Overview

Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage(Meeresstille und glückliche Fahrt), Op. 27, is an orchestral concert overtureby Felix Mendelssohninspired by the same verses that inspired Beethoven's 1815 cantata of the same title.

Introduction

Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage(Meeresstille und glückliche Fahrt), Op. 27, is an orchestral concert overtureby Felix Mendelssohninspired by the same verses that inspired Beethoven's 1815 cantata of the same title(and indeed inspired by Beethoven's version, which is in the same key, D major). Mendelssohn's work was first performed in 1828.

Goethe's two poems' titles are not synonymous: in the days before steam, a totally calm sea was cause for alarm; it is only when the wind at last rises that the ship can continue on its journey. Mendelssohn's version concludes with a fanfare of trumpets suggesting the ship's final arrival at its port of destination.

Scored for piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, double bassoon, serpent, 2 horns, 3 trumpets, timpaniand strings, the piece is programmatic for its reference of the two poems by Goethe. These two poems were extremely popular, and at the time of the work's premier, Mendelssohn could have assumed that the audience would have been familiar with both poems and able to follow the program of the music with minimal aid. The work is a concert overture - meaning that it is not intended as a prelude to a larger work such as an opera (as 'overture', deriving from the French for 'opening', more often implies). Instead, the piece is performed as an independent piece on a symphonic concert. The term overture here refers to the use of melody and form. However, it could also be considered as an early form of tone poem.

Edward Elgarquotes a theme from the overture in the 13th variation of his Enigma Variationsto represent one of his "friends pictured within" on a ship bound for Australia or New Zealand.

门德尔松 - 宁静的海和幸福的航行 Op.27
Info
Composer: Mendelssohn 1828
Based on: Goethe
Opus/Catalogue Number:Op. 27
Duration: 0:12:00 ( Average )
Genre :Overture
Theme :Sea

Artist

Update Time:2019-02-07 18:36