Course Description

Instructor: Sally Kann, BA

In 1818, Beethoven, deep in his late period, at the height of his powers, and recognized as the most progressive composer of his age, set out to find the ‘key to writing true church music’, so he wrote in a note to himself. In Missa Solemnis, he accomplished something remarkable: universal religious ideas expressed fully, in a way that could not have been done with spoken word alone. All this during a period of great stress and torment, with his profound deafness, rancorous custody battles, and the attempted suicide of his nephew. His Missa is the manifestation of a spiritual quest, which this course will examine over 4 classes through listening and discussion.