Beethoven versus Haydn
Here you can see the autograph score of the Kyrie and the first 205 bars of the Gloria from Beethoven's Mass op. 86. It was commissioned by Prince Nikolaus Esterhazy, who had a ceremonial Mass composed every year for his wife's name-day on St. Mary's Name (Sunday after September, 8th); in 1807 Beethoven was asked to write the music. Between 1796 and 1802 the music for these masses had been written by Joseph Haydn, who had been musical director at the Esterhazy court for almost three decades. Beethoven was very concerned that the Prince was used to "having the inimitable masterpieces by the great Haydn performed". Esterhazy at first soothed Beethoven's doubts - although following the performance of the Mass on 13 September 1807 he made very disparaging remarks about it, as it had incensed and embarrassed him.
Aside from the inferior quality of the performance (the composition had not been sufficiently rehearsed), Esterhazy's displeasure was mainly caused by the fact that he found Beethoven's work very unfamiliar and different to Haydn's. Beethoven, who had had a good look at Haydn's settings, did not discard the Mass. He suggested to the publishers Breitkopf & Härtel in Leipzig that they publish it, "because it really is very close to my heart despite the absolute coldness of our age to works of this kind". He also believed "that I have treated the text, in a way in which it has seldom been treated". Despite Beethoven's high regard for the work, little of the finished composition has survived in his own hand. The autograph score of the Kyrie and the fragment of the Gloria are the only remaining manuscripts in Beethoven's own hand. The manuscripts of the other movements have since disappeared. (J.R.)
