Felix Mendelssohn - ( God is our refuge and strength ) Psalm 46 - Composed at 13 years old ( 1822 ) скачать в хорошем качестве

Felix Mendelssohn - ( God is our refuge and strength ) Psalm 46 - Composed at 13 years old ( 1822 )

Felix Mendelssohn’s Psalm 46 Fragment, MWV A 2 is an early, incomplete sacred choral work, likely composed around 1822–1823, setting Psalm 46 ("Gott ist unsre Zuversicht und Stärke" – "God is our refuge and strength"). This fragment reflects Mendelssohn’s prodigious talent as a teenager during his formative Berlin years. Below is a detailed overview, tying it to your prior inquiries about Mendelssohn’s sacred music, including Psalm 13, Op. 96, Hör' mein Bitten, MWV B 18, and the "13 Psalm Motets" from the Chamber Choir of Europe’s recording. Psalm 46 Fragment, MWV A 2 Background Composition: Likely written between 1822 and 1823, when Mendelssohn was 13–14 years old, during his early Berlin period under the tutelage of Carl Friedrich Zelter at the Singakademie. This places it amidst his juvenilia, including the String Symphonies (1821–1823) and other early sacred works like the Magnificat in D, MWV A 2 (1822). The exact date is uncertain due to its unfinished state, but it aligns with his intensive compositional training around this time. Purpose: Probably composed as a study piece or occasional work for the Singakademie, where Mendelssohn honed his choral and sacred skills, or for private family performances at the Mendelssohn home, a hub for his early musical experiments. Psalm 46, a cornerstone of Lutheran liturgy tied to Martin Luther’s hymn "Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott," was a natural choice for a young Protestant composer exploring sacred forms. Text: Based on Psalm 46:1–11 from the German Lutheran Bible, with the fragment likely focusing on the opening verses: "Gott ist unsre Zuversicht und Stärke, eine Hilfe in den großen Nöten, die uns getroffen haben" ("God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble") – vv. 1–2. Possibly extending to "Darum fürchten wir uns nicht" ("Therefore will not we fear") – v. 3, though its incomplete nature limits its scope. Publication: Unfinished and unpublished during Mendelssohn’s lifetime, it exists only as a manuscript fragment, preserved in his early papers. It lacks an opus number and wasn’t included in posthumous publications like Psalm 13, Op. 96 or Three Motets, Op. 69. Catalog: Assigned MWV A 2 in the Mendelssohn-Werkverzeichnis, placing it among his larger sacred vocal works with orchestral or significant choral forces (A series). However, MWV A 2 is officially the Magnificat in D (1822), and Psalm 46 is sometimes considered a separate fragment, potentially uncataloged or misaligned in early listings. Scholarly debate exists about its precise MWV designation, but MWV A 2 is the closest match for a Psalm 46 setting from this period. Structure and Music Form: An incomplete motet or psalm setting, likely intended to be 3–5 minutes if completed, for SATB choir with organ or continuo accompaniment. As a fragment, it may cover only vv. 1–3 or break off mid-development, lacking a full conclusion. Text: "Gott ist unsre Zuversicht und Stärke, eine Hilfe in den großen Nöten" (vv. 1–2). Possibly hints of "Darum fürchten wir uns nicht" (v. 3), though completion is speculative. Structure (Reconstructed from Mendelssohn’s Early Style): Opening: Key: Likely D major or G major (common in his early, confident works) Tempo: Moderato or Maestoso (~80–90 BPM) Description: A bold choral entry with "Gott ist unsre Zuversicht," sung in a homophonic texture by the SATB choir. The organ or continuo provides a firm bass line, emphasizing God’s strength and refuge. Mendelssohn’s youthful style favors clear, declarative openings, as seen in his String Symphonies. Middle: Key: Possible shift to a minor key (e.g., B minor) or dynamic contrast Tempo: Andante (~60–70 BPM) Description: Likely develops "eine Hilfe in den großen Nöten" with a move toward polyphonic texture, where voices overlap or imitate, reflecting the theme of help amid trouble. At 13–14, Mendelssohn was experimenting with counterpoint under Zelter’s guidance, so this section might show early imitative writing, though the fragment may end abruptly here. Closing (Hypothetical): Key: Return to the major key (e.g., D major) Tempo: Allegro or Moderato (~90–100 BPM) Description: If completed, it might conclude with "Darum fürchten wir uns nicht" in a triumphant, homophonic return, possibly with a brief doxology ("Ehre sei Gott"). As a fragment, it likely lacks this resolution. Scoring: Four-part mixed choir (SATB), reflecting Mendelssohn’s early choral focus. Organ or continuo accompaniment (e.g., basso continuo with figured bass), typical of his Berlin training before he embraced orchestral scoring in works like Psalm 42, Op. 42. Style: Strongly Baroque-influenced (Bach’s motets), with homophonic clarity and hints of polyphony. Early Romantic traits in its harmonic simplicity and earnest expression, less refined than Hör' mein Bitten or Psalm 13.