Ludwig van Beethoven Missa solemnis

Arrangement for chamber orchestra (arr. J. Linckelmann) op. 123, 1817-1823 / 2020

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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 versionArrangement 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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Purchase
full score, Foreword in German and English Carus 40.689/50, ISMN 979-0-007-25444-5 288 pages, paperback
available
130,00 € / copy
set of parts, complete orchestral parts, on loan Carus 40.689/69 23 x 32 cm, without cover
  • 1 x set of parts, harmony parts, on loan, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, timpani (40.689/59)
     
    5 x individual part, violin 1, on loan (40.689/61)
     
    5 x individual part, violin 2, on loan (40.689/62)
     
    4 x individual part, viola, on loan (40.689/63)
     
    4 x individual part, violoncello, on loan (40.689/64)
     
    2 x individual part, double bass, on loan (40.689/65)
     
    1 x individual part, organ, on loan (40.689/99)
     
Ludwig van Beethoven: Missa solemnis, choral score Carus 40.689/05, ISMN 979-0-007-13113-5 36 pages, DIN A4, without cover Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
available
from 20 copies 11,95 € / copy
from 40 copies 10,76 € / copy
from 60 copies 9,56 € / copy
full score digital (download), pdf file Carus 40.689/50-010-000, ISMN 979-0-007-29949-1 288 pages
available
117,00 € / copy
set of parts (digital), zip file, pdf file, complete orchestral parts, on loan Carus 40.689/69-010-000
  • 1 x set of parts (digital), zip file, pdf file, harmony parts, on loan (40.689/59-010-000)
     
    1 x individual part, pdf file, violin 1, on loan (40.689/61-010-000)
     
    1 x individual part, pdf file, violin 2, on loan (40.689/62-010-000)
     
    1 x individual part, pdf file, viola, on loan (40.689/63-010-000)
     
    1 x individual part, pdf file, violoncello, on loan (40.689/64-010-000)
     
    1 x individual part, pdf file, double bass, on loan (40.689/65-010-000)
     
    1 x individual part, pdf file, organ, on loan (40.689/99-010-000)
     
text (without music) for download, html file, Singing text, German translation Carus 40.689/00-350-000
available
3,00 € / copy
text (without music) for download, html file, Introductory text, English Carus 40.689/00-320-000
available
25,00 € / copy
text (without music) for download, html file, Introductory text, German Carus 40.689/00-310-000
available
25,00 € / copy
text (without music) for download, html file, Singing text, original Carus 40.689/00-380-000
available
3,00 € / copy
text (without music) for download, html file, Singing text, english translation Carus 40.689/00-360-000
available
5,00 € / copy
  • Ludwig 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

Reviews

... Auch wenn die Reduktion nichts an den stimmlichen Anforderungen für den Chor ändert, ist das chorische Hauptwerk nun auch für kleinere Chöre erreichbar.
Carsten Klomp, Forum Kirchenmusik, 03/2021

... Der neue siebenstimmige Bläsersatz ist gut gemacht, und erfolgt allem Studium nach in guter Kenntnis der instrumentenspezifischen Möglichkeiten.

Württembergische Blätter für Kirchenmusik, 01/2022

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Frequent questions about this work

Can I also use the “normal” vocal score /03 and the choral score /05 from the full-scale version to sing the version presented here?

Yes, the vocal parts are absolutely identical, and therefore the vocal scores and choral scores are compatible with both versions.
Modern arrangements for smaller ensembles often require single instruments to take on multiple parts from the original version. This would be possible only to a very limited extent with historical instruments. This chamber music version should therefore be performed with modern wind instruments.
Yes, the string parts in the arrangement have been taken over almost unchanged from the original version. Detailed information about the few changes in the string parts can be found in the foreword of the full score. However, we also offer the slightly altered string parts on loan with article number Carus 40.689/69.
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