The Musical Genesis of Felix Mendelssohn's Paulus

by Reichwald, Siegwart

• ISBN13: 9780810840478
• ISBN10: 0810840472
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-07-17
• Publisher: Scarecrow Press

Summary

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.

Author Biography

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

Table of Contents

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