CLM010 O for the Wings of a Dove - Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, F.

'O for the Wings of a Dove' comes from Mendelssohn’s anthem ‘Hear My Prayer’ of 1844, which is based on the text of Psalm 55. Its simple, soaring melody is Mendelssohn at his most inspired; his direct and personal harmonic language have given us here one of the most evocative and heart-felt gems ever to emerge from a composer’s pen.

The colours of the original composition, scored for soprano, chorus and organ, sit beautifully in the sound of four clarinets and bass clarinet, with the soaring melody shared between the upper three clarinets, supported by flowing inner parts and a warm, resonant bass foundation.

Perfect for concerts, church services, memorial occasions, or any programme needing a moment of reflective beauty, the arrangement is accessible to developing players yet musically rewarding for more advanced groups.

This arrangement was written in 2025 for the funeral of a dear friend and colleague of arranger Frances Jones, the clarinettist Jane Forder.

Grading: 5+

Duration: 3'32

Composer: Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, F. 

Arranger: Jones, F

Instrumentation: Clarinet Ensemble: 4 Bb Cls, Bass Cl.

Listen to a sample: