The Musical Genesis of Felix Mendelssohn's

Felix Mendelssohn is one of the most celebrated figures of the early Romantic period. As a composer of sacred texts, he is chiefly remembered today for the oratorios Paulus (1836) and Elijah (1846). In this groundbreaking study, Siegwart Reichwald offers a meticulous analysis of Paulus, beginning with a general overview of the oratorio traditions of the early nineteenth century. He details the phases of the compositional process of Paulus as well as principles governing its development. Numerous musical examples, figures, and tables accompany the text. This thorough treatment of Paulus, while shedding light on Mendelssohn's approach to the oratorio and to sacred music in general, will be of interest to students of musicology.

Siegwart Reichwald (B.M., University of South Carolina; M.M. and Ph.D., Florida State University) is an assistant professor of music history/musicology at Palm Beach Atlantic College in West Palm Beach, FL; he also directs the Palm Beach Atlantic Symphony there, a college/community orchestra

Examples

v

Figures

ix

Tables

xi

Acknowledgments

xiii

The Oratorio in the Nineteenth Century and Mendelssohn's Paulus

Oratorio Traditions in the Early Nineteenth Century

1

(4)

Mendelssohn and the Oratorio Traditions in the Early Nineteenth Century

5

(14)

The Sources: Description and Chronology

Libretto Sources

19

(1)

Musical Sources

19

(7)

Manuscript Copies

26

(3)

The Phases of the Compositional Process of Paulus

Overview

29

(4)

Phase 1

33

(1)

Phase 2

34

(2)

Phase 3

36

(2)

Phase 4

38

(1)

Phase 5

39

(6)

Compositional Process in Individual Movements of Part 1

Overture

45

(8)

Opening

53

(11)

Capture, Trial, and the Stoning of Stephen

64

(13)

Saul's Persecution of the Christians

77

(12)

Saul's Conversion

89

(15)

Paul's Baptism

104

(23)

Compositional Process in Individual Movements of Part 2

Opening

127

(6)

Paul and Barnabas Are Sent

133

(10)

Paul Is Rejected by the Jews

143

(12)

Paul's Missionary Work to the Gentiles

155

(27)

Paul's Farewell

182

(19)

Principles Governing the Development of Paulus

Chronology

201

(2)

Mendelssohn's Compositional Approach to Paulus

203

(1)

Mendelssohn's Compositional Process

204

(5)

Mendelssohn's Paulus and the Oratorio in the Nineteenth Century

209

(4)

Appendix A

213

(6)

Appendix B

219

(4)

Appendix C

223

(6)

Appendix D

229

(4)

Bibliography

233

(6)

Index

239

(2)

About the Author

241

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The Musical Genesis of Felix Mendelssohn's Paulus

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials