I am partial to Beethoven’s Mass in C major, opus 86. It is not as well known as Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis.

The rendition here is from an old LP of mine.

The Gloria is sublime. It occurs at a point about five minutes from beginning of the first track. Especially moving to me is the part of the text of the Gloria, rendered into music, consisting of the following words:

Gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam

Domine Deus, Rex coelestis, Deus Pater omnipotens. Domine Fili unigenite, Jesu Christe. Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris.

Qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. Qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram.

Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, miserere nobis.

 

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Thanks we give to thee

because of thy great glory. Lord God, King of heaven,

God the Father almighty. Lord only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.

Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father.

Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

Who takest away the sins of  the world, receive our supplication.

Who sittest at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us.

 

— Roger W. Smith

   October 2017