Christus (Mendelssohn)

The Oratory earth, hell and heaven ( MWV A 26; most often called Christ ) remained a fragment. Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy could not complete due to its unexpected and early death. It would have been the third oratory next to Paul in 1836 and Elijah in 1846. A trilogy, however, had no intention Mendelssohn.

Published posthumously in 1852, it was under the title Christ. It carries the unauthorized posthumous opus number 97

The work was an idea by Christian Karl Josias von Bunsen, the (mainly biblical quotations ) compiled the lyrics for it.

Structure

Since the work is unfinished, Mendelssohn during the composition phase but also repeatedly changed the conception of the work and collaborated with various librettists, can no longer be clarified with certainty what the structure of the composer for his work ultimately intended. For the posthumous publication of the fragments mentioned the editors chose a two-part structure:

In the first section Mendelssohn describes the birth of Christ. Here are the recitative "When Jesus was born," the men's trio "Where is the newborn king " ( tenor and two basses ) and the choral " There shall come a Star out of Jacob never rise " fully edited.

In the second section, the composer describes the accusation before Pontius Pilate, and the insistence of the people on the death penalty for Christ. Here Mendelssohn alternates between recitative (Evangelist ) and folk choirs. Finally what happened is processed in a chorale for four-part male choir.

However, there is evidence that Mendelssohn was about a threefold division of the factory analog of the intended work title earth, hell and heaven:

The surviving fragments of the work will therefore take all the first part of belonging, which should describe the ministry of Jesus Christ to the earth.

The second part, which should deal with the Descent into Hell, probably based on the Gospel of Nicodemus, Mendelssohn could not add sound.

The third part, which should deal with the resurrection of Christ, Mendelssohn could not add sound.