| Movements/SectionsMov'ts/Sec's | 41 numbers in 2 parts |
|---|---|
| Composition Year | 1872-73 |
| Genre Categories | Sacred oratorios; Oratorios; Religious works; |
| Work Title | The Light of the World |
|---|---|
| Alternative. Title | |
| Composer | Sullivan, Arthur |
| I-Catalogue NumberI-Cat. No. | IAS 38 |
| Movements/SectionsMov'ts/Sec's | 41 numbers in 2 parts |
| Year/Date of CompositionY/D of Comp. | 1872-73 |
| First Performance. | 1873-08-27 - Birmingham Musical Festival |
| First Publication. | 1873 |
| Librettist | The Bible, selected and assembled by the Composer |
| Language | English |
| Dedication | The Duchess of Edinburgh (Grand Duchess Marie Alexandrowna of Russia) |
| Average DurationAvg. Duration | 2 hours, 45 minutes |
| Composer Time PeriodComp. Period | Romantic |
| Piece Style | Romantic |
| Instrumentation | 2 sopranos, alto, tenor, baritone, bass; mixed chorus (SATB), orchestra |
| InstrDetail | |
| External Links | Gilbert & Sullivan Archive |
The Cramer vocal score exists in two editions, the first of which, containing 275 pages of music, reflects the work as first performed in Birmingham in 1873. The composer subsequently made several significant cuts and alterations to the oratorio and a second edition was issued, running to 259 pages. The Schirmer vocal score reflects these revisions.
There is a discrepancy in numbering between the Cramer and Schirmer vocal scores. Before the first performance, the composer omitted number 7 (probably a recitative) from the score but it was clearly too late to re-set the printing and thus in the Cramer edition, number 6 is simply followed by number 8 (giving an actual total of 41 movements, although the index runs to 42).
This numbering omission is corrected in the Schirmer score, which allocated Cramer No.8 as Schirmer No.7, etc. However, following the first performance the composer cut a recitative (No.38 in the Cramer first edition) and its omission from the Schirmer score leads to a total of 40 numbers.
