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  • Homage to Mendelssohn for choir and orchestra

Homage to Mendelssohn for choir and orchestra

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$69.99
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2009

choir and orchestra

Instrumentation: 2222-423-timp.-SATB-str.

9 minutes

50 ​pages (full score)

21 pages (vocal score)

84 pages (parts)


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Peruse the score of Homage to Mendelssohn
File Size: 816 kb
File Type: pdf
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​When asked to write a piece celebrating the 200th anniversary of Mendelssohn's birth, for a premier on 31st October at St. Johanneskirche Harburg in Germany, I couldn't resist the composer's particular connection to that special day (Reformation Day in the Lutheran calendar): he called his 5th symphony "The Reformation" and incorporated within it the traditional hymn "Ein' feste Burg ist Unser Gott."  In taking this Homage for my own, using the hymn to create my own work (see words and translation below), I paid homage to a homage!  In addition to that, the 31st happens to be my birthday, and the next day was the birthday of the conductor, Rainer Schmitz.  What a celebration!

Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott,
Ein gute Wehr und Waffen;
Er hilft uns frei aus aller Not,
Die uns jetzt hat betroffen.
Der alt' böse Feind,
Mit Ernst er's jetzt meint,
Gross' Macht und viel List
Sein' grausam' Ruestung ist,
Auf Erd' ist nicht seingleichen.

Mit unsrer Macht is nichts getan,
Wir sind gar bald verloren;
Es steit't für uns der rechte Mann,
Den Gott hat selbst erkoren.
Fragst du, wer der ist?
Er heisst Jesu Christ,
Der Herr Zebaoth,
Und ist kein andrer Gott,
Das Feld muss er behalten.

Und wenn die Welt voll Teufel wär'
Und wollt' uns gar verschlingen,
So fürchten wir uns nicht so sehr,
Es soll uns doch gelingen.
Der Fürst dieser Welt,
Wie sau'r er sich stellt,
Tut er uns doch nicht,
Das macht, er ist gericht't,
Ein Wörtlein kann ihn fällen.

​Das Wort sie sollen lassen stahn
Und kein'n Dank dazu haben;
Er ist bei uns wohl auf dem Plan
Mit seinem Geist und Gaben.
Nehmen sie den Leib,
Gut, Ehr', Kind und Weib:
Lass fahren dahin,
Sie haben's kein'n Gewinn,
Das Reich muss uns doch bleiben.
 
A mighty fortress is our God, 
a trusty shield and weapon;
He helps us free from every need 
that hath us now overtaken.
The old evil foe 
now means deadly woe; 
deep guile and great might
Hi dreaded arms in fight; 
on Earth is not his equal.

With might of ours can naught be done, 
soon were our loss effected;
But for us fights the Valiant One, 
whom God Himself elected.
Ask who is this one? 
He is our Lord's son.
Jesus Christ his name, 
and there's none other God;
He holds the field forever.

And though this world, with devils filled,
all eager in devouring,
We tremble not, for God hath willed, 
they shan't be overpowering.
The Prince of this Darkness
may scowl in his fierceness.
He can harm us none, 
he's judged; the deed is done;
One word and he is falling.

That word above all earthly powers,
no thanks to them remains here,
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
through Him Who takes away our fear:
They can take our life, 
goods, fame, child and wife,
Let all these be gone, 
yet they have nothing won;
His kingdom is forever.
Picture
Rainer Schmitz conducting the Konzertchor Buchholz and Kammerorchetser St. Trinitatis, in the premier of Homage to Mendelssohn, St. Johanniskirche, Harburg, 31 October 2009

​© James Wilding 2023. All content owned or used with permission.
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