[1] The setting was composed in June–July 1816, and possibly received its first performance in late summer or early fall of the same year at the Lichtental Church.

[2] As in his previous masses, the soprano solos were written with Therese Grob's voice in mind.

[5] Schubert's contemporary diary entries confirm his interest in Mozart's missae breves, along with the music of Michael Haydn, another Salzburg composer.

[2] He revisited the mass in 1828, seven weeks before his death, with a purely choral setting of the Benedictus (formerly D. 961) to replace the earlier soprano solo.

[9] Schubert dedicated the publication to Michael Holzer, the organist and choirmaster at the Lichtental church, and his teacher in organ, singing, figured bass and counterpoint.