As Wagner called him a "first-rate landscape painter," Mendelssohn demonstrated talent in composing programmatic music and depicting scenes.

In the form of these "songs without words," or Lieder ohne Worte, Mendelssohn expressed even inner landscapes and emotional depictions. As they are instrumental pieces with song-like melodies, it is important to bring out the melodic line clearly and perform them lyrically.

During the period when Mendelssohn was active, the piano became widely popular as a cultural pursuit, especially among bourgeois families. Consequently, many pieces that could be easily played at home were composed, and the Lieder ohne Worte is one such collection.

The Lieder ohne Worte consists of eight books, each containing six pieces. Only up to Book 6 was published during his lifetime. Book 7 was published in 1851, and Book 8 in 1867. When Mendelssohn published Book 1 in 1832, he titled it Melodies for the Piano; the collection came to be known as Lieder ohne Worte only after the publication of Book 2 in 1835. Many pieces have titles, but only a few were given by the composer himself. Indeed, Mendelssohn seemed to dislike the idea that titles might limit musical imagination.

Book 1

• 1. E major "Sweet Remembrance" / Op. 19, No. 1 (1831)
  A lyrical melody sings over smooth flowing sixteenth notes throughout the piece.
• 2. A minor "Regret" / Op. 19, No. 2 (1832)
• 3. A major "Hunting Song" / Op. 19, No. 3 (1832)
  This piece depicts a valiant hunting scene. The title "Hunting Song" for the third piece was a nickname acknowledged by Mendelssohn himself. It is the most famous piece among the six.
• 4. A major "Confidence" / Op. 19, No. 4 (1829)
• 5. F-sharp minor "Restlessness" / Op. 19, No. 5 (1831)
  Marked Poco agitato and in 6/4 time, it has a passionate character. It is unusual among the Lieder ohne Worte for adopting a sonata form.
• 6. G minor "Venetian Gondola Song No. 1" / Op. 19, No. 6 (1830)
  This is the only piece among the six that Mendelssohn himself titled. There are three other pieces with the same name in the Lieder ohne Worte collection, which are referred to as "Gondellieder." They are characterized by a swaying motion, like waves.