BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Saturday, December 14, 1822 (approximately)

Sometime about now, Beethoven finally has to let go of the Missa solemnis and sends it for copying in a fair score for Archduke Rudolph. One of Beethoven’s favorite copyists, Wenzel Rampl, works on the score, as do two unknown copyists. The task of sorting out this manuscript through Beethoven’s many revisions and arriving at a score suitable for presentation to the dedicatee will take them until about the end of February.

The Missa solemnis op.123 is performed here for Beethoven’s 250th birthday by Christian Thielemann conducting the Staatskapelle Dresden: