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Athalie, Op. 74: War March of the Priests: Full Orchestra, Conductor Score & Parts

$65.00 USD
$65.00 USD
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Athalie, Op. 74: War March of the Priests Cover Image
Athalie, Op. 74: War March of the Priests: Full Orchestra, Conductor Score & Parts

Athalie, Op. 74: War March of the Priests: Full Orchestra, Conductor Score & Parts

By Felix Mendelssohn

Item: 36-A171502
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Athalie, Op. 74: War March of the Priests: Full Orchestra, Conductor Score

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Description
In 1840, the King of Prussia invited Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) to accept a lofty musical appointment in the French Academie Royale. A few years later, Wilhelm IV commissioned the composer to write incidental music to a religious drama by Jean Racine, ATHALIE, based on the queen of Judah during Jehoram's reign. It was intended for a private performance on December 1, 1845 and saw its first public performance on January 8th of the following year. WAR MARCH OF THE PRIESTS, a brief excerpt taken from the work, is sometimes heard during graduation ceremonies. Reprint edition. Instrumentation: 2.2.2.2: 2.2.3.1: Timp: Str (9-8-7-6-5 in set).

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Additional Details
Series: Kalmus Orchestra Library
Publisher: Keiser Productions, Inc.
UPC: 659359994098
SKU: 36-A171502
Instrumentation: 2.2.2.2: 2.2.3.1: Timp: Str (9-8-7-6-5 in set)

More about this title

About the Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) stands as one of the nineteenth century's most influential orchestral composers, equally at home writing symphonies, concertos, and dramatic works. His gift for lyrical melody and structural clarity made him a bridge between Classical formality and Romantic expression, and his music remains central to the orchestral repertoire.

Mendelssohn's commissions from European royalty reflected his stature during his lifetime. He worked extensively in the theater, composing overtures and incidental music that combined orchestral sophistication with dramatic immediacy. His understanding of how music could serve narrative while maintaining absolute musical integrity shaped the way generations of composers approached similar projects.

Why we love this

This march has earned its place at graduations and ceremonial moments for good reason: it projects confidence and grandeur without pretension. The orchestration is transparent enough that high school ensembles can balance it cleanly, yet the harmonic language and rhythmic drive feel unmistakably mature. It's a piece that sounds impressive from the first rehearsal and rewards deeper work with its counterpoint and ensemble precision.

What to expect

A formal procession with quiet dignity and underlying resolve. Mendelssohn's orchestration creates a sense of pageantry through clarity rather than bombast, with driving rhythms that propel forward while the harmonic language maintains elegant restraint. The music conveys purpose and solemnity without sentiment.

Who it's for

Orchestras at the high school level and above looking for a ceremonial work that combines historical legitimacy with immediate impact. The piece suits programs that include classical and Romantic repertoire, and it works equally well as a standalone processional or as part of a larger concert.

How to get the most out of it

  • Keep the brass articulation crisp and synchronized; the march's character depends on rhythmic tautness rather than muscular volume.
  • Shape the dynamic arc across full sections rather than phrase by phrase. The accumulation of energy matters more than individual swells.
  • Balance the oboe and clarinet lines that move above the main melodic material; they often carry harmonic color that gets buried if the woodwind section plays too heavily.
  • Secure the timpani part early. The percussion line anchors the march's pulse and should be rehearsed independently before full sectional work.

How to use it

Program this as a graduation recessional or opening processional for a formal concert, or pair it with other Mendelssohn orchestral works to anchor a Romantic-era concert. Its length and direct appeal also make it an effective encore piece if your orchestra needs a strong closing statement beyond a full symphony movement.

Skills your students will build

  • Balancing inner harmonic voices against prominent melodic lines
  • Rhythmic precision in march contexts with layered articulation
  • Reading and executing period-appropriate brass and woodwind phrasing
  • Ensemble coordination across multiple instrumental sections
  • Understanding orchestral color through transparent German Romantic orchestration

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