Following the death of Michael Arneth, Friedrich Mayr was appointed abbot of St. Florian. The Missa Solemnis was premiered on September 14, 1854, the day of Mayr's elevation. Robert Führer saw the score and suggested to Bruckner he study with Simon Sechter. Bruckner showed Sechter the mass and Sechter accepted him as a pupil, but the mass was the last major work Bruckner wrote before concluding his studies with Sechter, who did not allow his students free composition while studying with him. The setting is divided into twelve movements.