jan 1, 1836 - Paulus Op. 36

Description:

a particularly famous oratorio by Mendelssohn.

Mendelssohn’s Paulus and Civic Nationalism
1. Mendelssohn’s oratorio, Paulus, demonstrates various facets of the man: composer, conductor, advocate, civic musician, and religious composer.
2. While the composer had conducted and studied the works of Bach, his oratorio is more
along the lines of Handel, with a measure of Bach added to it.
3. Paulus reveals aspects of the relationship between religious and national culture in Germany in the 1830s. For example, "Wachet Auf" is the chroale theme in the overture.
4. The chorales in Paulus also point to ideas about the German nation.
5. In the final chorale, Mendelssohn incorporates the Luther’s translation of the Nicene Creed. Presented before an audience of Catholics (not Protestants), the concept portrayed is national religious union. Mendelssohn can be seen as a civic musician.
6. The Scottish Symphony by Mendelssohn also strongly expresses German civic nationalism, even more strongly than Paulus.

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