Festgesang

The festive song from the Gutenberg Festival ( MWV D 4), full title: Festival singing at the opening of the first day of the fourth Säcularfeier the invention of printing, is a secular choral work by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy for male choir and two band. The work was composed for the Gutenberg Festival in 1840 and premiered at the Market Square in Leipzig under the open sky. In addition to the male chorus and the first Concert Orchestra for a second remote echo effects is provided. Due to the high personnel and space requirements of the piece is rarely performed.

Occupation and subdivision

The first orchestra consists of 2 trumpets in C, 2 trumpets in D, 2 horns in G, 2 horns in C, 3 Trombones (ATB ) and 1 Ophicleide. The second small orchestra consists of 2 trumpets in C, 2 horns in D and 3 Trombones (ATB) together.

It is divided into four parts:

The main melody of the second part was the British church musician William Hayman Cummings of the Christmas hymn Hark! The Herald Angels Sing highlighted. This Christmas song is now one of the most famous in the English-speaking world.

At the same time lets the strong similarity of the melodic and harmonic structure of this melody with JS Bach's Gavotte from Orchestral Suite No. 4 assume a possible adaptation of Mendelssohn.

Do not confuse this festive song with the originating also from Mendelssohn Festgesang to the artist (op. 68).

Text

1 Choral

Second song

3 Allegro molto

4 Choral