|
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Composer Felix Mendelssohn |
|
Felix Mendelssohn
1809-1847
Composer, Conductor and Choral Master
In an excerpt from Felix Mendelssohn’s “The Hymn of Praise,“ sopranos Jessica Dows and Caitlin Garry will convey a message of hope and trust inspired by Psalm 40. The duet “I Waited for the Lord” will be offered on Sunday, October 17, at both the 8:30 and 10 a.m. services.
Director of Music Peter Schmidt will conduct Good Shepherd’s Chancel Choir, with accompaniment by organist Charles Pugh.
Composed in 1840, this beautiful anthem is part of Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 2. Although it’s labeled a symphony, the work actually is a cantata with many choral movements now freely used separately in worship. The hopeful Psalm cites a loving God who listens to all prayers, and praises believers who put their trust in Him. The music is marked by Mendelssohn’s legendary skills in melody, and the harmonic influences of his artistic heroes, Bach and Handel.
Music scholars point to many of Felix Mendelssohn’s works for the concert hall and church –“Elijah,” “St. Paul” and “The Hymn of Praise” --- as allegories for his own religious journey. Born into a prominent family in Hamburg, Germany, Mendelssohn was Jewish by lineage. His family converted to the Protestant Church and was baptized Lutheran. Felix’s talent for performance and composition were recognized at a young age, and his first piano performance was at age 9. He composed chamber works, concertos, psalm settings, lieder, symphonies and oratorios. But perhaps Mendelssohn’s best known melody is “The Wedding March” from his incidental music for Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” --- yes, that joyful wedding march that typically follows a happy couple down the aisle following the kiss.
His lyrical and emotional melodies as inspired by art, nature, the Bible and history brought him success throughout his short career. Encouraging contemporary composers and performers, Mendelssohn founded and directed the Leipzig Conservatory in 1843. He performed and conducted internationally and was a favorite of England’s Queen Victoria.
In addition to his remarkable contributions to the Romantic era of music, Mendelssohn deserves praise for his championing the music of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). Bach was known as an organist first and a Baroque composer second, nearly a century before Mendelssohn was born. By the time young prodigy Felix began composing and performing as a pianist, Bach’s work was largely ignored. Mendelssohn resurrected many of the master’s works and conducted the first public performance of “St. Matthew Passion” since Bach’s death. The Berlin concert in 1839 launched a revival of his work and appreciation of Bach’s genius.
Mendelssohn died at age 38 after a series of strokes, and was mourned in Germany and abroad.
--- Contributed by Penny Risen