely offered here without consulting the surviving musical text itself; however, the catalogued scoring is consistently vocal and orchestral rather than keyboard: solo voices (at least soprano and tenor), with choir and orchestra/organ in the source tradition [1] [2]. In practical terms, that places K. Anh.C 3.09 among Salzburg-style Latin offertories designed to follow the readings at Mass—music shaped by clear textual declamation, periodic phrasing, and functional contrasts between solo and tutti forces rather than by pianistic figuration [1].
[1] Internationale Stiftung Mozarteum (Köchelverzeichnis): KV Anh. C 3.09 — catalog entry identifying the Offertory in D major as falsely attributed and assigning it to Leopold Mozart; includes survival/print/source notes.
[2] IMSLP: “Convertentur sedentes (Mozart, Leopold)” — notes former attribution to W. A. Mozart (K. 177) and gives basic scoring/edition details.