As part of my ongoing 'all the records by forty' project I listened to Beethoven's Missa Solemnis a few times with the intention of blogging it thoughtfully.
It is acknowledged as a great work, and like all the rest of Beethoven (that I know), I like it. I realised that I have very little intelligent to say about it. I thought that perhaps that absence of intelligent comment was merely indicative of a lack of understanding. Beethoven didn't write the work as Light Entertainment, and if I were to approach it as such, it would be a waste of my time and yours. Hence the reason why I listened a few times.
I don't need any explanation of the story and the meaning. Despite my ungodliness i am very familiar with the rites and structure of the mass, musically I find masses to be a particularly worthwhile musical form. I considered whether my understanding would benefit from listening with the score and decided that it probably would, but, to be honest, I can't be bothered. I am not intending to perform it any time in the near future, and I don't think it was intended that the listener should need a score to comprehend.
I am torn, because in a way everything you need to know about a piece of music should be discernible by listening. Active listening, that is. For listening reasons, anyway. Clearly if you are going to perform it, you need more. And yet, I also know that one can benefit from the insights of others. But at the end of the day, I listen to music for pleasure, not to earn a living. I am not interested in studying music as an academic discipline and I have neither the ability nor the inclination to perform outside my shower.
I like the Sanctus very much, especially the writing for strings. Why do I like it? It has a gorgeous tune. And I like the fugal-ish arrangement. And it builds to a splendid climax for 'Hallelujah'. Every Hallelujah should be climax-like. I have to admit, I am a very shallow person. The rest of the tunes do not move me sufficiently. Definitely a CD to play on occasion but not necessarily over and again.
