Missa solemnis
Arrangement for chamber orchestra (arr. J. Linckelmann) op. 123, 1817-1823 / 2020
Beethoven described his Missa solemnis several times as his greatest work. "Coming from the heart", it was intended to touch and move audiences. Beethoven worked long and intensively on the composition in order to give what he felt was adequate expression to the text. In its length and musical demands, the Missa solemnis goes far beyond typical liturgical settings; for good reason, the premiere took place in a concert hall.
With this arrangement for chamber orchestra (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, timpani and strings, plus organ ad lib), smaller choirs, as well as choirs with more limited resources of space or finance, can now perform this work too. However, the symphonic character and wide dynamic range of the work remain. The scoring of 7 instead of 18 winds offers an optimal balance between transparency and orchestral sound. All the vocal parts (soloists and chorus) are identical with the original version, so that the vocal score and chorus score of that version can be used.
- Major mass can also be performed by smaller choir
- Wind and brass parts of the original version reduced to just seven single instruments
- Vocal scores and choral scores from the original version can be used.
- carus plus: the work (original version) is available in the carus music app, the Choir Coach, as well as in the Carus Choir Coach series (audio only).
| Original version | Arrangement for chamber orchestra |
| Soli SATB, Coro SATB, 2 Fl, 2 Ob, 2 Clt, 2 Fg, Cfg, 4 Cor, 2 Tr, 3 Trb, Timp, 2 Vl, Va, Vc, Cb, Org | Soli SATB, Coro SATB, Fl, Ob, Clt, Fg, Cor, Tr, Trb, Timp, 2 Vl, Va, Vc, Cb, [Org] |
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Composer
Ludwig van Beethoven
| 1770-1827Ludwig van Beethoven was without doubt one of the most influential composers in the history of music. His works formed the culmination of many genres – particularly instrumental – of Viennese classicism, and laid the foundation for the following decades. But Beethoven’s vocal works set standards too: the late Missa Solemnis is one of the most impressive choral works of its time; but his earlier Mass in C also opens up new worlds of expression for the liturgical text, and set the benchmark for the further development in the composition of the mass. And with the final chorus of the Ninth Symphony, the setting of Schiller’s Ode to Joy, Beethoven created one of the most frequently-performed and best known choral pieces of all, writing a timeless musical memorial to himself. Personal details
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Arranger
Joachim Linckelmann
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