Psalm 42, Op. 42 ( MWV A 15) ''Wie der Hirsch schreit'' (As pants the

hart Hart often refers to: * Hart (deer) Hart may also refer to: Organizations * Hart Racing Engines, a former Formula One engine manufacturer * Hart Skis, US ski manufacturer * Hart Stores, a Canadian chain of department stores * Hart's Reptile Wo ...

) is a cantata by Felix Mendelssohn, setting

Psalm 42 Psalm 42 is the 42nd psalm of the Book of Psalms, often known in English by its incipit, "As the hart panteth after the water brooks" (in the King James Version). The Book of Psalms is part of the third section of the Hebrew Bible, and a book ...

in German. It was written and published in 1837 (revised 1838) for soloists, mixed

choir A choir ( ; also known as a chorale or chorus) is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform. Choirs may perform music from the classical music repertoire, which sp ...

and orchestra.

History

Mendelssohn set the music to Luther's German translation of

. At the work's first performance, in Leipzig on 1 January 1838, Mendelssohn conducted the

Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra The Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra (Gewandhausorchester; also previously known in German as the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig) is a German symphony orchestra based in Leipzig, Germany. The orchestra is named after the concert hall in which it is bas ...

, with Clara Novello as soprano. He was the orchestra's musical director from 1835 until his death in 1847.

Schumann Robert Schumann (; 8 June 181029 July 1856) was a German composer, pianist, and influential music critic. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers of the Romantic era. Schumann left the study of law, intending to pursue a career a ...

opined in 1837 that Mendelssohn's setting of Psalm 42 was the "highest point that he endelssohnreached as a composer for the church. Indeed the highest point recent church music has reached at all." Mendelssohn himself described it as “my best sacred piece… the best thing I have composed in this manner”, a work “I hold in greater regard than most of my other compositions.”Michael Cookson, Review on Music Web International
of Vol. 4, Wie der Hirsch schreit (Carus 83.202), one of the 12 volumes of 'Felix MENDELSSOHN-BARTHOLDY (1809-1847) Complete Sacred Choral Music' (Carus). Retrieved 20 August 2018.

Structure

# Chorus: ''Wie der Hirsch schreit'' (As the Hart Longs) # Aria (soprano): ''Meine Seele dürstet nach Gott'' (For my soul thirsteth for God) # Recitative and aria (soprano): ''Meine Tränen sind meine Speise'' (My tears have been my meat) – ''Denn ich wollte gern hingehen'' (For I had gone forth most gladly) # Chorus: ''Was betrübst du dich, meine Seele'' (Why, my soul, art thou so vexed?) # Recitative (soprano): ''Mein Gott, betrübt ist meine Seele'' (My God, within me is my soul cast down) # Quintet (soprano with TT BB): ''Der Herr hat des Tages verheißen'' (The Lord hath commanded) # Final chorus: ''Was betrübst du dich, meine Seele'' (Why, my soul, art thou so vexed?)

References

External links

*
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Psalm 42, Like as the hart longs (MWV A 15, 1837)
on the Carus Verlag website. {{Authority control Compositions by Felix Mendelssohn Cantatas Psalm settings 1837 compositions