St. Paul op. 36

Scoring: Soli SATB, Coro SATB, Fl, Ob, Clt, Fg, Cor, Tr, Trb, Timp, 2 Vl, Va, Vc, Cb, [Org]

Mendelssohn’s St. Paul with just seven instead of the usual 18 wind instruments? Thanks to this arrangement for chamber orchestra, a performance with smaller forces is now possible, and presents an attractive alternative for performing Mendelssohn’s first oratorio – not only in times of Corona. For it is often considerations of space, a limited budget, or the size of the chorus which call for flexibility in scoring.

The arrangement is based on the Carus Urtext edition. By reducing the symphonic wind and brass in particular, the volume of sound is more restrained, but nevertheless the symphonic character and a wide dynamic range are retained. All the vocal parts (soloists and chorus) are identical with the original version, so that the vocal scores, choral scores, and practice aids of the existing Carus edition can still be used.

• Major oratorio can also be performed by smaller choirs
• Wind and brass parts of the original version reduced to just seven single instruments
• vocal scores and choral scores from the original version can be used
• carus plus: the work (original version) is available in carus music, the Choir Coach, and in the Carus Choir Coach (audio only) series.

Original version
Soli SATB, Coro SATB, 2 Fl, 2 Ob, 2 Clt, 2 Fg, 4 Cor, 2 Tr, 3 Trb, Serpente, Timp, 2 Vl, Va, Vc, Cb, Org

Arrangement for chamber orchestra
Soli SATB, Coro SATB, Fl, Ob, Clt, Fg, Cor, Tr, Trb, Timp, 2 Vl, Va, Vc, Cb, Org