Click here for download instructions for your convenience all the files for a specific voice part have been zipped together in one file. I strongly recommend this recording of mendelssohns elijah particularly if you havent already got this oratorio in your collection. In the oratorio, he is also the bearer of a message of hope and encouragement that balances elijahs severity. Our musicians send you musical messages and prove that it is possible to make music together while social distancing. By the time he wrote elijah, mendelssohn had visited england eight times and was a. Premiered on august 26, 1846 in birmingham, england. Listen to it if you get a chance, you wont be disappionted. Mendelssohn had no sooner completed his first oratorio, st. His first oratorio, st paul, had been a tremendous success some months previously. Nov 25, 2019 isnt the beginning of elijah rather abrupt. In elijah he skilfully combines his musicality with handels dramatic approach and bach s prayerful chorales. Editorial integrity compels me to state that i was not able to audition this sacd release in its full surroundsound version. Felix mendelssohns elijah exists in many different performing versions.
Jakob ludwig felix mendelssohn bartholdy, born, and generally known in englishspeaking countries, as felix mendelssohn 3 february 1809 4 november 1847 was a german composer, pianist, organist and conductor of the early romantic period. Felix mendelssohn grew up in an era and in a region of europenamely the germanspeaking landsthat liked statues and monuments, not so much for their own sake as because they reflected a deep awareness of history. Learning your voice part soprano, alto, tenor, bass in mendelssohns elijah does require you to dedicate some time to ensure you know the notes you are singing so you will sing with confidence and really enjoy fully contributing to your choir. Good and evil both sound great for the fort worth symphony, which performs mendelssohn s magnificient oratorio elijah at bass performance hall. Although mendelssohn first thought of composing an elijah oratorio as far back as 1836, and although he worked with several librettists over a period of several years, he did not actually begin to compose the work until he received a commission in june 1845. The english version of the text was translated by william bartholemew. Elijah in mendelssohns libretto elijah or the jewish. It is fifty years since mendelssohns elijah was first performed. Mendelssohn was an extemely precocious musical composer. Felix mendelssohns elijah, perhaps his most endearing and embracing work, is a vivid depiction of the prophets dramatic life, expressed through thrilling musical story telling, brilliant arias. Choral sheet music choral satb, piano felix mendelssohn bartholdy. It should be pointed out that sposatos argument about a presumed ambivalence between philosemitism and antisemitism in mendelssohns characterization of jews in elijah misreads the oratorio, which explicitly represents the prophet as a foreshadowing of christ. An oratorio for full chorus of mixed voices, soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone soli double solo quartet of mixed voices and piano g.
Mendelssohn elijah performed march 9, 1997 when the directors of the birmingham festival commissioned felix mendelssohn to compose and conduct a new oratorio in 1846, the thirtyeight year old composer had long been the most celebrated musician in europe. Mendelssohn began drafting the libretto for elijah with his friend pastor schubring in 1838, but disagreements prevailed and he set it aside. Mendelssohn elijah performed march 9, 1997 when the directors of the birmingham festival commissioned felix mendelssohn to compose and conduct a new oratorio in 1846, the thirtyeight year old composer had long been the most celebrated musician in. Containing the music of the principal solos, duets, and choruses see other formats mendelssohnbartholdy, felix c elias. The immediate success of elijah 1846 may in some way be regarded as inevitable, given the confluence of elements central to mendelssohns being as a composer. Paul, than he began to think about setting another bible story to music. In 1832 mendelssohn turned to schubring for assistance in preparing the libretto of his first oratorio,st. This new novello choral edition of the vocal score contains comprehensive performance notes and detailed editorial markings and suggestions, as edited by michael pilkington.
The premiere of a new oratorio, mendelssohns elijah. Dec 05, 2011 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. At the birmingham triennial festival of 1846, elijah was an immediate triumph. A conductors guide to the interpretation of mendelssohns. English oratorio libretto, elijah presented to gbe library of tbe university of toronto bs bertram 1ft. The audience was hushedeveryone could feel the sense of anticipation. The title role, sung by a baritone or bass, requires a nearly operatic range of emotional expression for the arias. The sounds seems correct so sorry for the sloppy look. The biblical story of elijah seemed perfect, and mendelssohn began working with a. Notes these files are part of the werner icking music collection. The premiere of a new oratorio, mendelssohn s elijah.
Wednesday 26 august 1846 was a redletter day in the history not only of the city of birmingham but of the oratorio in general. In fact, he contributed to such monumentsaural, semistaged, and in stone. Soon after the premiere of his first oratorio, st paul, in 1836, his thoughts turned to the subject of this old testament prophet a person who intrigued the young mendelssohn and who would, he thought, be a perfect musical subject. It depicts various events in the life of the biblical prophet elijah, taken from the books 1 kings and 2 kings in the old testament. Paul, however, is more lyrical than dramatic, and he wanted an outlet for a dramatic, handelian style of oratorio.
This piece was composed in the spirit of mendelssohns baroque predecessors bach and handel. Elijah in german, elias is an oratorio written by felix mendelssohn in 1846 for the birmingham festival. The oratorio, elijah felix mendelssohn, 18091847 by linda. Containing the music of the principal solos, duets, and choruses see other formats mendelssohn bartholdy, felix c elias. The immediate success of elijah 1846 may in some way be regarded as inevitable, given the confluence of elements central to mendelssohn s being as a composer. For thou art gracious, and full of compassion, and plenteous in mercy and truth. The vocal and instrumental lines are all nicely balanced and the drama is brought out very keenly. Apr 02, 2010 taken from performance footage, april 1, 2010. Elijah suddenly appears before ahab, the king of israel. Schubring also collaborated on mendelssohns second oratorio,elijah,first heard at the birmingham. Boston symphony performs mendelssohns elijah youtube.
It may be about the most nearly perfect performance of an imperfect and uneven work we are likely to get anytime soon again. This is a strongly recommended addition to the mendelssohn elijah discography. Good and evil both sound great for the fort worth symphony, which performs mendelssohns magnificient oratorio elijah at bass performance hall. Most of these works were long preserved in manuscript in the prussian state library in berlin but are believed to have been lost in world war ii. Mendelssohn he, watching over israel from the oratorio. See also denn er hat seinen engeln befohlen uber dir felix mendelssohn, created before this oratorio and that has then taken place in it with. It depicts events in the life of the biblical prophet elijah, taken from the books 1 kings and 2 kings of the old testament. Viewing mendelssohn, viewing elijah jewish studies.
Mendelssohns elijah and the earlier st paul followed in the english oratorio tradition of handel and came to english shores not as strangers, but. This piece was composed in the spirit of mendelssohn s baroque predecessors bach and handel. Below is a message from the chaplaincy of the harmonious chorale giving us an indepth story line of the oratorio by felix mendelssohn. Free scores of this work in the choral public domain library. Felix mendelssohn s elijah, perhaps his most endearing and embracing work, is a vivid depiction of the prophets dramatic life, expressed through thrilling musical story telling, brilliant arias. There shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. Mendelssohns elijah is an oratorio for satb soli, satb chorus, orchestra and organ, with the text derived from the lutheran bible by julius schubring. It fixed that but the layout problem returned so im just going to let it go. Elijah is thus mendelssohns last major work, and, to paraphrase eric werner, posterity has viewed the oratorio as his chef d.
They are timely words of comfort to the dejected prophet of carmel whose life has reached its lowest ebb. Schirmers editions of oratorios and cantatas mendelssohn bartholdy, felix on. Full text of the history of mendelssohn s oratorio elijah, see other formats. In this broadcast semyon bychkov conducts mahlers symphony no. The project gutenberg ebook of the history of mendelssohns oratorio elijah, by frederick george edwards this ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. Scores at the international music score library project imslp. For the next few years he regularly discussed his ideas with two literary friends, carl klingernan and julius schubring. I strongly recommend this recording of mendelssohn s elijah particularly if you havent already got this oratorio in your collection. Part i concerns elijahs prediction of drought, the story of the widows son, the contest on.
If you use and like, thank you to consider support donation. As god the lord elijah as god the lord of israel liveth, before whom i stand. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Mendelssohns elijah and the earlier st paul followed in the english oratorio tradition of handel and came to english shores not as strangers, but as the younger brothers of messiah and judas maccabaeus. The project gutenberg ebook of the history of mendelssohns oratorio elijah, by frederick george edwards this ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no. Jun 14, 2011 felix mendelssohn s elijah, perhaps his most endearing and embracing work, is a vivid depiction of the prophets dramatic life, expressed through thrilling musical story telling, brilliant arias. We are told of him only that he is from an area of israel called tishbe, in gilead. Elijah is regarded as a milestone in mendelssohns compositional output and as a high point in the oratorio literature of the 19th century. Mendelssohn and his elijah as early as 1837 mendelssohn had begun to plan an oratorio on the subject of the prophet elijah. German text german text see also denn er hat seinen engeln befohlen uber dir felix mendelssohn, created before this oratorio and that has then taken place in it with small changes. Mendelssohn first tried his hand at writing an oratorio in 1836 with st. Felix mendelssohns oratorio collects key events from the life of old testament prophet elijah as he seeks to reunify the jewish people and recommit them to the worship of the one true god. It depicts various events in the life of the biblical prophet. As god the lord of israel introduction from elijah bass solo.
Mendelssohn elijah download free sheet music and scores scorser. Mendelssohn elijah, sheet music, scores mendelssohn, arnold mendelssohn, felix. Felix mendelssohn elijah san francisco choral society. German audiences were accustomed to chorales interrupting the story line but mendelssohn preferred plot movement to comment so used the chorale sparingly. Original was satb solo voices with orchestra purchase.
The 1845 birmingham festival committee asked him for a new oratorio, after having heard him conduct st. Felix mendelssohns massive oratorio paulus 1836 is based on the story of saul, the zealous pharisee who, after a dramatic encounter with the risen christ, turns from a fanatical enemy of christians into the most influential apologist of the christian faith. Full text of the history of mendelssohns oratorio elijah. Title, elias, ein oratorium nach worten des alten testaments. Lord my god, o let the spirit of this child return, that he again may live.
For 20 years we provide a free and legal service for free sheet music without asking you anything in exchange. Dec 01, 1984 jakob ludwig felix mendelssohn bartholdy, born, and generally known in englishspeaking countries, as felix mendelssohn 3 february 1809 4 november 1847 was a german composer, pianist, organist and conductor of the early romantic period. Percy snowdons 1975 arrangement for unaccompanied singers of the motet from elijah. He wrote numerous compositions during his boyhood, among them 5 operas, 11 symphonies for string orchestra, concerti, sonatas, and fugues. Mendelssohns elijah, conducted by ann howard jones youtube. The oratorio presents episodes from the story of the biblical prophet elijah. Print and download in pdf or midi he, watching over israel. Arise, elijah, for thou hast a long journey before thee 157. The oratorio and the story of elijah i am most anxious to do justice to the dramatic element of the story of elijah so wrote felix mendelssohn to his julius schubring when both were working on the german libretto of what would become the composers great oratorio on the story of the biblical prophet elijah. Schirmers editions of oratorios and cantatas mendelssohnbartholdy, felix on. And the answer is, not any more abrupt than the opening of the actual story in the bible, i kings 17. The harvest now is over, the summer days are gone, and yet no power cometh to help us. The complete symphonies originally aired in 2017 on the new york philharmonic this week, hosted by alec baldwin.
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