Between 1796 and 1802, Haydn composed six masses to celebrate the name-day of Princess Maria Josepha Hermenegilde [de] (1768-1845), who was the wife of his patron Prince Nikolaus Esterhazy II.

The mass is scored for solo quartet, chorus, strings, two clarinets, two trumpets, timpani and organ continuo.

We are indebted to [Haydn scholar Carl Maria] Brand for an explanation: a shortage of wind players at Eisenstadt in 1798 and 1799.

But Haydn has turned this lack into a virtue, the ensemble in each case imparting to the work a unique aura or personality that sets it off from its neighbors: in the Nelsonmesse the hard, metallic, fiery brilliance of D trumpets and solo organ; in the Theresienmesse the mellow glow and at times darkish hues of the B-flat instruments.While probably not as frequently performed as its companions the Nelson Mass or the Missa in tempore belli, the Theresienmesse has attracted critical admiration; Ehrlich for instance refers to it as an "extraordinary work.

"[2] The vocal parts of the mass are performed by four soloists (soprano, alto, tenor and bass) and a four-part choir.