This edition was prepared by Nikolaus Hold — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Ersatz für Unbestand, WoO 8
Staff Notation • Secular, Partsongs
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Ersatz für Unbestand, WoO 8 by Felix Mendelssohn — Lyrics
Lieblich mundet der Becher Wein,
aber ein Zug, so ist er leer.
Süßer schmeckt noch der Liebe Kuss,
aber ein Hauch, so ist's vorbei.
Lieblich schwillt in der Brust ein Lied,
wird geboren in süßem Weh,
doch auch diese Geburt, wie schnell!
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About Ersatz für Unbestand, WoO 8
Mendelssohn's Ersatz für Unbestand is a TTBB part-song in German, exploring the fleeting nature of earthly pleasures. The music opens with a smooth, flowing melody, characteristic of his lyrical style, before the voices weave together in close harmony. The text contemplates how wine, love, and even song offer only temporary satisfaction, suggesting that constant repetition can provide an 'ersatz'—a substitute—for this inherent inconstancy. The piece moves from a contemplative mood to one of energetic affirmation, with the male voices creating a rich, sonorous texture to convey the composer's message.
