Renowned as the composer of such operas as La Boheme, Tosca and Madame Butterfly, Giacomo Puccini began his musical career in the composition of church music. Messa di Gloria was written by Puccini at the age of 18 as his graduation thesis from the Institute Musicale of Lucca, Italy. It was also his personal tribute to the tradition of his family who had specialized in sacred music for 4 generations. Jos van de Braak arranged the Sanctus e Benedictus from this Messa di Gloria for Symphonic Band.