Die erste Walpurgisnacht
The First Walpurgis Night (MWV D 3) is the main source in May 1799 ballad by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, set to music by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy in the form of a secular cantata for soloists, choir and orchestra ( 1833).
Work history
It was from the beginning of Goethe's intention that his ballad should be set to music as a choral cantata. As a composer he had selected his friend Carl Friedrich Zelter. When, however, the text read for the first time, he is said to have exclaimed: "Who wants to add sound to this, only the old worn cantata uniform must pass! " He felt himself not in a position, but gave the presentation to his pupil Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy further.
1830/31 Mendelssohn traveled through Switzerland and Italy. From Rome he wrote to Goethe: " What concerns me for several weeks almost exclusively, is the music to the poem by Eur excellence, which is called the First Walpurgis Night. I want to compose it with an orchestra as a kind of great cantata. I ... do not know if it to me will succeed, but I feel how big the job is and what collection and awe I have to attack them. "- It was in the autumn of 1832 in Mendelssohn's parents' house, where the work for the first time sounded. The first public performance followed then on January 10, 1833 in the Sing- Akademie zu Berlin. At the desk, the composer was himself
Ten years later, in 1842/43, Mendelssohn worked his work to fundamentally. This second version was premiered on February 2, 1843 at the Leipzig Gewandhaus. This time the work was rehearsed and conducted by the composer himself. Among the audience were Robert Schumann and Hector Berlioz, who expressed particular excited about the work. In this second version of the work is now usually listed.
Occupation
Soli ( alto, tenor, baritone, bass), choir (soprano, alto, tenor, bass), Piccolo two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, two horns, two trumpets, three trombones, timpani, percussion and strings
Content
Goethe himself wrote in his letter to Zelter of 3 December 1812 Art Summary his ballad as:
"So now one of the German archaeologist, the witches and devils ride of the Brocken mountain, with which one wears in Germany since time immemorial, want to save and justified by a historical origin. Namely, that the German pagan priests and patriarchs, after being driven from their sacred groves and Christianity forced upon the people go with their loyal followers to the deserts inaccessible mountains of the resin in the early spring in order to attend to the old way, prayer and flame to judge the formless God of heaven and earth. In order to be safe against the armed TRacking proselytizer, they would have seen fit to wrap up a number of theirs, and thereby removed to keep their superstitious adversary and, protected by the Devil's faces to complete the purest worship. "
Description of the work
It consists of two parts:
- I The bad weather ( Allegro con fuoco )
- II The transition to Spring (Allegro vivace non troppo, quasi l' istesso tempo )
1 A Druid ( tenor) and Chorus of Druids and the people ( Allegro vivace non troppo )
2 An old woman of the people (Alt ) and the choir of the wives of the People ( Allegro non troppo )
3 The priest ( baritone) and Chorus of Druids (Andante maestoso )
4 Choir of the Guardians of the Druids (Allegro leggiero )
5 A guard of the Druids ( bass) Choir and the guardian of the Druids ( recitative )
6 Choir of the guardians of the druids and the heathen people (Allegro molto )
7 The priest ( baritone) and chorus of druids and the heathen people (Andante maestoso )
8 A Christian Guardian ( tenor) and Chorus of the Christian Guardian (Allegro molto )
9 The priest (baritone ) and general chorus of druids and the heathen people (Andante maestoso )
Discography (selection)
- Mendelssohn: Walpurgisnacht, Bamberg Symphony Orchestra with the choir under the direction of Claus Peter Flor, Soloists: Rappé, van der Walt, Scharinger, hell; No RCA Victor 09026 62513 2
- Mendelssohn: Die erste Walpurgisnacht (among others), the Gewandhaus Orchestra and Radio Choir Leipzig under the direction of Kurt Masur, Soloists: Burmeister, Büchner, Lorenz, bird; BERLIN Classics