Composer

:

Felix Mendelssohn

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Psalm

Compose Date

:

Feb 1844

Publication Date

:

1849

First Performance

:

Mar 29, 1844

Average_duration

:

7:12

Felix Mendelssohn composed his choral work 'Psalm 22 Mein Gott, mein Gott, warum hast du mich verlassen, Op. 78/3' in 1829. The piece was premiered in Berlin in 1831, with Mendelssohn conducting. The work is a setting of the text of Psalm 22, which is a lamentation of the psalmist who feels abandoned by God. The piece is divided into three movements, with the first and third movements being choral settings of the psalm text, and the second movement being a solo aria. The first movement begins with a somber and mournful choral introduction, with the choir singing the opening lines of the psalm in unison. The music gradually builds in intensity, with the choir singing in harmony and the orchestra providing a dramatic accompaniment. The movement ends with a return to the somber opening material, with the choir singing the final lines of the psalm in unison. The second movement is a solo aria for soprano, with the text taken from the middle of the psalm. The music is more lyrical and expressive than the first movement, with the soprano singing a plaintive melody over a gentle accompaniment. The aria ends with a return to the opening material, with the soprano singing the final lines of the psalm in a more dramatic and intense manner. The third movement is a choral setting of the final lines of the psalm, with the choir singing in harmony over a triumphant orchestral accompaniment. The music is more joyful and celebratory than the first movement, with the choir expressing their faith in God's ultimate victory over their enemies. Overall, 'Psalm 22 Mein Gott, mein Gott, warum hast du mich verlassen, Op. 78/3' is a powerful and emotional work that showcases Mendelssohn's skill as a composer of choral music. The piece is notable for its dramatic contrasts between the somber and mournful first and third movements and the more lyrical and expressive second movement.

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