Interesting that a few of us are mentioning the Great C Minor Mass and not the Requiem. I wonder… is the C Minor Mass the more interesting work?
Perhaps the Requiem fits @jchokey's definition of "too ubiquitous, too obvious".
I've been having a mass indulgence for the last few days: the Missa Solemnis, Mozart's Great Mass and Haydn (Theresienmesse this time.) If the Great Mass represents a "conversation of the heart" (in Lewis's words) then bring on as many of these as possible! And the Missa Solemnis surely qualifies as both a conversation of "ideas" (not that I understand them) as well as of the heart. What tremendous music they are.
(On to Berlioz, Verdi and Britten .... )
If we're mentioning the ubiquitous and obvious can I add the Jupiter Symphony (especially the last movement) to the list? Another work that appeals very much to both head and heart.
Perhaps the Requiem fits @jchokey's definition of "too ubiquitous, too obvious".
Perhaps it does! I realised after posting that I was asking the same question in different clothes… so shouldn’t be surprised to get the same answer 😂
A mass of masses sounds like a great weekend project!
I've been having a mass indulgence for the last few days: the Missa Solemnis, Mozart's Great Mass and Haydn (Theresienmesse this time.)
I hope you include Vaughan Williams' Mass in G Minor in your mass indulgence. So pure and perfect. I also have Fasch's Mass in
Alas, I find the Missa Solemnis dreary! I'm sure that means I'm missing something, maybe a lot of somethings, but there you go. I'd like to say I count it as my failing, but I tend to attribute the failing to the composer. 
Alas, I find the Missa Solemnis dreary!
And so do I (although I’ve never before dared say so out loud)!!
Vaughan Williams' Mass in G Minor
Do your recommend any particular version?
Because it's an acapella work, the performance space is critical, which is why I particularly like the Kings College recordings, where those high soprano notes ring out and the bass resonates. It's also important that the soloists have purity of tone. So you can't go wrong with this one:
https://app.idagio.com/recordings/36697919
And so do I (although I’ve never before dared say so out loud)!!
Maybe we should have a sub-forum "Musical heresies" where we can speak the unspeakable! (Reserved for registered members only, of course!)
