Review (PDF) Elijah: An Oratorio For Full Chorus Of Mixed Voices, Soprano, Alto, Tenor, And Baritone Soli (Double Solo Quartet Of Mixed Voices) And Piano (G. Schirmer's Editions Of Oratorios And Cantatas)

                
              
Review (PDF) 
Elijah: An Oratorio For Full Chorus Of Mixed Voices, Soprano, Alto, Tenor, And Baritone Soli (Double Solo Quartet Of Mixed Voices) And Piano (G. Schirmer's Editions Of Oratorios And Cantatas)
English.
Series: G. Schirmer's Editions of Oratorios and Cantatas
Paperback: 198 pages
Publisher: G. Schirmer Inc. (November 1986)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0793545595
ISBN-13: 978-0793545599
Product Dimensions:  0.8 x 7.2 x 10.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review:  4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #284,661 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)   #4 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Sheet Music & Scores > Composers > Mendelssohn   #10 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Sheet Music & Scores > Forms & Genres > Requiems & Oratorios   #68 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Sheet Music & Scores > Forms & Genres > Religious & Church Music
I bought this because I was performing Elijah. The presenter I was performing with was using the Bärenreiter edition, but those scores are extremely expensive so I opted for this one. Most companies in the US present this piece in English so this score is fine. If you need to do it in German then you better spend the dollars and buy a Bärenreiter as this score is english only. I prefer the Schirmer to the Bärenreiter because it is much easier to read (i.e. Bärenreiter has rhythms for both German and English text which makes it hard to follow). There are a few slight variations textually and rhythmically, but overall it is a more than adequate score. I am a soloist so the chorus parts aren't so important to me. If you are performing this with a choir then you may want to get whatever edition the rest of the group is using. One irritating thing for rehearsal purposes is that the Schirmer doesn't have their numbers measured or any letter indications so when a conductor shouts out a letter number or measure you don't have that information.
This is the full vocal chorus and soloists score with piano reduction. Unfortunately, there are multiple spots throughout the score where the ink didn't saturate the paper and is very difficult to discern. As I bought two scores, one for myself and one for my sister, I can attest that it is not a one-off, but probably happened to the entire batch from the printing company.
Mendelssohn was a musical genius and his choral work Elijah shows that. Best known is the setting of Psalm 121:4 "He watching over Israel slumbers not, nor sleeps", but the oratorio tells the stories of this great prophet's life, including the dramatic contest between the God of Israel and the pagan god Baal on Mount Carmel. As a singer, this is a must have in my music library.
The score is easy to read, absolutely complete, and will be put to very good use this summer, as I will participate in a concert of the full score of "Elijah" in late August in Ocean Grove, New Jersey. This is the fourth or fifth time we have sung "Elijah". My score was so dog-eared it had to be replaced. I am gratified the same edition was available.
Any Elijah score is a good thing to have, as Mendelssohn's work is just stunning. My only quibble is that having rehearsed and performed this a couple of times, Schirmer's score apparently has some problematic edits in it, which your conductor will almost certainly correct. I addition, the print quality on certain pages of this "reprint of a reprint" is sometimes less than ideal.
The score arrived in perfect condition and securely wrapped. I am extremely appreciative for finding such a great deal on a stellar product.
It was clearly printed, good binding, reasonably priced. I gave it four stars because some minor misprints, such as missing a half rest at the number 38 "Then did Elijah" measure 21 (page 175) of soprano part. And at the number 32 "He that shall endure." measure 24 (page 152) of the soprano part instead of a p (piano) a f (forte) was printed.
I was in need of a newer copy of the work, more legible than the 50 year old book I was given to sing from. The seller sent a personal email to report they had shipped the book and when I opened it a few days later, found they had carefully wrapped the book in paper with a bow. Utterly charming!
Elijah: An Oratorio for Full Chorus of Mixed Voices, Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Baritone Soli (Double Solo Quartet of Mixed Voices) and Piano (G. Schirmer's Editions of Oratorios and Cantatas) Elijah - An Oratorio for Full Chorus of Mixed Voices and Piano; Vocal Score, Complete (G. Schirmer's Editions of Oratorios and Cantatas) The Messiah, An Oratorio for Four-Part Chorus of Mixed Voices - Complete Vocal Score (G. Schirmer's Editions of Oratorios and Cantatas) Mass in G: For Soprano, Tenor and Bass Soli, Full Chorus of Mixed Voices with Organ and Strings Requiem, Opus 48, for Soprano and Baritone Soli, Chorus, Orchestra and Organ, with Latin and English Test; Choral Score [with] Piano Reduction (Kalmus Classic Editions, K 06166) Easy Classical Saxophone & Piano Duets: For Alto, Baritone, Tenor & Soprano Saxophone player. Featuring music of Mozart, Beethoven, Vivaldi, Wagner and other composers. Mass for Three Or Four Voices: Soprano, (Alto), Tenor, and Bass, with Accompaniment of Organ, Harp, Violoncello and Double Bass (Latin Edition) Easy Classical Guitar & Saxophone Duets: For Alto, Baritone, Tenor & Soprano Saxophone player. Featuring music of Mozart, Handel, Strauss, Grieg and ... In Standard Notation and Tablature. Easy Classical Saxophone Solos: For Alto, Baritone, Tenor & Soprano Saxophone player. Featuring music of Mozart, Handel, Strauss, Grieg and other composers Requiem Vocal Score: For Soprano and Baritone Soli, Chorus and Orchestra STABAT MATER - VOCAL SCORE SOPRANO ALTO SOLOS SA CHORUS PIANO LATIN Oratorio Arias for Soprano: Music Minus One Soprano Gloria By Antonio Vivaldi for Solo Voices, Mixed Chorus and Orchestra (Vocal Score) Five Mystical Songs for Solo Baritone, Chorus (ad lib) and Orchestra (Organ Vocal Score) Ralph Vaughan Williams ECS 1.2936 L'enfance du Christ, Op. 25 in Full Score: Sacred Trilogy for Solo Voices, Chorus and Orchestra A History of the Oratorio: Vol. 1: The Oratorio in the Baroque Era: Italy, Vienna, Paris Kinder-Totenlieder (Song on the Death of Children) for Voice and Piano (Original Key: Baritone or Mezzo-Soprano) [Sheet Music] (No., 1040) Coloratura Arias for Soprano: G. Schirmer Opera Anthology (G Schirmer Opera Anthology Series) Bellini: Gioite amiche contrade (Aria di Cerere) (Recitative and Aria for Soprano) (Score for Voice and Piano) (Vincenzo Bellini: Inediti per Soprano, B.S. 1016) Quando Incise Su Quel Marmo (When Engraved on the Marble) for Soprano and Orchestra; Soprano with Piano Reduction [Sheet Music] (B. S., 1013) 