Mendelssohn's oratorio Elijah was composed at a time when large choral societies were forming and music festivals with hundreds of singers were very fashionable; 271 singers and 125 orchestral musicians took part in the premiere in Birmingham in 1846. Even today, a large orchestra naturally requires a correspondingly large choir. With the present arrangement for chamber orchestra (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, timpani and strings as well as organ ad libitum), smaller choirs and choirs with limited spatial or financial possibilities can now also perform this work. By reducing the symphonic wind instrumentation in particular (instead of 18 wind instruments, only seven single wind instruments are required), the sound volume is reduced somewhat, but the symphonic character and high dynamic range are retained. All vocal parts (solos and chorus) are identical to the original version, so that piano reductions and choral scores can be used. Large oratorio can also be performed by smaller choirs Winds in the original version reduced to seven simple instruments Piano reductions and choral scores from the original version can be used. carus plus: The work (original version) is available in the app carus music, the Choir Coach, as well as in the series Carus Choir Coach (audio only).
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