In March 1785, the Vienna Musicians’ Society, a pension fund for the widows and orphans of professional musicians, asked Mozart to compose a choral work for one of their benefit concerts. Mozart opted for a practical solution and recycled some of his unfinished Mass in C minor, K. 427, reworking it into the cantata Davide penitente.
Mozart added new Italian lyrics to the Kyrie and Gloria, following the style of biblical prayers of penance and repentance. The cantata was thus perfectly suited to the timing of the charity concert during Lent. Mozart also composed a tenor and a soprano aria for the new version. The unfinished mass was thus transformed into a work suitable for the Viennese concert scene.