The Mass No. 1 in D minor, WAB 26 by Anton Bruckner, is a setting of the Mass ordinary for soloists, mixed choir and orchestra, and organ. History After he had ended his eight-year study period with Sechter and Kitzler and he had composed a few smaller works, such as the Festive Cantata (1862) and Psalm 112 (1863), Bruckner composed his first grand Mass, the Mass in D minor. He completed the work on 29 September 1864. The premiere of the Mass in the old Linz Cathedral on 20 November 1864 was successful. A laudatory review in the Linzer Zeitung described Bruckner's potential as a symphonic composer and ranked the D minor Mass in the highest echelon of church music.Four weeks later, the Mass was performed again during a "Concert spirituel" in the Linzer Redoutensaal. Because there was no organ available in the Redoutensaal, Bruckner composed an alternative with woodwinds (clarinets and bassoons) for the short organ intermezzo in the mid-section of the Credo (manuscript Mus.Hs. 3170). Bruckner's manuscript (Mus.Hs. 19423) and the organ score are archived in the Österreichische Nationalbibliothek. Bruckner revised the work in 1876 and again in 1881–1882. The (small) differences between the versions concern mainly annotations about articulation and dynamics. Versions and editions First version 1864, slightly revised in 1876 and 1881–82. First edition: Johann Groß, Innsbruck (1892) Nowak edition (1957, 1996) Setting The work is set for choir and soloists, and orchestra (2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets in B, 2 bassoons, 2 horns in F, 2 trumpets in F, alto, tenor and bass trombones, timpani, and strings), and organ. According to the Catholic practice – as also in Bruckner’s previous Messe für den Gründonnerstag and Missa solemnis, and the following Mass No. 2 – the first verse of the Gloria and the Credo is not composed and has to be intoned by the priest in Gregorian mode before the choir is going on. The work is divided into six parts: Kyrie – Alla breve (mehr langsam), D minor Gloria – Allegro, D major Credo – Moderato, D major Sanctus – Maestoso, D major Benedictus – Moderato, G major Agnus Dei- Andante quasi Allegretto, G minor veering to D major Total duration: about 50 minutes When compared to the previous Missa solemnis the work is more mature in conception with crescendos, which are so characteristic of Bruckner's later symphonies. Wagner's influence is evident as the