Piece #15 - It is enough (Elijah) - Felix Mendelssohn

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEkClendR3s

Without a doubt, Mendelssohn's Elijah is my favorite piece. Mendelssohn masterfully crafts the music to mirror the exciting story of the prophet Elijah. The piece is one of the last works Mendelssohn ever completed as he died roughly one year later. Once can only wonder what great music was lost when Mendelssohn was stolen from us before his 40th birthday.

Factoids:

• Elijah is an oratorio, or a large scale dramatic work (usually sacred) intended for concert performance.
• Other famous oratorios include: Messiah, The Creation, and The Dream of Gerontius

• In order to understand the significance of this work, you must understand that in Elijah there are two motives, or musical ideas, that predominate:

1. The major and minor triad.
2. The descending diminished 5th.

• The first motive, the ascending triad, usually comes when Elijah is about to make a prophecy or commit an act on behalf of god.
• This occurs in the opening measures (of the entire oratorio), when Elijah sings an ascending minor triad as he issues the curse of famine and drought.
• Elijah later uses a major triad to announce that the curse is over.
• Please note that these are just a few of several examples used in the piece.

• The second motive, is used to represent the curse discussed above.
• This motive also occurs in the opening recitative, or speech-like singing with text that develops the plot.

• In this particular aria, we have both these motives at work.
• Elijah's first words, "It is enough," are set on a descending minor triad.
• This could signify that he has lost faith in god, and is resign to giving his life away.
• Just a few measures later, Elijah sings the word "life" on a descending diminished 5th.
• The interval that is associated with the curse.

• The piece is essentially in an ABA form, and is a duet between Elijah and the celli.

Please enjoy this wonderful piece!