Psalm 42
Encyclopedia
Psalm 42 op. 42 "Wie der Hirsch schreit" ("As pants the Hart") is a composition by Felix Mendelssohn
composed in 1837/38 for soloists, mixed choir
and orchestra
.
Mendelssohn set the music to Martin Luther
's German translation
of Psalm 42
from the Book of Psalms
.
Felix Mendelssohn
Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Barthóldy , use the form 'Mendelssohn' and not 'Mendelssohn Bartholdy'. The Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians gives ' Felix Mendelssohn' as the entry, with 'Mendelssohn' used in the body text...
composed in 1837/38 for soloists, mixed choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
and orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
.
Mendelssohn set the music to Martin Luther
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
's German translation
Luther Bible
The Luther Bible is a German Bible translation by Martin Luther, first printed with both testaments in 1534. This translation became a force in shaping the Modern High German language. The project absorbed Luther's later years. The new translation was very widely disseminated thanks to the printing...
of Psalm 42
Psalm 42
Psalm 42 op. 42 "Wie der Hirsch schreit" is a composition by Felix Mendelssohn composed in 1837/38 for soloists, mixed choir and orchestra....
from the Book of Psalms
Psalms
The Book of Psalms , commonly referred to simply as Psalms, is a book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Bible...
.
Structure
- Chorus: Wie der Hirsch schreit (As the Hart Longs)
- Aria (soprano): Meine Seele dürstet nach Gott (For my soul thirsteth for God)
- Recitative and aria (soprano): Meine Tränen sind meine Speise (My tears have been my meat) – Denn ich wollte gern hingehen (For I had gone forth most gladly)
- Chorus: Was betrübst du dich, meine Seele (Why, my soul, art thou so vexed?)
- Recitative (soprano): Mein Gott, betrübt ist meine Seele (My God, within me is my soul cast down)
- Quintet (soprano with TTTenorThe tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
BBBass (voice type)A bass is a type of male singing voice and possesses the lowest vocal range of all voice types. According to The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, a bass is typically classified as having a range extending from around the second E below middle C to the E above middle C...
): Der Herr hat des Tages verheißen (The Lord hath commanded) - Final chorus: Was betrübst du dich, meine Seele (Why, my soul, art thou so vexed?)