Mendelssohn: Die erste Walpurgisnacht, MWV D 3, Op. 60
Composer: Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) Editor: John Michael Cooper Instrumentation (this edition): Piano Reduction, SATB Choir Originally for: SATB Choir, Orchestra Work: Die erste Walpurgisnacht (The First Walpurgis Night), MWV D 3, Op. 60 Binding: Perfect Work Languages: English, German ISMN: 9790006534876 Size: 7.5 x 10.6 inches Pages: 100 Urtext / Critical Edition Description During the summer of 1799, Goethe wrote his ballad "Die erste Walpurgisnacht" and asked his friend Carl Friedrich Zelter to set the work to music. Zelter however, felt unable to do this, and so Goethe's wish was only realised thirty years later by Felix Mendelssohn. The "heavenly words" of the pagan ballads had impressed the composer so much after a visit to Weimar, that he was inspired to set them to music. in 1832 the composition took shape and was performed a year later in the Sing-Akademie in Berlin. Mendelssohn was, however, unhappy with the first version of the work and held it bac