Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Music #358 - Mendelssohn

Felix Mendelssohn  

[ˈfeːlɪks ˈmɛndl̩szoːn]   (1809 – 1847)

Mendelssohn's style does not fit easily with other Romantic music, and could be called neo-Classical. He had quite a long list of compositions.
        Following the death of his sister Fanny, also a gifted pianist and composer, Mendelssohn suffered a series of strokes, and died at the age of 38.


A Midsummer Night's Dream overture 

Wedding March
 

Mendelssohn's Wedding March was first officially used at
the wedding of Victoria, Princess Royal of Great Britain in 1858.
(She was the future Queen Victoria.)



Fingal's Cave   

- Overture


Symphony No. 3

- aka the 'Scottish'


Symphony No. 4 

- aka the 'Italian'
IV. Saltarello: Presto


Violin Concerto

- this Opus 64 is the last of his 3 violin concertos
(L) all 3 movements        (R) first movement
 

/ The First Walpurgis Night 
- oratorio   


Songs Without Words for piano 

- a series of short lyrical piano pieces:
* Book 1 - No. 6 - Venetian Boat Song No.1
* Book 2 - No. 6 - Venetian Boat Song No.2
* Book 5 - No. 3 - 'Funeral March'
(... so called, without Mendelssohn's approval)
 
(R) The Royal Marines brass band playing
Mendelssohn's (and then Chopin’s) Funeral March
during Margaret Thatcher's state funeral procession  
* Book 5 - No. 5 - Venetian Boat Song No.3
* Book 5 - No. 6 - Spring Song ***
* Book 6 - No. 4 - Spinner's Song


On Wings of Song 

- a song for voice and piano


Festgesang (festive song)

- aka Gutenberg Cantata 
- William Hayman Cummings fitted Charles Wesley's hymn text 'Hark! The Herald Angels Sing' to this tune, to become a popular Christmas carol.  
 


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