Book excerpt: Mendelssohn's first great excursion into the genre of oratorio was first performed in 1836 in Düsseldorf at a festival. Set to a libretto by Julius Schubring based on the Bible, it soon gained considerable popularity in England, which resulted in his famous second oratorio, Elijah. The definitive vocal score reprinted here, edited by the German musicologist Alfred Dörffel, with a piano reduction prepared by the composer's student August Horn, features both the original German and the subsequent English text. First issued around 1890 by C. F. Peters, this digitally-enhanced reprint has been enlarged to a very readable A4 size, with measure numbers and rehearsal letters added. Matching orchestra parts and full score now also available (92661).