| Festgesang | |
| Type: | Festive Cantata |
| Composer: | Felix Mendelssohn |
| Other Name: | "Gutenberg Cantata" |
| Occasion: | Celebration of Johannes Gutenberg |
| Related: | "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" |
| Catalogue: | MWV D 4 |
| Text: | Adolf Eduard Proelss and two Lutheran chorales |
| Language: | German |
| Movements: | Four |
The "Festgesang", also known as the "Gutenberg Cantata", was composed by Felix Mendelssohn in the first half of 1840 for performance in Leipzig at the celebrations to mark the putative 400th anniversary of the invention of printing with movable type by Johannes Gutenberg. The full title is Festgesang zur Eröffnung der am ersten Tage der vierten Säkularfeier der Erfindung der Buchdruckerkunst auf dem Marktplatz zu Leipzig stattfindenden Feierlichkeiten (Ceremonial song for the opening of the celebrations taking place on the first day of the quadricentennial celebration of the invention of the art of printing on the market square in Leipzig). It was first performed in the market-square at Leipzig on 24 June 1840.[1]
The piece is scored for male chorus with two brass orchestras and timpani, and consists of four parts, the first and last based on established Lutheran chorales. Part 2, beginning "Vaterland, in deinen Gauen", was later adapted to the words of Charles Wesley’s Christmas carol "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" (against Wesley's original request, as he had originally wanted more somber music, though he had been long deceased by this point). The original German words for Festgesang were by Adolf Eduard Proelss (1803–1882).[1] The use of a large choir and two orchestras was designed to make use of the natural acoustics of the market-place to produce an impressive, resonant sound.
Mendelssohn wrote at least two other "Festgesänge", with which the present work are sometimes confused, known as Festgesang an die Künstler (1846) and Festgesang (“Möge das Siegeszeichen” [1838]).[2]
| German | English | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Jahrhunderte schon freuen sichin seinem hellen Strahle,und immer weiter gießt es sichbis in die fernsten Tale.Wo Finsternis und Gram einst lag,da glänzt nun sonnenhell der Tag.O preist den Gott der Liebe! | Centuries already rejoicein its bright radiance,and it continues to pourto the farthest valleys.Where darkness and sorrow once lay,the day now shines as if sunlit.O praise the God of love | |||
Neues, allgewaltges Strebenwogt im Land des Lichtes auf,seinem raschen Siegeslauffolgt ein allbeglückend Leben.Gutenberg, der große Mann,hat dies hehre Werk getan. Ob die Finsternis sich wehrt,ob sie führet tausend Streiche,ob sie wütet, sich empört,sie erblasst, sie sinkt als Leiche,doch gekrönt als Siegesheld,steht das Licht vor aller Welt.Gutenberg, du wackrer Mann,du stehst glorreich auf dem Plan. | New, all-powerful strivingrises in the land of life,its triumphant progressfollowed by all-blessed life.Gutenberg the great manhas done this noble work. Whether the darkness defends itself,whether it pulls a thousand tricks,whether it rages outraged,still it pales, sinks like a corpse,while crowned as a champion,stands the light before all the world.Gutenberg, you brave man,you stand gloriously in the [divine] plan. | |||
Der Glaube an sein heilig Wortwar deine Wehr, dein Schild, dein Hort,so musstest du gewinnen. Heil dir, nun krönt Unsterblichkeitdich, frommer Held, mit HerrlichkeitHeil dir, Heil uns in Ewigkeit. | He helped you in the harder fight,he stood with consolation and confidence, protective at your side. Faith in his holy wordwas your defense, your shield, your haven,so that you had to win. Hail, now immortality crownsyou, pious hero, with glory.Hail to you, hail to us forever. | |||
| So schalltzu deinen heilgen Thronen,Herr, unser Gott, hinaufder Ruf von Millionen,und brünstig flehen wir:lass in des Lichtes Scheinder ganzen Menschheit Heil,Herr, immermehr gedeihn. | Hail us! So soundsto your holy thronesabove, Lord, our God,the call of millions,and fervently we beg:let the light shine withsalvation for all mankind,Lord, and prosper forever. |