BEETHOVEN, Ludwig van (1770-1827)
Missa [Solemnis] ... Opus 123. Mainz: B. Schott, 1827.
Alfred Cortot’s copy of the first retail edition of the full score of Beethoven’s second setting of the Mass, after his Mass in C major, Op. 86. Written around the same time as his Ninth Symphony, the work was dedicated to Archduke Rudolf of Austria, archbishop of Olmütz, Beethoven's foremost patron as well as pupil and friend, and the Archduke’s arms appear on the title. There are two issues of the work: the subscribers’ issue contains the 2pp. ‘Subscribenten-Verzeichniss’ for the Missa Solemnis, the Overture ‘The Consecration of the House’ Op. 124, and the Ninth Symphony, while the copies for retail sale did not include this (as in the present copy). Kinsky, p. 364.

Large quarto (348 x 275mm). Op. 123, full score, elaborate lithographic title with the arms of Archduke Rudolph, 299 pages, engraved throughout, plate number 2346 (without the list of subscribers, block splitting at pp. 84-85, 100-101, 168-169, variable light spotting throughout). Original cloth-backed printed wrappers (spine defective, wrappers soiled and rubbed). Provenance: small discreet bookseller’s stamp on front wrapper and title – Alfred Cortot (1877-1962, French pianist, conductor, and teacher; bookplate).

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Please note this lot is the property of a consumer. See H1 of the Conditions of Sale.