Among Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy's numerous psalm compositions, the extensive settings, in which an orchestra is used in addition to the vocal parts, stand out as a separate group of works. The 115th Psalm op. 31 MWV A 9, which begins this series of compositions in 1829/30, is followed by the 42nd Psalm op. 42 MWV A 15, the 95th Psalm op. 46 MWV A 16 and the 114th Psalm op. 51 MWV A 17, all composed between 1837 and 1841. The series concludes with the 98th Psalm MWV A 23, which was composed for the New Year's service in Berlin Cathedral in 1844 and is thus an exception to the previous works, which were not liturgically bound for the concert hall.

The present volume (Series VI/8,2 Psalm Cantatas II) contains the 95th Psalm op. 46 MWV A 16, composed in the four years from early 1838 to early 1842. The long period of composition makes it clear that Mendelssohn had to struggle with considerable difficulties before it could be printed. In addition to the publication of the various versions and alternative or additional movements, the volume documents the countless deletions, corrections and extensive changes that Mendelssohn made in the course of working on this composition. This continues right through to the final version, from which Mendelssohn repeatedly removed entire sections and replaced them with extensive new passages. Mendelssohn signed these removed sheets and gave them away. This is how they ended up scattered in different libraries and have been joined again in the present volume.

The history of the composition of the 95th Psalm, which can be found in the music section and the Critical Report of this volume, clearly shows the intensity with which Mendelssohn worked to create a version of the 95th Psalm that satisfied him in all respects. No other psalm with orchestra has such an extensive and complicated genesis.