Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy The First Walpurgis Night

Overture

(Portraying the change from Winter weather to Spring)

No. 1

A Druid and Chorus of People
Now May again
breaks Winter’s chain,
the bud and bloom are springing.
No snow is seen;
the vales are green,
the woodland choirs are singing.
Yon mountain height
is wint’ry white;
upon us we will gather, –
begin the ancient holy rite, –
praise our Almighty Father.
In sacrifice the flame shall rise!
Thus blend our hearts together!

Chorus of Druids and the People
In sacrifice the flame shall rise
begin the ancient holy rite, –
praise our Almighty Father.
Away! Away!

No. 2

An aged Woman of the People
Know ye not, a deed so daring
dooms us all to die despairing?
Know ye not, it is forbidden
by the edicts of our foemen?
Know ye, spies and snares are hidden,
for the sinners call’d “the heathen”?
On their ramparts they will slaughter
mother, father, son and daughter!
If detected,
naught but death can be expected.

Chorus of Women
On their ramparts they will slaughter
mother, father, son and daughter!
They

Ouverture

I. Das schlechte Wetter
II. Der Übergang zum Frühling

No. 1

Ein Druide und Chor des Volks
Es lacht der Mai!
Der Wald ist frei
von Eis und Reifgehänge.
Der Schnee ist fort;
am grünen Ort
erschallen Lustgesänge.
Ein reiner Schnee
liegt auf der Höh,
doch eilen wir nach oben,
begehn den alten heilgen Brauch,
Allvater dort zu loben.
Die Flamme lodre durch den Rauch!
So wird das Herz erhoben.

Chor der Druiden und des Volks
Die Flamme lodre durch den Rauch!
Begeht den alten heilgen Brauch,
Allvater dort zu loben.
Hinauf! Hinauf!

No. 2

Eine alte Frau aus dem Volke
Könnt ihr so verwegen handeln?
Wollt ihr denn zum Tode wandeln?
Kennet ihr nicht die Gesetze
unsrer harten Überwinder?
Rings gestellt sind ihre Netze
auf die Heiden, auf die Sünder.
Ach, sie schlachten auf dem Walle
unsre Väter, unsre Kinder!
Und wir alle
nahen uns gewissem Falle.

Chor der Weiber
Auf des Lagers hohem Walle
schlachten sie uns unsre Kinder.
Ach die strengen Überwinder!
Und wir alle
nahen

Whirling Momentum

Mendelssohn’s colorful setting of Goethe’s ballad Die erste Walpurgisnacht (The First Walpurgis Night)

R. Larry Todd

Among the most consequential literary-musical relationships of the nineteenth century was Goethe’s decade-long friendship with Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy. The prodigy was only twelve when in 1821 he accompanied his teacher, Carl Friedrich Zelter, to Weimar to meet the senescent doyen of German arts and letters. After Mendelssohn performed several of his own compositions and sight-read autographs of Mozart and Beethoven from his host’s library, Goethe shared this astonishing but reasoned evaluation: the young guest was nothing less than a "second Mozart."

Before composing Die erste Walpurgisnacht Mendelssohn had already set a few of Goethe’s poems as Lieder or part-songs, but had also dedicated the imposing Piano Quartet No. 3 in B minor Op. 3 (1825) to the poet, and, according to the composer’s elder sister, Fanny, found inspiration for the whimsical Scherzo of the Octet Op. 20 in the "Walpurgisnachtstraum" scene from Faust, Part I. But by 1825 Mendelssohn had not yet envisioned what became by far his most substantial engagement with the poet’s verses, the cantata