Mendelssohn, Felix 1809 - 1847
Author: Hoshino, Hiromi
Last updated：September 9, 2011
Author: Hoshino, Hiromi
Composer's Commentary: The Life of Mendelssohn
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809–47), a composer who lived in European civil society during the first half of the 19th century and sang the poetic sentiments of the Romantic era. His beautiful melodies have been widely loved by people from his lifetime to the present day.
Even those unfamiliar with the composer's name would have heard his famous Violin Concerto in E minor, the song On Wings of Song, the piano piece Spring Song, or even the Wedding March. His music is fresh, pure, and full of warm emotion. All of Mendelssohn's works reflect his charming personality and convey the spirit of the era in which he flourished.
1. Mendelssohn's Life
He was born on February 3, 1809, in Hamburg, North Germany. He came from a prominent German-Jewish family; his paternal grandfather, Moses (1729–86), was a renowned philosopher, and his father, Abraham (1776–1835), was the founder of one of Germany's leading banks. From 1804, Mendelssohn Bank had been expanding speculatively in the trading city of Hamburg, but in 1811, due to the repercussions of the Napoleonic Wars, the family returned to their hometown of Berlin. On March 21, 1816, his parents had their four children, including Felix, baptized into Christianity (Protestantism). In 1822, his parents also converted from Judaism to Christianity. They judged that conversion was essential for Jews to succeed socially at the time. From this period, the family began to use the double name
Author : Asayama, Natsuko
Last Updated: May 1, 2007
[Open]
Author : Asayama, Natsuko
German composer. Born to a wealthy Jewish banking family in Berlin. His elder sister also became a musician. Felix debuted as a child prodigy pianist and began composing at the age of 10. He traveled frequently, and especially in Paris, he became acquainted with the elderly Cherubini, the opera composer Meyerbeer, as well as piano virtuosos such as Liszt and Hummel.
Author : Ito, Moeko
Last Updated: December 1, 2009
[Open]
Author : Ito, Moeko
About the List of Works
The list of works in this section is organized based on information from 'Thematisch-systematisches Verzeichnis der musikalischen Werke (MWV)' (Thematic-Systematic Catalogue of Mendelssohn's Musical Works), supervised by Ralf Wehner, which was published in August 2009 as part of the Leipzig edition Mendelssohn complete works series.
Author : Hara, Akiho
Last Updated: March 12, 2018
[Open]
Author : Hara, Akiho
(February 3, 1809, Hamburg — November 4, 1847, Leipzig) German composer and pianist. He also distinguished himself as a conductor and music educator. Born into a wealthy family, he was raised from childhood in a culturally rich environment. He conducted J.S. Bach's St. Matthew Passion, which was largely unknown to the public at the time, paving the way for the revival of Bach's sacred music.
Mendelssohn's representative keyboard work is the Songs Without Words, published between 1832 and 1850, which served as a model for countless character pieces written in the 19th century.
Works(127)
Concerto
concerto (7)
Konzert für Klavier und Streichorchester MWV O 2
Key: a-moll Composed in: 1821 Playing time: 34 min 26 sec
Konzert für Violine, Klavier und Orchester MWV O 4
Key: d-moll Composed in: 1823 Playing time: 33 min 30 sec
Konzert für 2 Klaviere und Orchester MWV O 5
Key: E-Dur Composed in: 1823 Playing time: 30 min 04 sec
Konzert für 2 Klaviere und Orchester MWV O 6
Key: As-Dur Composed in: 1824 Playing time: 40 min 27 sec
Konzert für Klavier und Orchester Nr.1 Op.25 MWV O 7
Key: g-moll Composed in: 1830 Playing time: 20 min 00 sec
Konzert für Klavier und Orchester Nr.2 Op.40 MWV O 11
Key: d-moll Composed in: 1837 Playing time: 23 min 00 sec
Konzert für Klavier und Orchester Nr.3 (unvollendet) MWV O 13
Key: e-moll Composed in: 1842 Playing time: 22 min 50 sec
Works with orchestral accompaniment (2)
Recitativo für Klavier und Streichorchester MWV O 1
Key: d-moll Composed in: 1820 Playing time: 2 min 40 sec
Serenade und Allegro giojoso Op.43 MWV O 12
Key: h-moll、D-Dur Composed in: 1838 Playing time: 12 min 00 sec
caprice (1)
Paraphrase (1)
Fantasie und Variationen über Webers "Preciosa" MWV O 9
Key: c-moll Composed in: 1833 Playing time: 17 min 00 sec
Piano Solo
sonata (7)
pieces (4)
7 Charakteristische Stücke Op.7 MWV U 44, 55, 56, 59-62
Composed in: 1827 Playing time: 26 min 30 sec
6 Kinderstücke Op.72 MWV U 171, 170, 164, 169, 166, 168
Composed in: 1842 Playing time: 9 min 00 sec
etude (2)
fantasy (2)
Fantasie über 'The last rose of summer' Op.15 MWV U 74
Key: E-Dur Composed in: 1827 Playing time: 9 min 00 sec
Fantasie (Sonate écossaise) Op.28 MWV U 92
Key: fis-moll Composed in: 1833 Playing time: 14 min 30 sec
variation (3)
fuga (3)
waltz (3)
romance (11)
Lieder ohne Worte Heft 1 Op.19 MWV U 86, 80, 89, 73, 90, 78
Composed in: 1829 Playing time: 15 min 00 sec
Lieder ohne Worte Heft 2 Op.30 MWV U 103, 77, 104, 98, 97, 110
Composed in: 1833 Playing time: 16 min 00 sec
Lieder ohne Worte Heft 3 Op.38 MWV U 121, 115, 107, 120, 137, 119
Composed in: 1836 Playing time: 15 min 30 sec
Lieder ohne Worte Heft 4 Op.53 MWV U 143, 109, 144, 114, 153, 154
Composed in: 1841 Playing time: 17 min 00 sec
Lieder ohne Worte Heft 5 Op.62 MWV U 185, 181, 177, 175, 151, 161
Composed in: 1842 Playing time: 14 min 00 sec
Lieder ohne Worte Heft 6 Op.67 MWV U 180, 145, 102, 182, 184, 188
Composed in: 1843 Playing time: 14 min 00 sec
Lieder ohne Worte Heft 7 Op.85 MWV U 189, 101, 111, 190, 191, 155
Composed in: 1834 Playing time: 12 min 30 sec
Lieder ohne Worte Heft 8 Op.102 MWV U 162, 192, 195, 152, 194, 172
Composed in: 1842 Playing time: 12 min 00 sec
caprice (3)
barcarolle (1)
Gondellied / Bercarole (Lied auf einer Gondel) MWV U 136
Key: A-Dur Composed in: 1837 Playing time: 2 min 10 sec
character pieces (20)
Andante con moto (Albumblatt 21ster. Mai) MWV U 75
Key: A-Dur Composed in: 1830 Playing time: 3 min 00 sec
Andante H-Dur - Allegro di molto h-Moll (Rondo brillant) MWV U 87
Key: H-Dur、h-moll Composed in: 1831
Presto agitato (Musical Sketch Nr.2) MWV U 94
Key: g-moll Composed in: 1832 Playing time: 2 min 30 sec
Various works (8)
Wie die Zeit läuft! （How Time Flies!） MWV U 196
Key: g-moll Composed in: 1847 Playing time: 1 min 50 sec
prelude and fuga (2)
Präludium und Fügen Op.35 MWV U 116, 66, 129, 105, 131, 91, 122, 108, 126, 106, 135, 128
Composed in: 1827 Playing time: 43 min 00 sec
Piano Ensemble
Paraphrase (1)
Variationen über den Marsch aus der Preciosa von Weber MWV O 9
Composed in: 1833 Playing time: 18 min 00 sec
Reduction/Arrangement (1)
Oktett für Streicher (Arranged for 4 hands by the composer) Op.20
Key: Es-Dur Composed in: 1825 Playing time: 32 min 00 sec
Various works (2)
Symphony (2)
Chamber Music
sonata (8)
variation (2)
Variations concertantes (Andante con variazioni) Op.17 MWV Q 19
Key: D-Dur Composed in: 1829 Playing time: 9 min 10 sec
romance (1)
Romance sans paroles (Lied ohne Worte) MWV Q 34 op.109
Key: D-Dur Composed in: 1845 Playing time: 4 min 00 sec
character pieces (1)
Various works (6)
Konzertstück (Die Schlacht bei Prag) MWV Q 23 Op.113
Key: f-moll Composed in: 1832 Playing time: 8 min 10 sec
Chamber music (3)
Lied
pieces (3)
etc