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St. Paul Oratorio (op. 36)

by Felix Mendelssohn


Orchestration
2223-4231-timp-org-str-chorus(SATB)-soloists(SATBB)
Duration
2 hours 5 minutes
Year Composed
1836

Notes

Contents

Overture

Part 1

Appeal and Doxology

  1. Herr! Der du bist Gott — Lord! Thou alone art God (Chorus)

  2. Allein Gott in der Höh' sei Ehr' und Dank — To God on high be thanks and praise (Chorale)

Scene 1: Stoning of Stephen

  1. Die Menge der Gläubigen — And the many that believed were of one heart (Soprano and Bass, Recitative and Duet)

  2. Dieser Mensch hört nicht auf — Now this man ceaseth not to utter (Chorus)

  3. Und sie sahen auf ihn — And all that sat in the council (Soprano and Tenor, Recitative; Chorus)

  4. Jerusalem! Die du tötest die Propheten — Jerusalem! thou that killest the Prophets (Soprano, Aria)

  5. Sie aber stürmten auf ihn ein; Steiniget ihn! — Then they ran upon him; Stone him! (Tenor, Recitative; Chorus)

  6. Und sie steinigten ihn; Dir, Herr, dir — And they stoned him; To thee, O Lord (Tenor, Recitative; Chorale)

  7. Und die Zeugen legten ab ihre Kleider — And the witnesses had laid down (Soprano, Recitative)

  8. Siehe! wir preisen selig — Happy and blest are they (Chorus)

Scene 2: Conversion and Baptism of Saul/Paul

  1. Saulus aber zerstörte die Gemeinde — And Saul made havoc of the Church (Tenor, Recitative; Bass, Aria)

  2. Und zog mit einer Schaar gen Damaskus — And he journey'd with companions towards Damascus (Alto, Recitative and Arioso)

  3. Und als er auf dem Weg war; Saul! was verfolgst du mich? — And as he was on the way; Saul, why do you persecute me? (Tenor and Bass, Recitative; Chorus)

  4. Mache dich auf! Werde Licht! — Arise! Let there be light! (Chorus)

  5. Wachet auf! ruft uns die Stimme — Sleepers, wake! a voice is calling (Chorale)

  6. Die Männer aber, die seine Gefährten waren — And his companions which journeyed (Tenor, Recitative)

  7. Gott, sei mir gnädig — O God, have Mercy (Bass, Aria)

  8. Es war aber ein Jünger zu Damaskus — And there was a Disciple at Damascus (Recitative)

  9. Ich danke dir, Herr, mein Gott — I praise thee, O Lord my God! (Bass, Aria; Chorus)

  10. Und Ananias ging hin — And Ananias went his way (Soprano and Tenor, Recitative)

  11. O welch eine Tiefe des Reichtums — O great is the depth of the Riches (Chorus)

Part Two

Scene 3: Mission of Paul and Barnabas

  1. Der Erdkreis ist nun des Herrn — The Nations are now the Lord's (Chorus)

  2. Und Paulus kam zu der Gemeinde — And Paul came to the congregation (Soprano, Recitative)

  3. So sind wir nun Botschafter — Now we are Ambassadors (Tenor and Bass, Duettino)

  4. Wie lieblich sind die Boten — How lovely are the Messengers (Chorus)

  5. Und wie sie ausgesandt von dem heiligen Geist — I will sing of thy great mercies (Soprano, Recitative and Arioso)

Scene 4: Persecution of Paul by his former fellow believers

  1. Da aber die Juden das Volk sahen — But when the Jews; Thus saith the Lord (Tenor, Recitative; Chorus)

  2. Ist das nicht der zu Jerusalem; O Jesu Christe, wahres Licht — Is this not him from Jerusalem?; O Thou, the true and only light (Chorus)

  3. Paulus aber und Barnabas sprachen — But Paul and Barnabas spoke freely (Tenor and Bass, Recitative)

  4. Denn also hat uns der Herr geboten — For so hath the Lord himself commanded (Tenor and Bass, Duet)

  5. Und es war ein Mann zu Lystra — And there was a man at Lystra (Soprano, Recitative)

  6. Die Götter sind den Menschen gleich geworden — The Gods themselves as Mortals have descended (Chorus)

  7. Und nannten Barnabas Jupiter — And they called Barnabas Jupiter (Alto, Recitative)

  8. Seid uns gnädig, hohe Götter — O be gracious, Ye immortals (Chorus)

  9. Da das die Apostel hörten — Now when the Apostles heard the same (Tenor and Bass, Recitative; Bass, Aria; Chorus)

  10. Da ward das Volk erreget wieder sie — Then the multitude was stirred up against them (Soprano, Recitative)

  11. Hier ist des Herren Tempel — This is the Lord's temple (Chorus)

  12. Und sie alle verfolgten Paulus — And they all persecuted Paul (Soprano, Recitative)

  13. Sei getreu bis in den Tod — Be though faithful unto death (Tenor, Cavatina)

Scene 5: Farewell of Paul from Ephesus

  1. Paulus sandte hin und liess fordern — And Paul sent and called the elders (Soprano and Bass, Recitative)

  2. Schone doch deiner selbst — Far be it from thy path (Chorus; Tenor and Bass, Recitative)

  3. Sehet, welch' eine Liebe — See, what love hath the Father (Chorus)

Scene 6: Martyrdom of Paul

  1. Und wenn er gleich geopfert wird — And though he be offered (Soprano, Recitative)

  2. Nicht aber ihm allein — Not only unto him (Chorus)

 


Movements & Players Table


Part Name
Movements
123
Overture
Part 1
Part 2
7' 00''1h 02' 00''56' 00''
Flute 1
C Flute
Flute 2
C Flute
Oboe 1
Oboe
Oboe 2
Oboe
Clarinet 1
Clarinet
Clarinet 2
Clarinet
Bassoon 1
Bassoon
Bassoon 2
Bassoon
Bassoon 3
Bassoon
Horn 1
Horn
Horn 2
Horn
Horn 3
Horn
Horn 4
Horn
Trumpet 1
Trumpet
Trumpet 2
Trumpet
Trombone 1
Trombone
Trombone 2
Trombone
Trombone 3
Trombone
Tuba
Tuba
Organ
Organ
Timpani
Timpani
Violin 1
Violin Section
Violin 2
Violin Section
Viola
Viola Section
Cello
Cello Section
Double Bass
Bass Section
Solo: Soprano
Tacet
Soprano (Voice)
Solo: Alto
Tacet
Alto (Voice)
Solo: Tenor
Tacet
Tenor (Voice)
Solo: Bass 1
Tacet
Bass (Voice)
Solo: Bass 2
Tacet
Bass (Voice)
Chorus: Soprano
Tacet
Soprano (Voice)
Chorus: Alto
Tacet
Alto (Voice)
Chorus: Tenor
Tacet
Tenor (Voice)
Chorus: Bass
Tacet
Bass (Voice)


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