| Show The The e Music Student Abroad Ahro i broadI i i M Mendelssohn's Oratorio Elijah By y Pietro I 00 i- i W iW moat most dramatic It If not tho greatest great- great l r I est eat oratorio ever er written Is IA that sup superb arb piece of ot mu music lc which we we know as the Elijah It was written wheT when n the master was in his hIe prime arter atter af- af ter ter r other similar o experiments had his lila tools and given I n him complete freedom of ot flight ht and And like the tite other two great masterpieces of ot oratorical work Tho Thio Thoe Messiah e and The rhe Creation It was inI in in- I bY br English contact and produced on English soil and has found Its Utmost ut utmost ut- ut most fame tame and aud popularity In that land hInd landof landof of ot ane and safe cafe artistic Ideals If life Is to be harmonized with law surely Burcl we shall ball ce cease some om da day to plunge our Ideals idea Into the thc sulphur baths of or tho the lower rt regions lonA in order to theTa up UI musically triumphant Into th tho fr regions gions ot or human blis Speaking r of or musical Ideals recalls the efforts ttO S some on o make to lift nian- nian Kind Into imo m ner planes pU i 1 see over o hero here a a lot of oC people who vho think n. n whole lot lotmore more rore about the thc negligible third o of humanity hu hu- manity who ho are ire gross groan sinners and who ho whore hore re are proud of or th thir lr distinction than th the they do di doot of ot the two thirds of or pretty fair folks who jog Jar along lifes life's road without sug- sug Uon of or sin SILt and of rOmance i What 1 Js is it it 11 my grandmother used to tell ten me me If It Jf you ou were to rob the devil of or hI his bis fascination you would ut Iut ut off oft t hi his hi right arm at the tho shoulder And that Is perhaps the reason wh why all our o operas arc are written t around the picturesque e esque Isque que villain and arid his crimes Grand nuil Figure 1 The devout Mendelssohn found In n a fb figure ure of or strength and power It It Is S said that one day whon then he lie was conning his Bible he came upon that Ipu passage ge jn in Elijah's Hf lit wh where rc the the- va va- I riou forms form of o nature came to his hi cave t then hen Behold th the Lord passed a h by and d ho hn was wits struck with the i ties of ot making an oratorio from that 4 theme themo and build around it the tue Incident hid Inci 5 dents dent of ot Elijah's life lite He lie cull culled called Elijah s the tho grandest anti and most float romantic character character chars char char- s acter that Israel ever evet produced This Thle thought la lay dormant in tho tnt composers composer's mind for or years year eRr hut but nt t la last t during the Iv year ar 15 1346 SH and 1846 lS he act ct ct to work in iii r. r earnest arnet on this hits wonderful work first l performed In Birmingham August t 2 2 i. i 1846 during the tho festival w week ek which 1 4 also Iso Included The Messiah and anti The Th Thet t Ct Creation atlon as part of or its tremendous pro pro- And JI l when it is remembered 1 that tile the men and women composing the these there e Birmingham choirs choir were vere not tin th paid Daid singers ers of ot som flom some opera troupe but f were vere the mechanics and the working working- h irI who it-ho In made de up tip the Sabbath choirs r of or an any or sill nil of these churches church one Is ha deeply impressed Hd with the lie quality q of nc 1 musical education thus thim furnished tho the bulk of En English lIsh people without moneA anti ind without price Would that Utah could come out o of the slough h of or hc her time hot-time I In both choIr Nand and concert and and ll po JO back hack to lo the thc splendid did example sot set us 1111 b by th the earlier canter Utah Ulah musicians musician who t 10 loved d Rach Bach and anti Handeland Handel and Mendelssohn ohn with w the thc devotion br bred bredof bredof d I of or cradle training in tho the est t of musical musi cal al art O On-n As to tho the plot of oC Elijah for It ha has a aier avery er i-er very definite te one indeed and yet ct the I whole thinG was taken taleen from the Bihl bolus bolos Mendelssohn W was ex- ex xi x- x i fastidious and Dull a an h he could find rind I no libretto to suit stilt him hint ho he hall hail tho the a assistance as as- of or some friends and framed up UI his own libretto I He lie had quite quit a quarrel or rather a n. wide divergence of or opinion ln with his I friend and associate Marx who cla to Mendelssohn's purpose to Intro Introduce ucc i iR R again aln chorales as he lie had done In SL St StPaul Paul hi his hlF first oratorio But Elijah I Is 11 so 80 near near- p perfect rr ct that we rejoice that the yoking 0 composer had hall the coura courage e of or his hie convictions con 1 Mendelssohn ohn wrote to his Intimate fr friend j end Jenny Lint that when it was 9 finished I nm am Jumping about my 01 room for jo Joy It If it tt only turns turne out half a an as as I fanc fancy It tt ItIs itis Is how pleased I shall be It is Js cain Inlo b by all nil that this thi oratorio eo ld be well staged In operatic style with costumes costume and scenery and would be he as ns effective as no now It is Js so BO filled with the fire ire ana anor flame of or song and of or dramatic instinct The overture IK is introduced with a brief bret but very cr Impressive recitative by bytho bytho tho Prophet Elijah 1 h. h telling of ot th the tho drought which is JIt to come come- This leads directly to the overture o which Is a a. solemn sol aol enin and d despairing tone picture of ot the curso curse which In Is settling all aU over Israel In th the midst of or this loom gloom wo we hear the voice olce of or nature In ill stream and alJe Joining Joining- with th the human sorrows sorro wh which h Ho lie heavily ih upon the people Cry CrT Out for tor Help Then the chorus of the p people cry I out tot for Help Lord and this Is given ien three e distinct cries Th The ThA chorale lo moves mo along beside title this piteous appeal and I loads lond to a n. second chorus with a n duet for two sopranos Lord bow bo Thine Titine ear car to our prayer pi This motif moU Is that of or an old Jewish chorale which I Felix had no doubt listened to 10 n ml many j times in his Ills boyish boish years ear The male and arid female v voices ices take up the choral I part and sing alternately and yet ct In unison To on one who Is familiar with Je I Jewish 11 music this l Is it er very Impressive lve and richly tuneful Then comes com s Obe- Obe diali's lovely aria If with all aU your our ourI hearts and then the people or chorus I break out in another of lamenta lamenta- tion This merges es lute Into ono one of ot Mendelssohn's Men Men- dels ohn's favorite ta chorales whIch which Is 18 Isan isan an unaccompanied chorus For He lIe Is tho Lord Our God Goel There follows the of an flIt an angel l summoning Elijah to tho The brook of ron and this thi In Introduces introduces introduces' In- In thC the tint fine double quartet For He lYe shall give Io Ills His angels charge ov O dr r with It Its limpid melody and the th-e finale Again A the Ilie angel summons Elijah to tho widows widow's house at Now ow comes the vivid ill scene of oC the raising of or orthe the widows widow's son soni beginning with tho the widows widow's passionate cry What hat have I Ito Ito to tb do with 1111 thee Tho The prophet answers answers an an- with the solemn declaration Give me thy son on n and the thc whole closes with ith th the chorus Blessed cd are the men who fear tear Him tini Challenge to In The second scene In this part Introduces introduces intro Intro- duces ducos Elijah before King Ahab and hl his I cont confident ent challenge e of or the priests of or I Baal Baa to the double sacrifice on Mount These recitatives s are ore followed and Inter Interspersed perl d with short choral outbursts outbursts out out- I bursts from the assembled people As Elijah jeeringly h d demands that t the they Invoke In your OUI forest t gods and mountain moun moun- tain tam deities the thc priests break l out Into litto a A. double chorus Baal we cry to thee theo This number reveals rc the latent nt strength and rug rugged ed powers 13 of ot this extraordinary dinar r genius who Invests est this number with such Ruch ringing and abrupt m melodies that they bring the contra contrasted terl Jewish J chorales Into fine tine contrast rh The music Is here litre fairly s sensuous and full fuU of or heathen su suggestion Elijah bids them cry crr rr Jou louder and again aln the barbane barbaric bar bar- baric bane chorus rings out in rude appeal Again th the taunting of the prophet is heard and antI n again aln the demand for tor Baal to como come on and perform the miracle The closing words of ot this unique chorus are given ghen In almost angry force torce Hear Ilear and answer answer The sweet and calm prayer of Elijah which follows 5 Is IR full of ot dl dignity and arid beauty This la Is closed with the chorus Ca Cast l thy burd burden burden bur bur- d den u on the Lord This Title i is the peaceful moment before the an angry r s torm storm to fol tol fol- fol low Then the prophet calls caWs for fire tire to descend upon tho the altar and a a. chorus of Power nd I tur fury follows follow Tho The fire descends tc from oni h heaven a n. n In fierce fierce reci- reci tatI 0 Elijah ah pronounces pronounce tho the doom of or the prophets of or Baal laal and after a n brief c choral oral sings the bass bas aria aria- Is ls not flot HIR word ord like of ot a fire firt This solo is JR one the h most difficult in nil all the realms of oC bass ass e Ie It In is possible to none but hut exceptional voices Tho o beautiful aria Woe oc unto them t follows a 8 0 this bRA base bans solo 1010 Now comes Oh Obediah who asks Elijah to help tho the people and J Elijah h introduces IntroducE the tho rain motif ot t with a a. lo el lovely andante andanto passage c. c Open tho heavens cn and Rud send us relief relict There here Is a dialogue between the youth bouth and the prophet in itt which Elijah bids Ids the bo boy to l lOok iok to the sea and as the chorus takes up the strains the storm br breaks brake As AB the tho rain descends I the people break out Into a R shout ot j jo Joy and relief Nothing in itt all music is ismore ismore more dramatic than titan this rain chorus You ou can hear the patter growing Into great bursts of ot wind and storm down downIn In the cra crashing tra and over and above aboy It all Elijah and nd the people ct cry Thanks be ho to God Tho The first part closes with Ith this tempest chorus Trumpet of ot Warning The familiar soprano solo Hear ye e Israel Is as brilliant as fit nt I is popular Jt It begins with a trumpet note of warning warn warn- Ins ing and the trumpet obligate ato winds in lu inand and out of tho the melody developing it Into another of or an animated an and forceful forceful force force- ful rul nature This solo merges into the magnificent chorus Bo Be not afraid The entire bed bod body of or singers and nd ln tru- tru Join to make of or this one of or ortho the tho ho most impressive and eloquent choruses over ever composed Then follows the scene scent In which Elijah Eli Eli- jahi jah ah accuses Jezebel and she nhe hl counters with bitter taunts taunt a against him The rite people take tale up her challenge and cry en with th Ho lie shall perish finishing short hort chorus Woe oc to him counsels Elijah to flee to the ness oss and md in tho the next scene cene Elijah Isalone Isalone is alone lone In the desert In Ill tho tue aria It is ts enough Elijah rays prays for tor death Then he lie falls faUs asleep and ml the angels tell us See now nor he beneath a n. Juniper r tree treo in the tho wilderness and there The Tho An angels of the e Lord camp round about all them that hat fear Him i This nile introduces that loveliest of or unaccompanied trios for fr female emale voices Lift thine eyes ees 0 O lift lilno thino eyes to the mountains Who ho hoth th that lat t has ever heard 01 or oi sun sung this Kemf gem Kem em emo o of f all Poll trios wilt will ever forget tt Its effect and nd Its message The chorus which follows Is 18 full of or charm and melody He ITe watching over Israel and the second theme Introduced by the tenors ten ten- oJ ors rs thou walking In grief Is s as lovely ely as 31 the trio As the an angel el elfi fi wakens Elijah ho again makes his complaint of oC bitterness and antI asks to die In Iii n response to his lila complaint comes that hat other matchless aria for tor all time 0 O rest In Iii the Lord What hat could e exceed ex- ex eed in tenderness and consolation this perfect song It has haq comforted the hearts of or untold millions and each time ime Its notes rise on the air the soul foul rises rises' on UH its strains to lo a higher r and a a. dIviner d conception of both life lite and ana death eath This leads to the chorus He that hat shall endure to the end Elijah I Rc Regains Faith The next scene Introduces us to an Elijah renewed In power and In faith once more triumphant He lie h hoars the voice olce of ot the angel bidding him to Arise now get thee without stand standon on n the mount before beor the Lord f for 11 r there Ills His glory will appeal appear thee and nd on thee Th Thy face mus must b be for or He fe T near With majestic force orce and suddenness s the whole holo chorus chOtu Behold God the Lord n i 1 h 1St Mth Hll suddenness p tho ho voices drop Into pianissimo grad grad- their full tuil strength ally working working- up to as s the winds sweep SC p by rending tho the mountains about Once moro more we herr her the he voice olce proclaim The rite Lord was not rot In n th the tempest Then the earthquake and nd the tire tempest rush lJ by end nd after Her each ach wa we hear the same sama proclamation that hat Tho The Lord I Is not in these Introduces the matchless beauty of the recitative which declares t that After the ho fire there came a still small mall voice and nd on onward onard ard came the Lord And tho the chorus horus works up to lo this tithe glory glor with consummate beauty and ravishing ravishing- tie dc- light The double chorus of or beauty which declares that Hol Holy holy h holy ly is Ills His U name God tho Lord rord is maJe majestic lIc and anti thrilling Now goes oes forth Elijah strengthened and comforted and hl his aria ria For the mountains shall shan d par parc ri pares the wP We way for the tho final This final word And then your light Ight break forth as ar the he mornin morning is isa isa a a. mas massive i c fu fugue ue following the beautiful rul ful ul quartet t O 0 come everyone C that t ii I ra I e I hi Thus ends one of fC the worlds world's rc t- t est st masterpieces an anti and with it practical l h closed the work life of or Ha its composer C But Jut for us who are always here the students and the lI listeners ten them Is Is- Isa a a. message of if constant peace in the mIdst of our most trying experiences pie pr pan pared pard d for or our thirsting souls soul whenever er ve we have the opportunity 0 of listening t this t t- this his glorious oratorio And w we have plenty lenty of OC chances over 1 hero In Berlin For or after atter the noble nobl example of Mendelssohn Men h JI- JI himself the h hose here rc Isco is co covered covered with Hit n ncr cr very rk of r sing sing- lug InS societies who rho Iv U us or of their host hiest In n and out of QC season Anti And of oC course here as in En England land thes three which I ha have named Handel Handel Haydn and antI Mendelssohn Conic come come first last and nd all th he the time tinie There are arc plent a-plent of or other oratorios and other great reat composers of or oratorios but of or these we will speak In other articles |
