I can never quite figure out why I listen to it so rarely. It's more than deserving.
Like much of his music, it's huge and unwieldy and often bombastic. Yet like so much of his music, those facts are mostly features, not bugs. There's a shocking amount of joy and energy in this piece, and it has never struck me as particularly "solemn." I especially love the shouting that takes place during the Resurexit. He can think of no better musical way of expressing Humanity's excitement at what is taking place than by just belting it out, melody-free.
The Gloria's pretty crazy, as well.
Here are a couple of versions for your Sunday listening pleasure.
Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group International Beethoven: Mass in D, Op.123 "Missa Solemnis" - Kyrie · Cheryl Studer · Jessye Norman · Plácido Domingo · Kurt Moll · Wiener Philharmoniker · James Levine · Leipziger Rundfunkchor · Gert Frischmuth · Swedish Radio Choir · Eric Ericson Chamber Choir · Gustav Sjökvist Beethoven: Missa Solemnis ℗ 1992 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Hamburg Released on: 1992-01-01 Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven Auto-generated by YouTube.
Provided to YouTube by IDOL Missa solemnis in D Major, Op. 123: I. Kyrie · Collegium Vocale Gent · Orchestre des Champs-Elysées · Philippe Herreweghe · Marlis Petersen · Gerhild Romberger · Benjamin Hulett · David Wilson-Johnson Beethoven: Missa solemnis ℗ 2013 PHI ℗ Outhere Released on: 2012-11-06 Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven Auto-generated by YouTube.
Provided to YouTube by Kontor New Media Mass in D Major, Op. 123 "Missa solemnis": No. 1, Kyrie · Peter Schreier, Anna Tomowa-Sintow, Leipzig Radio Chorus, Kurt Masur, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Hermann Christian Polster, Annelies Burmeister Beethoven: Missa solemnis ℗ VEB Deutsche Schallplatten Berlin Released on: 2009-01-30 Choir: Leipzig Radio Chorus Conductor: Kurt Masur Orchestra: Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven Lyricist: Bible Music Publisher: Copyright Control Auto-generated by YouTube.
Attribution(s): "Beethoven At Home" by Carl Schloesser is in the Public Domain via Wikipedia.