Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy

Psalmkantaten III - Der 114. Psalm op. 51 MWV A 17 und Der 98. Psalm MWV A 23

Among Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy's numerous psalm compositions, those extensive settings in which an orchestra is used in addition to the vocal parts stand out as a separate group of works. The 115th Psalm op. 31 MWV A 9, which begins this series of compositions in 1829/1830, is followed by the 42nd Psalm op. 42 MWV A 15, the 95th Psalm op. 46 MWV A 16 and the 114th Psalm op. 51 MWV A 17, which were composed between 1837 and 1841. The series concludes with the 98th Psalm MWV A 23, which was composed for the New Year's service in Berlin Cathedral in 1844 and thus represents an exception to the previous works, which were not liturgically bound and were intended for the concert hall.

The present volume (Series VI/8,3 Psalm Cantatas III) contains the psalms for eight-part choir or double choir and orchestra, the 114th Psalm op. 46 and the 114th Psalm op. 51. The 114th Psalm op. 51 MWV A 17 and the 98th Psalm MWV A 23.

The 114th Psalm was composed during an interruption in the work on the 95th Psalm from the summer of 1839 to the beginning of 1841. A comparison of the final version with the first transcription, which was already completed on August 9, 1839, reveals the numerous revisions and additions. The performances on January 1, 1840 in Leipzig and on September 25, 1840 in Birmingham took place in different forms; in particular, Mendelssohn radically changed the structure of the concluding section and also modified it again before it went to press. The psalm is the only one of the psalms with orchestra to bear a dedication. It is dedicated to the painter Johann Wilhelm Schirmer (1807-1863), with whom the composer was a close friend and with whom he shared similar ideas regarding their artistic work.

The composition of the 98th Psalm is the only one in the series of large psalm compositions with orchestra whose text was not chosen by the composer, but which was inserted into a liturgical order. It was composed at the end of December 1843 for the royal court and cathedral choir in Berlin, whose artistic director Mendelssohn was appointed by Frederick William IV in his capacity as Prussian General Music Director. By composing and performing this psalm at the New Year's Eve service in Berlin Cathedral in 1844, Mendelssohn was attempting to fulfill his contractual duties while at the same time asserting his ideas of appropriate contemporary church music. In contrast to the a cappella choral music desired in the cathedral, he emphatically demonstrated his preference for composition with orchestra with the 98th Psalm. This led to profound disputes with the cathedral clergy and ultimately to Mendelssohn's resignation from his position at Berlin Cathedral. The psalm was not performed again by the composer and was not even put into print. It only appeared posthumously in 1851 under the unauthorized opus number 91.

Linen, thread stitching.