Hear My Prayer
Encyclopedia
Hear My Prayer is a Christian
anthem
for soprano solo, chorus and organ or orchestra (SATB
) composed by Felix Mendelssohn
in Germany in 1844. The first performance took place in Crosby Hall, London, on 8 January 1845. The accompanist on that occasion was organist, composer and teacher Ann Mounsey
(1811–1891). She later married the librettist
of the work, William Bartholomew
(1793–1867) who also collaborated with Mendelssohn over his oratorio
Elijah
(German: Elias). The passage "O for the Wings of a Dove" ("O könnt' ich fliegen") is particularly well known through the recording made in 1927 by boy soprano Ernest Lough
.
The text (derived from Psalm 55
):
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
anthem
Anthem
The term anthem means either a specific form of Anglican church music , or more generally, a song of celebration, usually acting as a symbol for a distinct group of people, as in the term "national anthem" or "sports anthem".-Etymology:The word is derived from the Greek via Old English , a word...
for soprano solo, chorus and organ or orchestra (SATB
SATB
In music, SATB is an initialism for soprano, alto, tenor, bass, defining the voices required by a chorus or choir to perform a particular musical work...
) composed by Felix Mendelssohn
Felix Mendelssohn
Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Barthóldy , use the form 'Mendelssohn' and not 'Mendelssohn Bartholdy'. The Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians gives ' Felix Mendelssohn' as the entry, with 'Mendelssohn' used in the body text...
in Germany in 1844. The first performance took place in Crosby Hall, London, on 8 January 1845. The accompanist on that occasion was organist, composer and teacher Ann Mounsey
Ann Mounsey
Ann Shepard Mounsey Bartholomew was an English pianist, organist and composer. She was born in London and studied with J.B. Longier. After 1828 she became the organist at various London churches, serving at St. Verdast's on Foster Lane for nearly fifty years...
(1811–1891). She later married the librettist
Libretto
A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata, or musical. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata, or even the story line of a...
of the work, William Bartholomew
William Bartholomew (writer)
William Bartholomew was an English libretist, composer, and writer. He made his living as a chemist, but is best remembered as the translator/text author for the premieres of many of Felix Mendelssohn's works in England; most notably the anthem Hear My Prayer and the oratorio Elijah for its...
(1793–1867) who also collaborated with Mendelssohn over his oratorio
Oratorio
An oratorio is a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists. Like an opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias...
Elijah
Elijah (oratorio)
Elijah, in German: Elias, is an oratorio written by Felix Mendelssohn in 1846 for the Birmingham Festival. 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....
(German: Elias). The passage "O for the Wings of a Dove" ("O könnt' ich fliegen") is particularly well known through the recording made in 1927 by boy soprano Ernest Lough
Ernest Lough
Ernest Arthur Lough was an English boy soprano who sang the famous solo O for the Wings of a Dove from Mendelssohn's Hear My Prayer for the Gramophone Company in 1927. The record became HMV's biggest seller for 1927, and made the piece, the choir and the soloist world famous...
.
The text (derived from Psalm 55
Psalm 55
-Judaism:*Verse 14 is found in Pirkei Avot Chapter 6, no. 3.*Verse 19 is found in the prayers recited following Motzei Shabbat Maariv.*Verse 24 is found in Pirkei Avot Chapter 5, no. 22....
):
Thyself from my petition do not hide. Take heed to me! Hear how in prayer I mourn to Thee, Without Thee all is dark, I have no guide. The enemy shouteth, The godless come fast! Iniquity, hatred, upon me they cast! The wicked oppress me, Ah where shall I fly? Perplexed and bewildered, O God, hear my cry! My heart is sorely pained, within my breast, my soul with deathly terror is oppressed, trembling and fearfulness upon me fall, with horror overwhelmed, Lord, hear me call, O for the wings, for the wings of a dove! Far away, far away would I rove! In the wilderness build me a nest, and remain there for ever at rest. |
auf deines Kindes Stimme habe acht! Ich bin allein; wer wird mein Tröster und Helfer sein? Ich irre den Pfad in dunkler Nacht! Die Feinde sie drohen und heben ihr Haupt: "Wo ist nun der Retter, an den wir geglaubt?" Sie lästern sie täglich, sie stellen uns nach und halten die Frommen in Knechtschaft und Schmach. Mich fasst des Todes Furcht bei ihrem Dräu'n. Sie sind unzählige - Gott, hör mein Fleh'n! Herr, kämpfe du für mich. Gott hör mein Fleh'n. O, könnt' ich fliegen wie Tauben dahin, weit hinweg von den Feinden zu flieh'n, in die Welt eilt' ich fort, fände Ruh an schattigem Ort. O könnt' ich fliegen wie Tauben dahin, Weit hinweg vor dem Feinde zu fliehen! In die Wüste eilt ich dann fort, Fände Ruhe am schättigen Ort. |