St. Paul (oratorio)
Encyclopedia
St. Paul Op. 36, is an oratorio
by Felix Mendelssohn
.
The libretto
was begun in 1832 by the composer with Pastor Julius Schubring, a childhood friend, pulling together passages from the New Testament
(chiefly the Acts of the Apostles
) and Old Testament
. It also features chorales or hymn settings after Bach's manner.
The oratorio, which is in two parts, begins with an introduction (Nos. 1-3), and continues with the martyr
dom of St. Stephen, and St Paul's conversion and baptism (Nos. 12-22). Part Two continues with the mission of Paul and Barnabas
(Nos. 23-27), Paul's persecution at the hands of his former co-religionists (Nos. 28-31), the healing of the lame man of Lystra
(Nos. 32-36), the resistance of the Jews and heathen (Nos. 37-40), Paul's departure from Ephesus
(Nos. 41-43), and following the mention of his martyrdom, a final chorus based on Psalm 103.
Composition of the music began in 1834, and the work was premiered on May 22, 1836 at the Lower Rhenish Music Festival in Düsseldorf
. The English premiere was in Liverpool
on October 3, 1836 in a translation by Mendelssohn's friend, Karl Klingermann. Contralto Mary Shaw
was one of the soloists at the English premiere. The first performance in the United States
was in Boston on March 14, 1837. Mendelssohn himself conducted the first performance in Leipzig in the Paulinerkirche
on March 16, 1837. Numerous performances followed in Europe
and in the United States.
During Mendelssohn's lifetime, St. Paul was a popular and frequently performed work. However, compared with such oratorios as Handel's Messiah
, Bach's Christmas Oratorio
and St Matthew Passion or even Mendelssohn's own Elijah
, it has failed to maintain its place in the choral repertory and is now infrequently performed in its entirety.
Mezzo-Soprano
Tenor
Bass
Mixed and women's choruses
Strings, Flutes, Oboes, Horns
, Trumpet
(/Cornet
), Trombones Alto/Tenor/Bass, Ophicleide
(a successor to the Serpent
now usually replaced by a Tuba
), Contrabassoon
, Timpani
and Organ
(Apostelgeschichte IV 24,26,29)
(Acts IV vv 24,26,29)
(Apostelgeschichte IV 32; VI 8,10,11)
(Acts IV v 32; VI vv 8, 10, 11)
(Apostelgeschichte VI 13)
(Acts VI v.12)
(Apostelgeschichte VI 11,V 28; VI 14)
(Acts VI v.11;V v 28; VI v.14)
By Jeffrey S. Sposato. The Musical Quarterly, Vol. 83, No. 2 (Summer, 1999), pp. 280–291 Oxford University Press
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...
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...
.
The libretto
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...
was begun in 1832 by the composer with Pastor Julius Schubring, a childhood friend, pulling together passages from the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
(chiefly the Acts of the Apostles
Acts of the Apostles
The Acts of the Apostles , usually referred to simply as Acts, is the fifth book of the New Testament; Acts outlines the history of the Apostolic Age...
) and Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
. It also features chorales or hymn settings after Bach's manner.
The oratorio, which is in two parts, begins with an introduction (Nos. 1-3), and continues with the martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
dom of St. Stephen, and St Paul's conversion and baptism (Nos. 12-22). Part Two continues with the mission of Paul and Barnabas
Barnabas
Barnabas , born Joseph, was an Early Christian, one of the earliest Christian disciples in Jerusalem. In terms of culture and background, he was a Hellenised Jew, specifically a Levite. Named an apostle in , he and Saint Paul undertook missionary journeys together and defended Gentile converts...
(Nos. 23-27), Paul's persecution at the hands of his former co-religionists (Nos. 28-31), the healing of the lame man of Lystra
Lystra
Lystra was a city in what is now modern Turkey. It is mentioned five times in the New Testament. It was visited a few times by the Apostle Paul, along with Barnabas or Silas.-Location:...
(Nos. 32-36), the resistance of the Jews and heathen (Nos. 37-40), Paul's departure from Ephesus
Ephesus
Ephesus was an ancient Greek city, and later a major Roman city, on the west coast of Asia Minor, near present-day Selçuk, Izmir Province, Turkey. It was one of the twelve cities of the Ionian League during the Classical Greek era...
(Nos. 41-43), and following the mention of his martyrdom, a final chorus based on Psalm 103.
Composition of the music began in 1834, and the work was premiered on May 22, 1836 at the Lower Rhenish Music Festival in Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
. The English premiere was in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
on October 3, 1836 in a translation by Mendelssohn's friend, Karl Klingermann. Contralto Mary Shaw
Mary Shaw (contralto)
Mary Shaw was an English classical contralto who had an active international career in concerts and operas during the 1830s and 1840s...
was one of the soloists at the English premiere. The first performance in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
was in Boston on March 14, 1837. Mendelssohn himself conducted the first performance in Leipzig in the Paulinerkirche
Paulinerkirche, Leipzig
The Paulinerkirche was a church on the Augustusplatz in Leipzig, named after the "Pauliner", its original Dominican friars. It was built in 1231 as the Klosterkirche St. Pauli for the Dominican monastery in Leipzig. From the foundation of the University of Leipzig in 1409, it served as the...
on March 16, 1837. Numerous performances followed in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and in the United States.
During Mendelssohn's lifetime, St. Paul was a popular and frequently performed work. However, compared with such oratorios as Handel's Messiah
Messiah (Handel)
Messiah is an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel, with a scriptural text compiled by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. It was first performed in Dublin on 13 April 1742, and received its London premiere nearly a year later...
, Bach's Christmas Oratorio
Christmas Oratorio
The Christmas Oratorio BWV 248, is an oratorio by Johann Sebastian Bach intended for performance in church during the Christmas season. It was written for the Christmas season of 1734 incorporating music from earlier compositions, including three secular cantatas written during 1733 and 1734 and a...
and St Matthew Passion or even Mendelssohn's own 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....
, it has failed to maintain its place in the choral repertory and is now infrequently performed in its entirety.
Instrumentation
SopranoMezzo-Soprano
Tenor
Bass
Mixed and women's choruses
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
Strings, Flutes, Oboes, Horns
Horn (instrument)
The horn is a brass instrument consisting of about of tubing wrapped into a coil with a flared bell. A musician who plays the horn is called a horn player ....
, Trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
(/Cornet
Cornet
The cornet is a brass instrument very similar to the trumpet, distinguished by its conical bore, compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B. It is not related to the renaissance and early baroque cornett or cornetto.-History:The cornet was...
), Trombones Alto/Tenor/Bass, Ophicleide
Ophicleide
The ophicleide is a family of conical bore, brass keyed-bugles. It has a similar shape to the sudrophone.- History :The ophicleide was invented in 1817 and patented in 1821 by French instrument maker Jean Hilaire Asté as an extension to the keyed bugle or Royal Kent bugle family...
(a successor to the Serpent
Serpent (instrument)
A serpent is a bass wind instrument, descended from the cornett, and a distant ancestor of the tuba, with a mouthpiece like a brass instrument but side holes like a woodwind. It is usually a long cone bent into a snakelike shape, hence the name. The serpent is closely related to the cornett,...
now usually replaced by a Tuba
Tuba
The tuba is the largest and lowest-pitched brass instrument. Sound is produced by vibrating or "buzzing" the lips into a large cupped mouthpiece. It is one of the most recent additions to the modern symphony orchestra, first appearing in the mid-19th century, when it largely replaced the...
), Contrabassoon
Contrabassoon
The contrabassoon, also known as the double bassoon or double-bassoon, is a larger version of the bassoon, sounding an octave lower...
, Timpani
Timpani
Timpani, or kettledrums, are musical instruments in the percussion family. A type of drum, they consist of a skin called a head stretched over a large bowl traditionally made of copper. They are played by striking the head with a specialized drum stick called a timpani stick or timpani mallet...
and Organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
Part 1
(English translation of the German from score by Novello, Ewer & Co Ltd Circa 1890.)- Overture
- chorus Herr, der du bist der Gott (Lord! Thou alone art God)
-
- Herr! Der Du bist der Gott, der Himmel und
- Erde und das Meer gemacht hat.
- Die Heiden lehnen sich auf, Herr wider Dich
- Und nun, Herr, siehe an ihr Droh'n und gieb
- Deinen knechten, mitt aller Freudigkeit zu
- reden Dein Wort.
(Apostelgeschichte IV 24,26,29)
-
- Lord Thou alone art God, and Thine are the
- Heaven, and the earth and the mighty waters.
- The Heathens furiously rage, Lord, against Thee,
- And against Thy Christ.
- Now behold, lest our foes prevail, and grant to
- Thy servants all the strength and joyfullness, that
- they may preach Thy Word
(Acts IV vv 24,26,29)
- choral Allein Gott in der Höh' sei Ehr' (To God on high)
-
- Allein Gott in der Höh'sei Ehr
- Und dank für seine Gnade:
- Darum, daß nun und nimmermehr
- Uns rühren kann kein Schade.
- Ganz unermess'nn ist seine Macht,
- Nur das geschieht, was er bedacht.
- Wohl uns, wohl uns des Herren!
-
- To God on high be thanks and praise,
- Who deigns out bonds to sever,
- His cares our drooping souls uprise
- And harm shall reach us never.
- On Him we rest, with faith assur'd,
- For ever and for ever.
- recitative Die Menge der Gläubigen war ein Herz; Wir haben ihn gehört (And the many that Believed)
-
- Die Menge der Gläubigen war ein Herz und
- eine Seele, Stephanus aber, voll Glauben
- und Kräfte, tat Wunder vor dem Volk, und
- die Schriftgelehrten vermochten nich zu
- widersteh'n der Weisheit und dem Geist, aus
- welchen er redete; da richteten sie zu etliche
- Männer, die da sprachen:
(Apostelgeschichte IV 32; VI 8,10,11)
-
- And the many that believed were of one heart, and
- of one soul. And Stephen, full of faith and full of
- power, did great wonders among the people.
- And they of the Synagogue were not able to resist
- the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spaker.
- Then they suborned men who were false
- witnesses, which said:
(Acts IV v 32; VI vv 8, 10, 11)
-
- Wir haben ihn gehört Lästerwörte reden wider
- Diese heil'ge Stätte und das Gesetz
(Apostelgeschichte VI 13)
-
- We everily have heard him blaspheme against
- these holy places, and against the law.
(Acts VI v.12)
- chorus Dieser Mensch hört nicht auf zu reden (Now this man ceaseth not)
-
- Dieser Mensch hört nicht auf zu reden
- Lästerwörte wider Mose und wider Gott.
- Haben wir wuch night mit Ernst geboten, daß ihr
- nicht solltet lehren in diesem Namen ? Und sehet,
- ihr habt Jerusalem erfüllt mit eurer Lehre.
- Denn wir haben ihn hören sagen: Jesus von
- Nazareth wird diese Stätte zerstören, und ändern
- die Sitten, die uns Mose gegeben hat
(Apostelgeschichte VI 11,V 28; VI 14)
-
- Now this man ceaseth not to utter blasphemous
- words against the law of Moses, and also God.
- Did we not enjoin and straitly command you,
- that you should not teach in the Name ye follow?
- And lo! ye have filled Jerusalem throughout with
- your unlawful doctrine! He hath said, and our
- ears have heard him: Jesus of Nazareth, He shall
- destroy all these our holy places, and change all
- the customs which Moses delivered us
(Acts VI v.11;V v 28; VI v.14)
- recitative & chorus Und sie sahen auf ihn alle (And all that sat in the council)
- aria (S) Jerusalem! die du tötest die Propheten (Jerusalem! Thou that killest the Prophets)
- recitative & chorus Sie aber stürmten auf ihn ein; Steiniget ihn! Er lästert Gott (Then they ran upon him; Stone him to death (He blasphemes God))
- recitative & choral Und sie steinigten ihn; Dir, Herr, dir will ich mich ergeben (And they Stoned him; To thee, O Lord. I yield my spirit)
- recitative Und die Zeugen legten ab ihre Kleider (And the Witnesses)
- chorus Siehe! wir preisen selig, die erduldet (Happy and Blest are they)
- recitative (T) & aria (B) Saulus aber zerstörte die Gemeinde; Vertilge sie, Herr Zebaoth (And Saul made havock of the Church; Consume them all)
- recitative & arioso (Sii) Und zog mit einer Schar; Doch der Herr vergisst der Seinen nicht (But the Lord is mindful of his own)
- recitative & chorus Und als er auf dem Weg war; Saul! was verfolgst du mich? (The Conversion)
- chorus Mache dich auf! Werde Licht! (Rise! Up! Arise.)
- choral Wachet auf! ruft uns die Stimme (Sleepers, wake, a voice is calling)
- recitative Die Männer aber, die seine Gefährten waren (And his companions)
- aria (B) Gott, sei mir gnädig nach deiner Güte (O God, have Mercy)
- recitative Es war aber ein Jünger zu Damaskus (And there was a Disciple)
- aria (B) & chorus Ich danke dir, Herr, mein Gott ... Der Herr wird die Tränen (I praise thee, O Lord)
- recitative Und Ananias ging hin (And Ananias went his way)
- chorus O welch eine Tiefe des Reichtums der Weisheit (O great is the depth)
Part 2
(Often two CD set so track / movement displayed)- 23. chorus Der Erdkreis ist nun des Herrn (The Nations are now the Lord's)
- 24. recitative Und Paulus kam zu der Gemeinde (And Paul came to the congregation)
- 25. duettino (TB) So sind wir nun Botschafter an Christi Statt (Now we are Ambassadors)
- 26. chorus Wie lieblich sind die Boten (How lovely are the Messengers)
- 27. recitative & Arioso Und wie sie ausgesandt von dem heiligen Geist; Lasst uns singen von der Gnade des Herrn (I will sing of thy great mercies)
- 28. recitative & chorus Da aber die Juden das Volk sahen; So spricht der Herr: ich bin der Herr (But when the Jews; Thus saith the Lord; And they laid wait for Paul)
- 29. chorus & choral Ist das nicht, der zu Jerusalem; O Jesu Christe, wahres Licht (Is this he?; O Thou, the True and Only Light)
- 30. recitative Paulus aber und Barnabas sprachen (But Paul and Barnabas spake freely)
- 31. duet (TB) Denn also hat uns der Herr geboten (For so hath the Lord)
- 32. recitative Und es war ein Mann zu Lystra (And there was a man at Lystra)
- 33. chorus Die Götter sind den Menschen gleich geworden (The gods themselves)
- 34. recitative Und nannten Barnabas Jupiter (And they call Barnabas, Jupiter)
- 35. chorus Seid uns gnädig, hohe Götter (O be gracious, Ye Immortals.)
- 36. recitative & chorus Da das die Apostel hörten; Aber unser Gott ist im Himmel (Now when the Apostles; For know ye not?; But our God abideth in Heaven!)
- 37. recitative Da ward das Volk erreget wider sie (Then the Multitude)
- 38. chorus Hier ist des Herren Tempel (This is Jehovah's Temple)
- 39. recitative Und sie alle verfolgten Paulus (And they all persecuted Paul)
- 40. cavatine (T) Sei getreu bis in den Tod (Be though faithful unto death)
- 41. recitative Paulus sandte hin und liess fordern die Ältesten (And Paul sent and called the elders)
- 42. chorus Schone doch deiner selbst; Was machet ihr, dass ihr weinet (Far be it from thy path)
- 43. chorus Sehet, welch eine Liebe hat uns der Vater erzeiget (See what love)
- 44. recitative Und wenn er gleich geopfert wird (And though he be offered)
- 45. chorus Nicht aber ihm allein, sondern allen (Not only unto him)
Recordings
- Paulus, Gundula JanowitzGundula JanowitzGundula Janowitz is an Austrian lyric soprano singer of operas, oratorios and concerts. She is one of the most renowned opera singers of the 20th century and was pre-eminent in the 1960s and 1970s.-Career:...
, Hans Peter Blochwitz, Theo AdamTheo AdamTheo Adam is a distinguished German classical bass-baritone who had an active international career in operas, concerts, and recitals from the 1940s through the 1990s. He particularly excelled in portraying roles from the operas of Richard Wagner...
, conducted by Kurt MasurKurt MasurKurt Masur is a German conductor, particularly noted for his interpretation of German Romantic music.- Biography :Masur was born in Brieg, Lower Silesia, Germany and studied piano, composition and conducting in Leipzig, Saxony. Masur has been married three times...
(CD - Philips, December 1986) - Mendelssohn St. Paul, Premier English Version, Briarwood Church Choir and Alabama Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Clay Campbell, (Double CD - May 2005)
- Paulus, BBC National Chorus of Wales, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Susan Gritton, Jean Rigby, Barry Banks, Peter Coleman-Wright, conducted by Richard Hickox (CD Chandos - May 2001)
External links
- text at cpdl (in German)
- http://www.jstor.org/pss/742296 (Mendelssohn, "Paulus", and the Jews: A Response to Leon Botstein and Michael SteinbergMichael Steinberg (music critic)Michael Steinberg was an American music critic, musicologist, and writer. Born in Breslau, Germany , Steinberg left Germany as one of the Kindertransport child refugees...
By Jeffrey S. Sposato. The Musical Quarterly, Vol. 83, No. 2 (Summer, 1999), pp. 280–291 Oxford University Press