Mass in C major op. 86

“But, dear Beethoven, what have you done again?” Even if the authenticity of this statement, which was quoted by Anton Schindler, may be doubted, it reflects quite well the confusion that the Mass in C may have caused its commissioner, Prince Nicholas II Esterházy, in 1807. Unconventional for those times, here Beethoven opened up entirely new worlds of expression for the liturgical text, opening up new avenues for the further development of mass compositions in the 19th century.

This important work of choral literature can now be performed by smaller forces thanks to this arrangement for soloists, choir and chamber orchestra. Instead of 12, just 5 wind instruments are required. The string parts can also be played by single soloists; the performance material contains suggestions about how to deal with the divisi passages. All the vocal parts (soloists and chorus) are unaltered in the arrangement, so that the vocal scores and choral scores from the original version can be used.

• Large mass also performable for smaller choirs
• Wind instruments of the original version reduced to five single instruments
• Vocal and choral scores of the original version can be used
• carus plus: the work (original version) is available in the app carus music, the Choir Coach, as well as in the series Carus Choir Coach (audio only)