The Musical Genesis Of Felix Mendelssohn'S Paulus - Tapa dura

Reichwald has provided a thorough examination of the background, sources, and compositional processes surrounding an early Romantic masterpiece: one that might well serve as a model for other studies of similar larger works. For anyone interested in mendelssohn or in the major choral repertoire, the book merits a careful and thoughtful reading. * The American Organist * Reichwald (music history/musicology, Palm Beach Atlantic College) analyzes the oratorio music of Felix Mendelssohn. In the first chapter, he provides a background of this musical form and Mendelssohn's view of sacred music. Next, he discusses the libretti and musical sources and manuscript copies for &ltPaulus, the five phases of the compositional process, and then the compositional process evident in the individual movements. Finally, he addresses the principles governing the overall development of the work... * Reference and Research Book News * Reichwald (music history/musicology, Palm Beach Atlantic College) analyzes the oratorio music of Felix Mendelssohn. In the first chapter, he provides a background of this musical form and Mendelssohn's view of sacred music. Next, he discusses the libretti and musical sources and manuscript copies for , the five phases of the compositional process, and then the compositional process evident in the individual movements. Finally, he addresses the principles governing the overall development of the work. * Reference and Research Book News *

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.