Die erste Walpurgisnacht

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Die erste Walpurgisnacht (The First Walpurgis Night) is a cantata for choir and orchestra written by Felix Mendelssohn. The words are taken from a poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Mendelssohn completed an initial version in 1831. It was extensively revised and published as his opus 60 in 1843. It is scored for alto, tenor, and bass solos, mixed choir, and orchestra. The text describes pagan rituals of the Druids in the Harz mountains in the early days of Christianity. The composition itself consists of ten specific movements:

1. Ouverture (Overture)
2. Es lacht der Mai (May is in full bloom)
3. Kōnnt ihr so verwegen handeln? (Could you be so rash, so daring?)
4. Wer Opfer heut zu bringen scheut (Whoever fears to sacrifice)
5. Verteilt euch, wackre Mānner, heir (Divide your forces, valiant men)
6. Diese dummen Pfaffenchristen (Christians and their priests are witless)
7. Kommt mit Zacken und mit Gabeln (Come with prongs and pitchforks)
8. So weit gebracht, daß wir bei Nacht (It's come so far that now by night)
9. Hilf, ach hilf mir, Kregsgeselle (Help, oh help me, comrades)
10. Die flamme reinight sich vom rauch (The flame is purified by smoke)