Symphony No. 5 (Mendelssohn)

The Symphony No. 5 in D Minor, op. 107, called the "Reformation" Symphony, was composed by Felix Mendelssohn in honor of the 300th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation initiated by Martin Luther.

The symphony begins with a slow introduction which alternates between brass fanfares and responding strings playing the "Dresden Amen." The theme from the fanfare is used throughout the remainder of the first movement. The second movement takes the form of an upbeat dance built around a variant of the first movement theme. Mendelssohn then uses a much more restrained third movement, which features a theme played by strings and a small woodwind section at an andante tempo. Finally, the fourth movement, built almost exclusively around Luther's chorale "A Mighty Fortress is Our God" from the Augsburg Confession, begins with a simple and direct introduction of the chorale by the flute. Various elements of the woodwind section, followed by strings and brass, are added until the full orchestra plays the chorale. Immediately, the tempo increases to allegro, as various instruments repeat the chorale theme until a final statement by the full orchestra with an accompanying trumpet fanfare.

The late opus number does not indicate a late work, since Mendelssohn composed this symphony in 1829-1830, prior to his 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Symphonies. Instead, the "Op. 107" numbering resulted from the publication of the "Reformation" Symphony after the composer's death.

It is in 4 movements:#Andante - Allegro con fuoco#Allegro vivace#Andante#Andante con moto - Allegro maestoso

A typical performance lasts about 33 minutes.