Emily L. Ferguson wrote:

>Personally, I think the Missa Solemnis and the 9th symphony fall into
>the clunker category.
>
>Bombast doesn't play well with me at all.

You might (*might*) describe parts of the finale of the 9th as bombastic
(although I wouldn't), but the first three movements?  The opening
movement is one of the greatest symphonic first movements ever written.

The Missa Solemnis, I submit, comes under the heading of what Orson
Welles used, somewhat ironically, to refer to as "flawed masterpieces".

Deryk Barker <[log in to unmask]>