Symphony No. 5 in D, Op. 107: Reformation Cover Image

Symphony No. 5 in D, Op. 107: Reformation: Conductor Score

$55.00 USD
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Symphony No. 5 in D, Op. 107: Reformation Cover Image
Symphony No. 5 in D, Op. 107: Reformation: Conductor Score

Symphony No. 5 in D, Op. 107: Reformation: Conductor Score

By Felix Mendelssohn

Item: 36-A170901
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Symphony No. 5 in D, Op. 107: Reformation: Conductor Score & Parts

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Description
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) wrote his Symphony No. 5 in D, Op. 107 'Reformation' in 1830. It was composed to honor the 300th anniversary of the Presentation of the Augsburg Confession, a Lutheran holiday that celebrates the Presentation of the Confession to Emperor Charles V in 1530. The work was actually the second large symphonic work composed by Mendelssohn, but it is referred to as the fifth as it was published in 1868, 21 years after the composer's death. The moniker 'Reformation Symphony' was given to the work by Mendelssohn's sister, Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel. While it was supposed to first be played in Paris in December of 1831, the musicians refused to perform it, complaining that it had too much counterpoint and lacked melody. The actual premiere occurred in Berlin November 15, 1832. Instrumentation: 2.2.2.2+CBsn: 2.2.3.0: Timp: Str (9-8-7-6-5 in set).

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Additional Details
Series: Kalmus Orchestra Library
Publisher: Keiser Productions, Inc.
ISBN10: 8-888528-47-4
ISBN13: 979-8-888528-47-1
UPC: 746241290052
SKU: 36-A170901
Instrumentation: 2.2.2.2+CBsn: 2.2.3.0: Timp: Str (9-8-7-6-5 in set)

More about this title

About the Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) was a German composer, conductor, and pianist whose gift for melody and orchestral color shaped the Romantic era. A prodigy who composed his first published work at age 13, Mendelssohn spent his career bridging Classical form with Romantic expression, creating some of the nineteenth century's most performed symphonies, concertos, and overtures. He founded the Leipzig Conservatory in 1843 and championed the music of J.S. Bach at a time when the composer's legacy had faded from public memory.

Mendelssohn's symphonic writing balances intellectual rigor with direct emotional appeal. He understood the orchestra intimately, having conducted major ensembles across Europe, and his scores reward both disciplined musicianship and lyrical warmth. For conductors, his symphonies offer a masterclass in orchestration and structural clarity.

Why we love this

Mendelssohn's Fifth Symphony rewards the effort it demands. Yes, those Paris musicians complained about its counterpoint, but that complexity is precisely what makes this work sing under a prepared ensemble. The architecture is unshakeable, the melodic material memorable, and the opportunity to showcase disciplined polyphonic writing alongside soaring Romantic lines is rare at this scale.

What to expect

The symphony opens with urgent, searching textures that gradually unfold into moments of lyrical beauty. There is a forward momentum throughout, driven by skillful harmonic movement and contrapuntal dialogue between instrumental choirs. The famous chorale in the finale arrives not as a sudden intrusion but as a hard-won resolution, investing the entire work with spiritual and emotional weight.

Who it's for

This score is essential for conductors preparing a full chamber orchestra or small symphony orchestra for concert performance. It works well for ensembles at the advanced high school level and beyond, and for colleges and community orchestras seeking substantial Romantic repertoire that rewards serious rehearsal preparation.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the contrapuntal writing in the first movement by maintaining transparent voice leading in the woodwinds and lower strings; clarity here prevents the texture from becoming muddy.
  • Shape the famous 'Dresden Amen' chorale theme that appears in the finale with deliberate phrasing; it should feel inevitable, not inserted.
  • Use the timpani to anchor harmonic transitions without overwhelming the upper voices, particularly in the development sections where the texture thickens.
  • Respect the score's dynamic markings as structural signposts; Mendelssohn rarely marks dynamics casually, and they often guide the listener through form and key areas.

How to use it

Program this as the centerpiece of a Romantic era concert, pairing it with a lighter Mendelssohn overture and a contrasting work from Schumann or Brahms. Its substantial demands and 40-minute duration make it ideal for mid-season or spring concerts when your ensemble has sufficient rehearsal time to master its contrapuntal demands.

Skills your students will build

  • Reading sustained polyphonic textures with independent voice parts across multiple instrumental choirs
  • Balancing transparency in dense harmonic passages while maintaining forward motion
  • Responding to subtle dynamic and articulation markings that shape structural form
  • Coordinating brass and timpani entrances as harmonic anchors rather than rhythmic punctuation
  • Shaping long melodic lines through phrase architecture rather than arbitrary tempo changes

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