Sonata V for Organ, op.65

The fifth of the Grand Organ Sonatas Op.65 is constructed of three movements, each composed independently in 1844, the second of these ‘Andante in B minor’, appearing first as a sketch in July.
The opening chorale, sketched in August 1844, is an original piece by Mendelssohn and not a known Lutheran chorale as used in two of his other Sonatas, III & VI. It also has no thematic presence in the following movements.
The third movement was sketched in September 1844 and given the title ‘Postlude in D’. This became the celebrated ‘Allegro maestoso’. Its metronome marking of crotchet=126 is technically taxing yet very exciting to hear when played by the likes of John Scott or Daniel Moult.
The three movements were linked together in 1845 to form this fifth sonata in a collection published by Breitkopf & Härtel (Leipzig) and Coventry & Hollier (London).