Composed in 1798, during a period when Europe was shaken by war and political instability, this music reflects the turmoil of the times: bold and dramatic passages convey fear and uncertainty, while softer sections bring notes of hope and peace. Later, the mass earned the nickname Nelson, in honor of British Admiral Horatio Nelson, who had just won a major victory – his triumph resounds in every measure.

Michael Haydn, Joseph's younger brother, is less known today but his Requiem in C minor arguably deserves a place among the finest choral music of its time. This powerful work was written in 1771 on the death of the Prince-Archbishop Siegmund of Salzburg, but it expresses a more personal grief, as well: earlier in that same year, his daughter died before reaching her first birthday.