Composer

:

Rudolf Tobias

Genre

:

Choral

Average_duration

:

5:16

Des Jona Sendung (Jonah's Mission) is a choral work composed by Rudolf Tobias, an Estonian composer, in 1909. The piece was premiered on 17 April 1910 in Tartu, Estonia, and was conducted by the composer himself. The work is divided into three movements and is based on the biblical story of Jonah. The first movement, "Jonah's Call," begins with a solo bass voice singing the words "And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah." The choir then enters, singing in unison, and the music builds in intensity as Jonah is called to go to Nineveh. The movement ends with the choir singing "Arise, go to Nineveh," and the solo bass voice repeating the words. The second movement, "Jonah's Flight," is more somber in tone. The choir sings of Jonah's attempt to flee from God's call, and the music reflects his fear and desperation. The movement ends with the choir singing "And the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea," as Jonah is thrown overboard and swallowed by a great fish. The final movement, "Jonah's Preaching," is the most dramatic of the three. The choir sings of Jonah's preaching to the people of Nineveh, and the music is full of energy and excitement. The movement ends with the choir singing "And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way," as the people of Nineveh repent and are saved. Tobias' use of harmony and counterpoint in Des Jona Sendung is particularly noteworthy. He employs a wide range of choral textures, from unison singing to complex polyphony, to convey the emotional depth of the story. The work also features a number of solo passages, which showcase the talents of individual singers. Overall, Des Jona Sendung is a powerful and moving choral work that remains a staple of the Estonian choral repertoire. Tobias' skillful use of harmony and counterpoint, combined with his deep understanding of the biblical story, make this piece a true masterpiece of choral music.

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