Question

Provide an example of Mendelssohn using antiphonal sections in his composition.

Antiphonal sections are introduced in the exposition.
Mendelssohn employs antiphonal sections during the development.
Antiphonal sections create contrast in the coda.
Mendelssohn uses antiphonal sections to depict a storm.

Answer 1

Felix Mendelssohn incorporated antiphonal sections in his work, such as in Psalm 114, Op. 51, to create spatial and dramatic contrast, exemplifying the Romantic era's emphasis on expressive intensity.

Step-by-step explanation:

One well-noted example of Felix Mendelssohn using antiphonal sections in his compositions is found in his work Psalm 114, Op. 51, where he employs the technique to create dynamic contrast between two choirs. In Baroque and Renaissance music, antiphonal singing, which consists of two choirs or sections of instruments answering back and forth, was a common practice to enhance the spatial and aural experience of music. Mendelssohn, aligned with the ideals of Romantic music, used antiphonal sections effectively to evoke the dramatic intensity characteristic of his time, much like the painter Eugene Delacroix used bold colors and brushwork to evoke emotion in the visual arts.