Collegium musicum der Universität Mainz

Mendelssohn's symphonic cantata “Lobgesang” (Symphony No. 2)

The organizer Collegium musicum of Johannes Gutenberg University describes the event as follows:

Mendelssohn announced at the beginning of 1840 that he wanted to “help celebrate the local printers' festival in June by performing new music (I'll probably do some kind of small oratorio or larger psalm).” The composer was thus following a commission he had received from the Leipzig City Council in 1839: as one of the most traditional trade fair cities in Europe and a historical center of book printing and trade, Leipzig wanted to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the invention of printing by Johannes Gutenberg with appropriate music and wanted a symphonic work with choir.

Further information can be found here.