JAKOB LUDWIG FELIX MENDELSSOHN-BARTHOLDY.

Born at HAMBURG, FEBRUARY 8, 1809.

ELIJAH.

Diep at Lerpsic, NovEMBER 4, 1847.

Produced at Birmingham, under the composer’s direction, August 26, 1846. Opus 70. English version adapted from

the original German by WILLIAM BARTHOLOMEW.

The references are to be considered rather as authorities

than as quotations. Forty-fifth performance by the Society. First time, February 18, 1848, at the Melodcon. CHARACTERS REPRESENTED :

Evian, Bass. Wipow, Soprano.

QUEEN, Aido.

ANGEL, Alto. AHAB, Jenor.

OBADIAH, Tenor. Youru, Sop?'ano.

Chorus of ANGELS, PEOPLE, and Priests of BAAL.

PRINCE ALBERT’S DEDICATION.

[ Written after the second of four performances of ‘‘ Elijah,” at Exeter Hall, London, by the Sacred Harmonic Society, inscribed in German on the Book of Words, presented to Mendelssohn by the Society, and translated by the

Chevalier Bunsen. ]

To the noble artist who, surrounded by the Baal-worship of corrupted art, has been able, by his genius and science, to preserve faithfully, like another ‘* Elijah,” the worship of true art, and once more to accustom our ear, lost in the whirl of an empty play of sounds, to the pure notes of expressive composition and legitimate harmony, to the great master who makes us conscious of the unity of his conception through the whole maze of his creation, from

the soft whispering to the mighty raging of the elements. °

Written in token of grateful remembrance by

BucKINGHAM PALAcE, April 24, 1847.

Part: I.

Recirative. Elijah. As God the Lord of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to

my word. —1 Kings xvii. 1. OVERTURE. Cuorus. People. Help, Lord! Wilt Thou

quite destroy us? ‘The harvest now is oyer, the summer days are gone, and yet no power cometh to help us! Will then the Lord be no more God in Zion 4 — Jer. viii. 20.

Recirative. Chorus. The deeps afford no water, and the rivers are exhausted! The suck- ling’s tongue now cleayeth for thirst to his mouth : the infant children ask for bread, and there is no one breaketh it to feed them! — Lament. iv. 4.

Cuorvs. People. Lord, bow thine ear to our prayer! Durr. Soprano. Alto. Zion spreadeth her

hands for aid; and there is neither help nor com- fort. — Lament. i. 17.

Recitative. Arr. Obadiah. Ye people, rend your hearts and not vour garments for your transgressions ; even as Elijah hath sealed the heavens through the word of God. I therefore say to you, Forsake your idols, return ‘to God; for He is slow to anger, and merciful, and kind and gracious, and repenteth Him of the evil. — Joel ii. 12, 13.

If with all your hearts ye truly seek me, ye shall ever surely find me. Thus saith our God. Oh! that I knew where I might find Him, that I might even come before His presence. — Deut. iv. 29; Job xxiii. 3.

Cuorus. People. Yet doth the Lord see it not: He mocketh at us; His curse hath fallen down upon us; His wrath will pursue us, till He destroy us! For He, the Lord our God, He is a. jealous God; and He visiteth all the father’s sins on the children to the third and fourth generation of them that hate Him. His mercies on thou- sands fall —fall on all them that love Him, and keep His commandments.— Deut. xxviii. 22; 1 Bi SOB

Recitative, Angel. Elijah! get thee hence; depart, and turn thee eastward: thither hide thee by Cherith’s brook. There shalt thou drink its waters ; and the Lord thy God hath commanded the ravens to feed thee there: so do according unto His word. —1 Kings xvii. 3.

DovusiE Quartetre. Angels. For He shall give His angels charge over thee ; that they shall protect thee in all the ways thou goest; that their hands shall uphold and guide thee, less thou dash thy foot against a stone. — Ps. xci. 11, 12.

ALBERT.

Recitative. Angel. Now Cherith’s brook is dried up, Elijah, arise and depart, and get thee to Zarephath ; thither abide: for the Lord hath commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. And the barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth. —1 Aings xvii. 7, 9,14.

Recrrative. Arr. Widow. What have I to do with thee, O man of God ? art. thou come to me, to call my sin unto remembrance ¢ — to slay my son art thou come hither? Help me, man of God! my son is sick! and his sickness is so sore, that there is no breath left in him! I go mourning all day long; Ilie down and weep at night. See mine affliction. Be thou the orphan’s helper!

Elijah. Give me thy son. ‘Turn unto her, O Lord my God; in mercy help this widow’s son! For thou art gracious, and full of compassion, and plenteous in mercy and truth. Lord, my God, oh, let the spirit of this child return, that he again may live!

Widow. Wilt thou show wonders to the dead ? Shall the dead arise and praise thee 4

Elijah. Word, my God, oh, let the spirit of this child return, that he again may live!

Widow. The Lord hath heard thy prayer, the soul of my son reviveth!

Elijah. Now behold, thy son liveth!

Widow. Now by this 1 know that thou art a man of God, and that His word in thy mouth is the truth. What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits to me @

Durr. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. Oh! blessed are they who fear Him. —1 Kings xvii. 17,18, 21-24; Job x. Loe sax x Ville Ge Vw (eX. 4s leaky mmlion Ixxxviil. 10; exxviii. 1.

Cuorus. Blessed are the men who fear Him: they ever walk in the ways of peace. Through darkness riseth light to the upright. He is gra- cious, compassionate; He is righteous. — Ps. CXEVII Is (exil, Usd.

Recitative. Llijah. As God the Lord of Sabaoth liveth, before whom I stand, three years this day fulfilled, I will show myself unto Ahab; and the Lord will then send rain again upon the earth.

Ahab. Art thou Elijah, he that troubleth Israel ?

Cuorvus. Thou art Elijah, he that troubleth Israel !

Elijah, I never troubled Israel’s peace : it is thou, Ahab, and allthy father’s house. Ye have forsaken God’s commands; and thou hast fol-

lowed Baalim ! Now send and gather to me the whole of Israel unto Mount Carmel: there sum- _mon the prophets of Baal, and also the prophets of the groves, who are feasted at Jezebel’s table. Then we shall see whose God is the Lord.

Cuorus. And then we shall see whose God is God the Lord.

Elijah. Rise then, ye priests of Baal: select and slay a bullock, and put no fire under it: up- lift your voices. and call the god ye worship ; and I then will call on the Lord Jehovah: and the God who by fire shall answer, let him be God.

Cuorus. Yea; and the God who by fire shall answer, let him be God.

Elijah. Call first upon your god: your num- bers are many : I, even I, only remain, one prophet of the Lord! Invoke your forest-gods and moun- tain deities. — Kings xvii. 17 ; xviii. 1, 15, 18, 19, 23-25.

Cuorus. Priests. Baal, we cry to thee! hear and answer us! Heed the sacrifice we offer ! hear us! Oh, hear us, Baal! Hear, mighty god! Baal, oh, answer us! Let thy flames fall and extirpate the foe! Oh, hear us, Baal!

Recirartvy. Elijah. Call him louder, for he isa god! He talketh; or he is pursuing; or he is in a journey ; or, peradventure, he sleepeth ; so awaken him: call him louder.

Priests. Hear our cry, O Baal! now arise! wherefore slumber ?

Elijah. Call him louder! he heareth not. With knives and lancets cut yourselves after your manner : leap upon the altar ye have made: call him, and prophesy! Not a voice will answer you; none will listen, none heed you.

Priests. Hear and answer, Baal! Mark how the scorner derideth us! Hear and answer! — 1 Kings xviii. 1, 15, 17-19, 25-29.

Reoirative. Arr. Llijah. Draw near, all ye people: come to me! Lord God of Abra- ham, Isaac, and Israel! this day let it be known that Thou art God andl am Thy servant ! Oh, show to all this people that I have done these things according to Thy word! Oh, hear me, Lord, and answer me ; and show this people that Thou art Lord God ; and let their hearts again be turned!—1 Kings xviii. 30, 36,37. ,

QUARTETTE. Angels. Cast “thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee. He never will suffer the righteous to fall: He is at thy right hand. Thy mercy, Lord, is great, and far above the heavens. Let none be made ashamed that wait upon Thee!— Ps. lv. 22; xvi. 8; cviii. SF SOK Viel Oe

Reorrative. Elijah. O Thou who makest Thine angels spirits; Thou whose ministers are flaming fires, let them now descend !— Ps. civ. 4.

‘Cuorus. People. The fire descends from heaven; the flames consume his offering! Be- fore Him upon your faces fall! The Lord is God: O Israel, hear! Our God is one Lord: and we will have no other gods before the Lord ! — 1 Kings xviii. 38, 39.

Recrrative. Llijah. Take all the prophets of Baal ; and let not one of them escape you: bring them down to Kishon’s brook, and there let them be slain.

People. Take all the prophets of Baal; and

let not one of them escape us: bring all and slay them !— 1 Kings xviii. 40.

Air. Elijah. Is not His word like a fire and like a hammer that breaketh the rock into pieces ? For God is angry with the wicked every day ; and if the wicked turn not, the Lord will whet His sword; and He hath bent His bow, and made it ready. — Jer. xxiii. 29; Ps. vii. 11, 12.

Arr. Alto. Woe unto them who forsake Him! destruction shall fall upon them, for they haye transgressed against Him. Though they are by Him redeemed, yet they have spoken falsely against him. A dosee vu. 13)

Recitative. Obadiah. Oman of God, help thy people! Among the idols of the Gentiles, are there any that can command the rain, or cause the heavens to give their showers 4 The Lord our God alone can do these things.

Elijah! © Lord, Thou hast overthrown Thine

ELIJAH.

enemies and destroy ed them. Look down on us from heaven, O Lord; regard the distress of Thy people: open the heavens and send us relief; oe help Thy servant now, O God!

People. Open the heavens and send us relief ; help, help thy servant now, O God!

Bigjah Go up now, child, and look toward the sea. Hath my prayer been heard by the Lord ?

Youth. There is nothing. The heavens are as brass above me.

Elijah. When the heavens are closed up be- cause they have sinned against Thee, yet if they pray and confess Thy name, and turn from their sin when Thou dost afllict them, then hear from heaven, and forgive the sin! Help! send Thy servant help. O God!

People. Then hear from heaven, and forgive the sin! Help! send Thy servant help, O God!

Elijah. Go up again, and still look toward the sea.

Youth. There is nothing. The earth is as iron under me.

Elijah. Wearest thou no sound of rain ? Seest -

thou nothing arise from the deep?

Youth. No; there is nothing.

Elijah. Have respect to the prayer of Thy ser- vant, O Lord, my God! Unto Thee will I ery, Lord, my rock; be not silent to.me; and Thy great mercies remember, Lord!

Youth. Behold, a little cloud ariseth now from the waters; it is like a man’s hand! The heay- ens are black with clouds and with wind: the storm rusheth louder and louder!

People. Thanks be to God, for all His mercies !

Elijah. Thanks be to God, for he is gracious, and: His mercy endureth forevermore. — Jer. xiv.

2; 2 Chron. vi. 19, 26, 27; Deut. xxviii. 28; Ps. SVU Wee CYeek elated xviii, 43, 45.

Cuorus. Thanks be to God! He laveth the thirsty land! The waters gather; they rush along; they are lifting their voices! The stormy billows are high; their fury is mighty. But the Lord is above t them, and almighty !— Ps. xciii. 3, 4,

Parteuie

Arr. Soprano. Hear ye, Israel; hear what the Lord speaketh: Oh, hadst thou heeded my commandments! Who hath belieyed our report ; to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? ‘Thus saith. the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to him oppressed by tyrants: thus saith the Lord:—I am He that comforteth; be not afraid, for I am thy God, I will strengthen thee. Say, who art thou, that thou art afraid of a man that shall die, and forgettest the Lord thy Maker, who hath stretched forth the heavens and laid the earth’s foundations? Be not afraid, for I, thy God will strengthen thee. — /s. xlviii. 1, 18 ; lili. 1b sdb 7/5 ON OM dhe JES IE},

Cnorus. Be not afraid, saith God the Lord. Be not afraid! thy help is near. God, the Lord thy God, saith unto thee, “Be not afraid!” Though thousands languish and fall beside thee. and tens of thousands around thee perish, yet still it shall not come nigh thee. — Js. xli. 10; Ps. xci. 7.

Recitative. Elijah. The Lord hath ex- alted thee from among the people, and over His

_ people Israel hath made thee King. But thou,

Ahab, hast done evil to provoke Him to anger above all that were before thee: as if it had been a light thing for thee to walk in the sins of Jero- boam. Thou hast made a grove and an altar to Baal, and served him and worshipped him. Thou hast killed the righteous, and also taken posses- sion. And the Lord shall smite all Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water; and He shall give Israel up, and thou shalt know He is the Lord. —1 Kings xiv. 7, 9, 15; xvi. 30-33.

Queen. Have ye not heard he hath prophesied against all Israel?

Cuorus. We heard it with our ears.

Queen. Hath he not prophesied also against the King of Israel?

ELIJAH.

Cuorus. We heard it with our ears.

Queen. And why hath he spoken in the name of the Lord? Doth Ahab govern the kingdom of Israel while Elijah’s power is greater than the King’s? The gods do so to me and more if, by to-morrow, about this time, I make not his life as the life of one of them whom he hath sacrificed at the brook of Kishon!

Cuorvs. He shall perish!

Queen. Hath he not destroyed Baal’s proph- ets?

Cuorvus. He shall perish!

Queen. Yea, by the sword he destroyed them all.

Cuorvs. He destroyed them all!

Queen. He also closed the heavens!

Cuorvus. He also closed the heavens!

Queen. And called down a famine upon the Jand.

Cuorus. And called down a famine upon the land.

Queen. So go ye forth and seize Elijah, for he

is worthy to die; slaughter him! do unto him as he hath done!

Cuorus. Woe to him, he shall perish; for he closed the heavens! And why hath he spoken in the name of the Lord? Let the guilty prophet perish! He hath spoken falsely against our land and us, as we have heard with our ears. So go ye forth; seize on him! He shall die! —Jer. xxvi. Uh HS ie Giigey Saint MOS eee. Dipl aeahs 7 pe IuEG)), xlviii. 2, 3.

Recitative. Obadiah. Man of God, now let my words be precious in thy sight. Thus

saith Jezebel: ‘“‘ Elijah is worthy to die.” So the mighty gather against thee, and they have prepared a net for thy” steps ; that they may seize thee, that they may slay thee. Arise, then, and hasten for thy life; to the wilderness journey. The Lord thy God doth go with thee: He will not fail thee, He will not forsake thee. Now be- gone, and bless me also.

Elijah. Though stricken, they have —not grieved! Tarry here, my servant: the Lord be with thee. I journey hence to the wilderness. — Pt IGNITE Rig. Bia cars Ws Jetpmlbae. bh. 1 Kings xix. 4; WAGE realy (ip Jlae, Soi BRIE A Sam. xvii. 37.

Arr. Llijah. It is enough, O Lord; now take away my life, for lam not better than my fathers! I desire to live no longer: now let me die, for my days are but vanity! I have been very jealous for the Lord God of Hosts! for the Children of Israel have broken Thy covenant, thrown down Thine altars, and slain Thy prophets with the sword: and I, even I, only am left; and they seek my life to take it away.— Jeb vii. 16; 1 Kings xix. 10.

Recirative. Tenor. See, now he sleepeth beneath a juniper-tree in the wilderness: and there the angels of the Lord encamp round about all them that fear Him.—1 Kings xix. 5; Ps. XXxiv. 7.

Trro. Angels. Lift thine eyes to the moun- tains, whence cometh help. Thy help cometh from the Lord, the Maker. of heaven and earth. He hath said, thy foot shall not be moved, thy Keeper will never slumber. — Ps. exxi. 1, 3.

»Cuorus. Angels. He, watching over Israel, slumbers not, nor sleeps. Shouldst ‘thou, walking in grief, languish, He will quicken thee. — Ps, CXxXl. 45 CXXxviil. 7.

Recizative. Angel. Arise, Elijah, for thou hast a long journey before thee. Forty days and forty nights shalt thou go to Horeb, the mount of God.

Elijah. © Word, I have labored in vain; yea, Ihave spent my strength for naught! O that Thou wouldst rend the heavens, that Thou wouldst come down; that the mountains would flow, down at Thy presence, to make Thine name known to Thine adversaries, through the wonders of Thy works! O Lord, why hast Thou made them to err from Thy ways, and hardened their hearts that they do not fear Thee? Oh, that I now might die!—1 ings xix. 8; Js. xlix. 4; Tstyeley2 elxaiia 7e

Arr. Alto. Oh, rest in the Lord; wait patiently for Him, and He shall give thee thy heart’s desires. Commit thy way unto Him, and trust in Him, and fret not thyself because of evil- doers. — Ps. xxxvii. 1, 7.

Cuorus. He that shall.endure to the end shall be saved. — Matt. xxiv. 13.

Recirrative. Llijah. Night falleth round me, O Lord! Be Thou not far from me! hide not Thy face, O Lord, from me; my soul is thirsting for Thee, as a thirsty land.

Angel. Arise, now! get thee without, stand on the mount before the Lord; for there His glory will appear and shine on thee! Thy face must be veiled, for He draweth near. — Ps. exliii. Grid eeingseiscel ls

Cuorvus. Behold, God the Lord passed by! And a mighty wind rent the mountains around, brake in pieces the rocks, brake them before the Lord: but yet the Lord was not in the tempest. Behold, God the Lord passed by! And the sea was upheayed, and the earth was shaken: but yet the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there came a fire: but yet the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there came a still small voice; and in that still voice, onward came the Lord. —1 Kings xix. 11, 12.

Recitative. Alto. Above Him stood the seraphim, and one cried to another :

QuartetTr. CHorus. Angels. Holy, holy, holy is God the Lord, the Lord Sabaoth! Now His glory hath filled all the earth. — Js. vi. 2, 3.

Recitative. Chorus. Go, return upon thy way! For the Lord yet hath left Him seven thousand in Israel, knees which have not bowed to Baal: go, return upon thy way; thus the Lord commandeth.

Elijah. I go on my way in the strength of the Lord. For Thou art my Lord, and I will suffer for Thy sake. My heart is therefore glad, my glory rejoiceth, and my flesh shall also rest in hope. — 1 Kings xix. 15,18; Ps. 1xxi. 16; xvi. 2, 9.

Arr... Elijah. For the mountains shall depart aud the hills be removed; but Thy kinduess shall not depart from me, neither shall the covenant of Thy peace be removed. — Is. liv. 10.

CHorvus. Then did Elijah the prophet break forth like a fire; his words appeared like burning torches. Mighty kings by him were overthrown. He stood on the mount of Sinai, and heard the judgments of the future; and in Horeb, its ven- geance. And when the Lord would take him away to heaven, lo! there came a: fiery chariot, with fiery horses ; and he went by a whirlwind to heaven, — Eccl. xlviii. 1, 6,.7 3.2) Kangsaieie aire

Arr. Tenor. ‘Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in their heavenly Father’s realm. Joy on their head shall be for everlasting, and all sorrow and cen ee flee away forever. — Matt. xiii. 43. Is. li.

RECITATIVE. Saree Behold, God hath sent Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children unto their fathers ; lest the Lord shall come and smite the earth with a curse. — Mal. iv. 5, 6

Cuorus. But the Lord, from the north hath raised one, who from the rising of the sun shall call upon His name and come on princes. Be- hold, my servant and mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth! On him the Spirit of God shall rest, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the

spirit of might and of counsel, the spirit of knowl- edge and of the fear of the Lord. — TJs. xli. 25; xlii. Dg tac $622

QUARTETTE. Oh, come every one that thirst- eth, oh, come to the waters: come unto Him. Oh, hear, and your souls shall live forever ! — Is. ly. l, 3.

Cuorvus. And then shall your light break forth as the light of morning breaketh ; and your health shall speedily spring forth then; and the glory of the Lord ever shall reward you. Lord, our Creator, how excellent Thy name is in all the nations! Thou fillest heaven with Thy glory. Amen ! — Is. lviii. 8; Ps. viii. 1.

Those who wish to leave the hall before the end of the Hondo are respectfully requested to do so during the pause before the final chorus.