Elijah and the Prophets of Baal
Felix Mendelssohn’s (1809-1847) Elijah is an oratorio, a large scale choral and orchestral work. Oratorios are typically composed on a religious theme. In addition to Mendelssohn, Bach, Handel, and Haydn wrote oratorios. As contrasted with opera, oratorio typically is not staged or costumed. An oratorio is like a magnificent, epic story told by soloists and chorus, with orchestral accompaniment. Elijah presents episodes from the biblical prophet in a sympathetic and powerful manner.
Mendelssohn’s transcendently beautiful music is worth hearing in its entirety. I’ll only present excerpts here: Elijah’s confrontation with King Ahab, the contest on Mount Carmel between the prophets of Baal and Elijah, and Elijah’s beautiful, heartfelt prayer asking God to win the contest.
Note: singing in the chorus is really fun, because the chorus first sympathizes with Ahab and the prophets of Baal (the bad guys) and then with Elijah (the protagonist).
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No. 10: Recitative with Chorus
ELIJAH
As God the Lord of Sabbaoth 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! Art thou he that troubleth Israel?
THE PEOPLE
Thou art Elijah, thou he that troubleth Israel!
ELIJAH
I never troubled Israel’s peace:
It is thou, Ahab,
And all thy father’s house,
Ye have forsaken God’s commands,
And thou hast followed Baalim.
Now send, and gather to me
The whole of Israel
Unto Mount Carmel;
There summon 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
THE PEOPLE
And then we shall see whose God is the Lord.
ELIJAH
Rise then, ye priests of Baal;
Select and slay a bullock, and put no fire under it;
Uplift 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.
THE PEOPLE
And the god who by fire shall answer,
Let him be God.
EILJAH
Call first upon your god, your numbers are many.
I, even I, only remain
One prophet of the Lord.
Invoke your forest gods, and mountain deities!
No. 11: Chorus
PROPHETS OF BAAL
Baal, we cry to thee,
hear and answer us!
Heed the sacrifice we offer!
Let thy flames fall and extirpate the foe!
Hear us, Baal!
Hear, mighty god!
Baal, oh answer us!
No. 12: Recitative and Chorus
ELIJAH
Call him louder, for he is a god!
He talketh, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey;
Or, peradventure, he sleepeth, so awaken him!
Call him louder, call him louder!
PROPHETS OF BAAL
Hear our cry, o Baal, now arise!
Wherefore slumber?
No. 13: Recitative and Chorus
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.
PROPHETS OF BAAL
Baal! Baal! Hear and answer, Baal!
Mark how the scorrner derideth us!
ELIJAH
Draw near, all ye people, come to me!
No. 14: Aria
ELIJAH
Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel,
This day let it be known that Thou art God,
And that I am thy servant!
Lord God of Abraham!
Oh show to all this people
That I have done these things
According to Thy word.
Oh hear me, Lord, and answer me!
Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel,
Oh hear me and answer me,
And show this people that Thou art Lord God.
And let their hearts again be turned.
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