Cooper believes that, like the "Missa Solemnis," the music was probably written for Archduke Rudolph of Austria.
Beethoven’s organ harmonization of the 1,000-year-old Gregorian hymn chant, called "Pange lingua," adds to our understanding of the composer’s devotion to Christianity, Cooper says. It was also the first time Beethoven used his famous slow chorale style, exemplified in the Op. 132 string quartet written in 1825, regarded by music lovers as a masterpiece.
The only section missing from Beethoven’s score is the first line, which is sung unaccompanied and so did not need Beethoven’s work.
“This piece is surprising because it doesn’t sound like Beethoven," Cooper says. " If I hadn’t seen it in his own handwriting, complete with corrections, I wouldn’t have believed it was by him."
“It’s quite telling that Beethoven wrote what is after all a simple piece of functional liturgical music – and must in some way indicate his devotion.
“Gregorian chant was sung much slower in those days, so it’s striking that he used the same slow chordal style for the Opus 132 quartet written in 1825. I believe this is the first time he did this.”