From the Organist & Choirmaster
This Sunday the parish choir will sing “He watching over Israel” from Mendelssohn’s great oratorio, Elijah. Mendelssohn composed two oratorios (a composition with a dramatic or narrative text, in this case Biblical text) in his lifetime, Saint Paul and Elijah. Elijah, as the name suggests, septics the events in the life of the prophet Elijah from first and second Kings in the Old Testament. It first premiered in London on August 26, 1846 and is influenced by Baroque composers Handel and Bach but very much showcases Mendelssohn’s own style of early romantic color and chromaticism. He composed the two hour oratorio in under a year after its commissioning by the Birmingham Festival both in English and German.
The movement, He watching over Israel, occurs in the second movement of the oratorio after King Ahab has told Jezebel all that Elijah has done and Jezebel in return sends a messenger to Elijah to threaten him. Scared, Elijah flees for his life, singing the aria, It is enough, after which three angels sing the beginning of Psalm 121, Lift thine eyes which is announced by a tenor solo singing, “See, now he sleepers beneath a juniper tree in the wilderness! and there the angels of the Lord encamp round about all them that fear him.” He watching over Israel, is also Psalm 121, verse 4 specifically: “Behold, he who keeps watch over Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” It almost sounds like a lullaby sung so peacefully as Elijah sleeps. The movement is a powerful reminder of the providential care of God to God’s people. After He watching over Israel an angel wakes Elijah and sends him on his way to Mount Horeb, the chorus then sings He that shall endure to the end, a clear reference to Jesus’ words in Matthew 24:13. I could describe the entire oratorio as its most definitely my favorite major choral work, but I’ll spare you that. I believe the scared texts Mendelssohn has so beautifully set to music are mighty reminders of the power of God and the power of God’s care. I hope you enjoy the Offertory anthem this Sunday at the 10:30 am Mass.
Cody