Marina Alexander, conductor & composer
  • Home
    • Notable Activities
  • Compositions
    • Sacred Choral Works
    • Secular Choral Works
    • Choral Editions
    • Editions
  • Ensembles
    • Resources
    • Arcadian Notes - Spring 2023
    • AC Recordings
    • RCS Notes - Spring '23
    • Vocal Warm-Ups
    • Arcadian BEER CHOIR
  • Conducting
    • Media
  • Upcoming events
  • Past programs
  • Activities
  • Repertory
  • Contact
    • AC Poll-Jan 2018

Learning resources - Beethoven Mass in C Major, Op. 86 
Richmond Choral Society


Greetings! Until we were interrupted in March 2020, RCS' rehearsals of Beethoven's beautiful Mass in C Major, Op. 86 were going very well!

That performance has been rescheduled to May 2021. While we must wait to realize our intentions to sing this magnificent work, I am confident that, building on the work already done, and with sustained efforts to keep this piece in our voices, minds, and hearts, we will be able to perform it and celebrate Beethoven's birthday and genius all the more! That will be a joyous day!

Below please find audio-video files and various links to assist you in practicing and learning the music. Please visit this site periodically to keep the music actively alive in your consciousness.


Happy listening!

COMPLETE RECORDINGS

Monteverdi Choir - John Eliot Gardner Conductor

Click on SHOW MORE to see tabs for each movement.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=94v1q5L67ts

Concertgebouworkests Koor Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest
Sir Colin Davis, conductor
Live recording, Amsterdam, 12.I.1986


Click on SHOW MORE to see tabs for each movement.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsW5bY5RZRQ

INDIVIDUAL MOVEMENTS
Recording by Collegium Musicum 90 -  Richard Hickox, conductor
Rebecca Evans, soprano - Pamela Helen Stephen, mezzo-soprano
Mark Padmore, tenor - Stephen Varcoe - baritone 
1. KYRIE (with scrolling score)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3czPtuqqLe8
2. GLORIA (with scrolling score)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_wfcEXIGto
3. CREDO (with scrolling score)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXr2Cza3Ee4
4. SANCTUS (with scrolling score)
​The wonderfully celebratory "Sanctus" is followed by a lyrical "Benedictus" that turns into an
​antiphonal dialogue between the 4 vocal soloists and the tutti Chorus.
​And as is typical, the "Hosanna" of the SANCTUS returns to close the movement.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkHF9a2B-WM
5. AGNUS DEI (with scrolling score)
The "Agnus Dei" opens with three wonderfully plaintive and increasingly turbulent exhortations for mercy in C minor.
This is followed by the "Dona nobis pacem," a hopeful plea for peace in C major, though Beethoven momentarily interjects a repetition of the "Agnus Dei," and then gradually reinforces the dominance of the ideal of 'pacem," completing the Mass with a recollection of its very beginning by quoting the main theme of the 1st movement.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IG_agR5iEOk

INDIVIDUAL VOICE PARTS
Learning CDs available for purchase from Carus-Verlag
Highlighted voice is played on the piano, with a live recording simultaneously underneath.
See www.carus-verlag.com/en/choir/choral-music-by-scoring/mixed-choir/mixed-choir-with-instruments/beethoven-messe-in-c-carus-choir-coach.html

ONLINE MIDIs at "CHOIR PRACTICE" (CHOR PRAXIS)
Midis of each movement, and of each voice part.
www.impresario.ch/choral/beet86.htm

To access, for each movement, RIGHT CLICK on "Chorstimmen/Choral Parts."
On the right side of the next page, each voice part for that movement will be playable separately.
It appears the parts are DOWNLOADABLE.

INDIVIDUAL PARTS/ MOVEMENTS
In the videos below, the FEATURED PART is played by the PIANO, with simulated orchestra in the background. There is also a scrolling score. All this is very helpful.

BUT, please note that the dynamics and tempi are not necessarily what we've been rehearsing, so please keep that in mind.

HAPPY LISTENING!

1 - KYRIE: SOPRANO
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ugrsp6ZcXCU&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdiOUV_40k3ZrKJ83r6CJU8U
1 - KYRIE: ALTO
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRL5e-CzYxE

1 - KYRIE: TENOR
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uezlAax3hqc&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdgT8tOtYWqNmdQdj_kSaEtX
1 - KYRIE: BASS
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_qQwVsgIG4
2 - GLORIA: 
​
SOPRANO - 2a "Gloria in excelsis"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EyWVd-JHvI&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdiOUV_40k3ZrKJ83r6CJU8U&index=2
SOPRANO - 2b "GLORIA - Qui tollis"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmnPCsU2V9E&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdiOUV_40k3ZrKJ83r6CJU8U&index=4
​
SOPRANO - 2c "GLORIA - Quoniam"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSfv4DwzfK8&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdiOUV_40k3ZrKJ83r6CJU8U&index=5
ALTO - 2a - "Gloria in excelsis"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ASPwjyfvtg&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdilPwdN8Fg0SPGWFZvaCYJE&index=2
ALTO
- 2b - "GLORIA - Qui tollis"​
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0fHBrv57ks&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdilPwdN8Fg0SPGWFZvaCYJE&index=4
ALTO - 2c -"GLORIA - Quoniam"​
www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9Wpbwt3rzY&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdilPwdN8Fg0SPGWFZvaCYJE&index=5
TENOR - 2a - "Gloria in excelsis"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhJxb68Uc-s&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdgT8tOtYWqNmdQdj_kSaEtX&index=2
TENOR - 2b - "GLORIA - Qui tollis"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=U46alva4qDA&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdgT8tOtYWqNmdQdj_kSaEtX&index=4
​​TENOR - 2c - "GLORIA - Quoniam"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElN9vZVWabs&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdgT8tOtYWqNmdQdj_kSaEtX&index=5
BASS - 2a - "Gloria in excelsis"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XgrgyOs2Zw&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdjlEfbksakbbXfalQTSiSaS&index=2

BASS - 2b - "GLORIA - Qui tollis"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cml_9jQo4lI&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdjlEfbksakbbXfalQTSiSaS&index=3
​
​​BASS - 2c - "GLORIA - Quoniam"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhaIoRddHD4&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdjlEfbksakbbXfalQTSiSaS&index=5
3 - CREDO:
SOPRANO - 3a - "CREDO in unum Deum" (meas. 1 - 131)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkHD-LYxwRk
SOPRANO - 3b - "CREDO - et incarnatus est"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EDAcFxfFzA&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdiOUV_40k3ZrKJ83r6CJU8U&index=7
​
SOPRANO - 3c - "CREDO - et resurrexit"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ywAbCz0X6Y&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdiOUV_40k3ZrKJ83r6CJU8U&index=8
SOPRANO - 3d - "CREDO - Et vitam venturi"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzTRuIzRUdw&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdiOUV_40k3ZrKJ83r6CJU8U&index=9
ALTO - 3a - "CREDO in unum Deum" (meas. 1 - 131)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCOUItwu0FM&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdilPwdN8Fg0SPGWFZvaCYJE&index=6
ALTO - 3b - "CREDO - et incarnatus est"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTJclssZlhk&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdilPwdN8Fg0SPGWFZvaCYJE&index=7

ALTO - 3c - "CREDO - et resurrexit"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXEiNqydRTw&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdilPwdN8Fg0SPGWFZvaCYJE&index=8
ALTO - 3d - "CREDO - Et vitam venturi"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztobhtRN4DU&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdilPwdN8Fg0SPGWFZvaCYJE&index=9
TENOR - 3a - "CREDO in unum Deum" (meas. 1 - 131)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hM4eDJb1g8E&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdgT8tOtYWqNmdQdj_kSaEtX&index=6
TENOR - 3b - "CREDO - et incarnatus est"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1jGUb8xcdk&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdgT8tOtYWqNmdQdj_kSaEtX&index=7

TENOR - 3c - "CREDO - et resurrexit"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5A0jAxYw3U8&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdgT8tOtYWqNmdQdj_kSaEtX&index=8
TENOR - 3d - "CREDO - Et vitam venturi"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vze2wgV-qLA&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdgT8tOtYWqNmdQdj_kSaEtX&index=9
BASS - 3a - "CREDO in unum Deum" (meas. 1 - 131)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=afIbtkpMniI&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdjlEfbksakbbXfalQTSiSaS&index=6
​BASS - 3b - "CREDO - et incarnatus est"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bZbkgNdOcc&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdjlEfbksakbbXfalQTSiSaS&index=7

BASS - 3c - "CREDO - et resurrexit"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHBeIe4e_o4&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdjlEfbksakbbXfalQTSiSaS&index=8

BASS - 3d - "CREDO - Et vitam venturi"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpFbs_x4sSE&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdjlEfbksakbbXfalQTSiSaS&index=9
4 - SANCTUS:
SOPRANO - "Sanctus"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxQ2U-4B_mI&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdiOUV_40k3ZrKJ83r6CJU8U&index=10
​
SOPRANO - "Benedictus"
​www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iy4F8CUgQXs&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdiOUV_40k3ZrKJ83r6CJU8U&index=12
ALTO - "Sanctus"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyBztwCIph0&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdilPwdN8Fg0SPGWFZvaCYJE&index=10
​
​ALTO - "Benedictus"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=z05aA2HJ-5k&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdilPwdN8Fg0SPGWFZvaCYJE&index=12

TENOR - "Sanctus"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=umSmC0vM93U&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdgT8tOtYWqNmdQdj_kSaEtX&index=10
​
​TENOR - "Benedictus"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuW1OYxsfG8&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdgT8tOtYWqNmdQdj_kSaEtX&index=12
BASS - "Sanctus"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFIo80YsRR4&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdjlEfbksakbbXfalQTSiSaS&index=10

BASS - "Benedictus"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6icYXdBVv8&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdjlEfbksakbbXfalQTSiSaS&index=12

5 - AGNUS DEI
SOPRANO - 6a - "Agnus dei"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=859-SroIbqg&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdiOUV_40k3ZrKJ83r6CJU8U&index=13
SOPRANO - 6b - "Dona nobis pacem"
​www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8RS3uF1Oe4&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdiOUV_40k3ZrKJ83r6CJU8U&index=14
ALTO - 6a - "Agnus dei"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_MKxonmC7I&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdilPwdN8Fg0SPGWFZvaCYJE&index=13
ALTO - 6b - "Dona nobis pacem"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-7Z6VhTPaY&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdilPwdN8Fg0SPGWFZvaCYJE&index=14
TENOR - 6a - "Agnus dei"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4BFW3lEkk4&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdgT8tOtYWqNmdQdj_kSaEtX&index=13
TENOR - 6b - "Dona nobis pacem"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG1ev_dGqEA&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdgT8tOtYWqNmdQdj_kSaEtX&index=14
BASS - 6a - "Agnus dei"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GF3hH2Wv_O8&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdjlEfbksakbbXfalQTSiSaS&index=13

BASS - 6b - "Dona nobis pacem"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FniaAY_rQDE&list=PL9SD3GZ81VdjlEfbksakbbXfalQTSiSaS&index=14


ONLINE SCORE
Link to online Piano/Vocal score (this will open in a new window)
​www.pandolfopaolo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Beethoven-Mass-in-C-Major-Op.-86.pdf

AUTOGRAPH SCORE
The Beethoven-Haus Bonn has a page devoted to the Mass in C. It includes audio, and links to the manuscripts of the Kyrie and the Gloria, the only movements for which Beethoven's original score survives.
www.beethoven.de/en/work/view/5932011688558592/Mass+in+C+major+for+four+solo+voices%2C+chorus+and+orchestra+op.+86?fromArchive=5376194534965248

OTHER BEETHOVEN INFO

The Mass in C Major provides very unique insight to the composer's spiritual side, which often manifests itself in the music. 

To supplement our understanding of him, here are a few links that you may find interesting:

BEETHOVEN"S "Heiligenstadt Testtament" - a letter written in 1802 (discovered after his death in 1827) bewailing Beethoven's increasing deafness and the effects it was having on his life.
Wikipedia article: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heiligenstadt_Testament
COMPLETE TEXT (in English): en.wikisource.org/wiki/Heiligenstadt_Testament
Beethoven 250: The ultimate song of health after illness
In 1825, while recuperating from a near-death experience, Beethoven composed one of the most profound pieces of music in Western history. Andrea Valentino explores how The Holy Song of Thanksgiving came about.
www.bbc.com/culture/article/20200720-beethoven-250-the-ultimate-song-of-health-after-illness
For more info, please visit the web sites of Ms. Alexander's ensembles