As the new house composer at the Theater an der Wien Beethoven had an opportunity to perform an oratorio during Passiontide in 1803. In a very short space of time he drew up his one and only work for this genre. It dealswith Christ's suffering and prayer in the garden of Gethsemane until he is taken prisoner.Following the première the publisher of the first edition who disliked the 'operatic' libretto by Franz Xaver Huber had anunauthorized revision of the texts undertaken. Although Beethoven resisted and demanded that it should be changed back to the original this new version spread throughout the world.This Urtext edition presents the workwith the original libretto that Beethoven set to music and following the text in the Beethoven Complete Edition.

Uses: Holy Week Maundy Thursday Scripture: Matthew 26:36-56 - Luke 22:39-46 With the haunting strains of The Moonlight Sonata this anthem unfolds into layers of beautiful textures delivering an emotional portrait of Christ in the garden of prayer. The powerful text is filled with evocative imagery and sacred meaning reminding the listener of the humanity of the suffering Savior and His divine destiny of grace. Highly effective!

Harry Causey has done a masterful job of bringing three classic tunes together: The Heavens Are Telling (Haydn) Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee (Beethoven) and the traditional English hymn I Sing the Mighty Powerof God. Along with a rip-roarin' orchestration (available separately) he has truly given us a piece with which to celebrate.