Singing for the Gutenberg Festival

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The celebratory song for the Gutenbergfest ( MWV D 4 ), full title: The celebratory song for the opening of the celebrations taking place on the market square in Leipzig on the first day of the fourth secular celebration of the invention of the art of printing , is a secular choral work by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (music) and Adolf Eduard Prölß (Text) for male choir and two wind orchestras . The work was composed for the Gutenbergfest in 1840 and premiered in the open air on the market square in Leipzig . In addition to the male choir and the first wind orchestra, a second remote orchestra is planned for echo effects. Due to the high personnel and spatial requirements, the piece is seldom performed.

Occupation and subdivision

The first orchestra consists of 2 trumpets in C, 2 trumpets in D, 2 horns in G, 2 horns in C, 3 trombones (ATB) and 1 ophicleide. The small second orchestra consists of 2 trumpets in C, 2 horns in D and 3 trombones (ATB).

It is divided into four pieces:

  • 1. Celebrate with holy hymns of praise
  • 2. Fatherland, in your district
  • 3. The Lord who spoke
  • 4. Hail to him! Hail us!

The main melody of the second part was written by the British church musician William Hayman Cummings of the Christmas hymn Hark! The Herald Angels Sing highlighted. This Christmas carol is one of the most famous in English-speaking countries today.

This melody of the second part is also sung by Heinrich Held with the text of Thank God Through All the World .

At the same time, the strong similarity of the melodic and harmonic structure of this melody with JS Bach's Gavotte from the orchestral suite No. 4 suggests a possible adaptation by Mendelssohn.

This celebratory song is not to be confused with the festival song to the artists, also by Mendelssohn (op. 68).

text

1st chorale

Celebrate with sacred praise
the great hour of joy,
come, sing thanks in a thousand voices
to the Lord with heart and mouth.
He made us this day
he has made of tightly veiled night
the light evoked.
Centuries have been happy
in its bright beam,
and it continues to pour
to the furthest valleys,
where darkness and sorrow once lay,
the day now shines as bright as the sun.
O praise the God of love!

2nd song

Fatherland, in your district
when the golden day broke,
Germany, your peoples saw
thaw its shimmer.
Gutenberg, the German man,
lit the torch.
New, omnipotent striving
billows in the land of light,
his rapid victory run
follows an all happy life.
Gutenberg, the great man,
has done this noble work.
Whether the darkness defends itself
whether she performs a thousand pranks
whether she is furious or indignant,
she turns pale, she sinks like a corpse,
but crowned as a hero of victory,
the light stands before all the world.
Gutenberg, you brave man,
you are glorious on the scene.

3. Allegro molto

The Lord who said: Let there be light!
He helped in hard arguments
he stood with comfort and confidence
protecting you at your side.
Belief in his holy word
was your defense, your shield, your hoard,
so you had to win.
Hail now, immortality crowns
you, pious hero, with glory
Hail to you, hail to us forever.

4. Chorale

Hail him! Hail us! So sounds
to your holy thrones,
Lord our God up
the call of millions
and we plead ardently:
let the light shine
the salvation of all humanity,
Lord, thrive ever more.

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