Composers

Christus

Composer: Mendelssohn Felix

Instruments: Voice Mixed chorus Orchestra

Tags: Sacred oratorios Oratorio Religious music

Download free scores:

Selections (Recitatives and Choruses). Complete Score PDF 22 MBSelections (Recitatives and Choruses). Complete Score (black and white) PDF 42 MB
Selections (Recitatives and Choruses). Complete Vocal Score (corresponds to the full score ed. Rietz) PDF 1 MB
Selections (Recitatives and Choruses). 15. Chorus: Ihr Töchter Zions PDF 0 MB
Selections (Recitatives and Choruses). 13. Choral: Er nimmt auf seinen Rücken (TTBB) PDF 0 MB
Selections (Recitatives and Choruses). Complete Score PDF 2 MBSelections (Recitatives and Choruses). Color Cover PDF 3 MB
Wikipedia
Christus is the title given by the composer's brother Paul to fragments of an unfinished oratorio by Felix Mendelssohn, published posthumously as Op. 97. The work was suggested by Christian Karl Josias von Bunsen, who compiled the German libretto from biblical sources. Composition began in 1846 and continued through Mendelssohn's last year. The completed portions include a tenor recitative relating Christ's birth, two choruses "Wo ist der neugeborne?" ("Where is the newborn?") and "Es wird ein Stern aus Jacob aufgeh'n" ("There Shall a Star from Jacob Come Forth") using Philipp Nicolai's chorale "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern", and a passion section ending with another chorale, Paul Gerhardt's "O Welt, sieh hier dein Leben". The first performance took place in 1852.
Jeffrey S. Sposato discusses both Christus and Mendelssohn's cuts in his performing version of J. S. Bach's Matthäuspassion and claims to discern an agenda in the latter to promote "the Lutheran concept of universal guilt for Christ's death" in a manner consistent with anti-Jewish sentiment, which he was able to transcend with genuine Christian sincerity in the former.