Beethoven's Missa Solemnis—An Introduction and Kyrie

Manuscript from the opening Kyrie of Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis BEETHOVEN MISSA SOLEMNIS—INTRODUCTION AND KYRIE Beethoven spoke of massive study he undertook to prepare composing his solemn mass, including Mozart’s Requiem, Cherubini’s Requiem, Haydn’s masses, even back to the Renaissance with Palestrina’s masses and further to Gregorian Chant. Above all, though, I believe his mind and ear was on…