Missa solemnis (Solemn Mass), Op. 123

Quick Facts

• Written between 1819–23; premiered in St. Petersburg in 1824
• Scored for SATB soloists, mixed choir, and orchestra
• Dedicated to Archduke Rudolf of Austria, who was a friend and sponsor of Beethoven
• Five movements following a typical mass order:
  1. Kyrie
  2. Gloria
  3. Credo
  4. Sanctus
  5. Agnus Dei¹

About the Piece

• In 1819, the Archduke Rudolf was appointed Archbishop of Olmütz (now Olomouc) in Moravia. In response, Beethoven offered to write this Mass to celebrate the installation. However, the work grew substantially in size as Beethoven worked on it and ultimately wasn’t ready at the time of the ceremony in 1820.
  • A Russian prince (another one of Beethoven’s patrons) arranged the premiere in 1824.
• Beethoven regarded his Missa solemnis as his greatest work. At the top of the score, he wrote, “Von Herzen – möge es wieder zu Herzen gehen!” (From the heart: may it go to the heart).²
• Fun fact – Beethoven dove into writing Symphony No. 9 immediately after finishing Missa solemnis.
  • “The two works are truly companion pieces, shedding light on Beethoven’s spiritual worldview — where the “Ode to Joy” in the Ninth is a hymn to humanity, the Missa Solemnis is a Hymn to God.”³

1. Missa solemnis, Op.123 (Beethoven, Ludwig van), IMSLP, accessed April 12, 2024, https://imslp.org/wiki/Missa_solemnis,Op.123(Beethoven,_Ludwig_van).
2. Hugh Macdonald, “Missa Solemnis,” L. A. Phil, accessed April 12, 2024, https://www.laphil.com/musicdb/pieces/2348/missa-solemnis.
3. Nick Dobreff, “The Greatest Piece Never Heard – Why Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis Is A Hidden Gem,” Colorado Symphony (2020), accessed April 12, 2024, https://coloradosymphony.org/the-greatest-piece-never-heard-why-beethovens-missa-solemnis-is-a-hidden-gem/.