A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Reformation Symphony, The

by George Grove

REFORMATION SYMPHONY, THE. Mendelssohn's own name, and that adopted in England, for his Symphony in D minor, written with a view to performance at the Tercentenary Festival of the Augsburg Protestant Confession, which was intended to be celebrated throughout Germany on June 25, 1830. The first mention of it appears to be in a letter of his own from North Wales, Sept. 2, 1829. On May 15, 1830, he writes from Weimar that it is finished, and when copied will be sent to Leipzig. It was not however then performed; the political troubles of that year prevented any festive demonstrations. In January and March, 1832, it was in rehearsal in Paris, but it did not come to actual performance till Nov. 1832, when it was played under his own direction at Berlin. It was not repeated during his life, but was revived at the Crystal Palace, Sydenham, Nov. 30, 1867. It was published in score and parts by Novella & Co., and by Simrock as 'Symphony No. 5'—Op. 107, No. 36 of the posthumous works. The first Allegro is said to represent the conflict between the old and new religions, and the Finale is founded on Luther's Hymn, 'Ein' veste Burg ist unser Gott.' [App. p.769 " It should be added that one of the most prominent themes of the work is the beautiful ascending phrase known, as the 'Dresden Amen,' which has been used with marvellous effect in Wagner's 'Parsifal.'"]

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