Beethoven Mass in C

In comparison with music of the Baroque period, composers’ written expressive indications to vocal soloists became more overt within the classical period (c. 1775–1825). This research offers perspectives upon the vocal music of Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827) and on performance practice of the late-eighteenth-century. Through a practical examination of the music’s expressive qualities, the practitioner-researcher assesses the interpretation of the composer’s expressive markings through varied performance contexts with the Choral Fantasy (Opus 80) and the Mass in C(Opus 86).