The Book with Seven Seals
The book with seven seals is a consummate 1937 and 1938, first performed in Vienna by the Austrian composer Franz Schmidt 's oratorio based on motifs of the biblical Book of Revelation.
On February 23, 1937 Franz Schmidt wrote the last note of his oratorio at his home in Perchtoldsdorf and put the date underneath. Years since the first sketch had passed before he could complete the work that was to be his greatest.
Genesis
In the four little Preludes and Fugues for the Organ from 1928, some parts of the work are already prefigured, the Alleluia and the concluding remarks of the Lord. While the Opera Notre Dame two sketchbooks and also to other works sketches were found, only a draft of the second part on two sheets of music is available to the Oratory. If the emergence also not possible to monitor accurately, yet Schmidt himself has given of the progress of work on the score accurately report: it lasted two years ( 1935-1937 ).
The prologue had ended on October 15, 1935 Franz Schmidt. In writing the first part he had to stop work until July 1, 1936 from 1 January 1936. The already difficult time sufferer had once again have to put the pen from the hand to bring hope to the sick bed idly on healing. At the turn of 1936/37, the score had progressed to the sounding of the seventh trumpet. After the completion on 23 February 1937, the factory was just waiting for a little more than a year on its premiere on June 15, 1938, Oswald Kabasta: as soloists had Erika Rokyta, Enid Szantho, Anton Dermota, Joseph of Manowarda and Franz Schütz at the organ that musically challenging game of John sang Rudolf Gerlach. The difficult Chorpart had taken in Vienna Sing Association of Friends of Music Society. The also do not light orchestra part resulted from the Vienna Symphony Orchestra.
From stories is known that Schmidt for some time on the setting of some Bible passages that he wanted to combine them into an oratory thought. He is said to letters of St.. Have chosen to Paul, just as he was thinking of the setting of the Song of Songs. Who had made him aware of the Apocalypse, will hardly be detected well. Both Oswald Kabasta as well as Raimund Steiner Weiss be mentioned in this context.
When Schmidt had finally opted for the Book of Revelation, he moved next to his house Bible, containing the translation by Martin Luther, other translations to rate in order to win a beautiful and clear text from it. Who has the added free text messages which do not originate from the Bible written, can not be proved. Schmidt claims to be in his preface to the first performance that he had made no change in the biblical text. Literally, he says: " So I have, with the exception of the above einbekannten elision me " - meant here are the marks made by him in the Apocalypse - " kept exactly to the original ... " The fact that Schmidt but on sounding word was much, is it out that even still changes to individual words are made during the writing score, so for example in the prologue, where instead of " a chair stood in the Sky" " a throne stood in heaven " appears. Also on purely musical part can see the signs of improvements that Schmidt performed until the final shape seemed successful.
Occupation
The work requires the following soloists and orchestra:
- Vocal soloists: A heroic tenor for the role of John, a deep bass for the role of voice of the Lord and one soprano, alto, tenor and bass for the other solo parts
- Choir: Sopranos, Old, tenors and basses in the greatest possible occupation
- Organ
- Orchestra: 2 flutes, piccolo, 2 oboes, English horn, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet (alternating with D clarinet ), 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion, strings ( as much as possible occupied )