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. 

    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.

    He had quite a long list of compositions.

“19世紀浪漫主義盛行時期，大多數音樂家的創作集中於國仇家恨、戀愛、死亡這類充滿浪漫主義色彩的主題，而門德爾松卻以追求“純粹性”的創作理念，規避、擺脫了對所謂愛恨情仇的迷戀，不沉溺于個人內心感情世界，而是以清純的心境，延續了古典主義精神，創作了浪漫激流中的“純粹”音樂。”

    “生活在洶湧澎湃的浪漫主義潮流中的一個理性又冷靜的古典主義者。”

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.)

(Bonus: The 16 most popular classical music selections used in wedding ceremonies.)

Fingal's Cave   

- Overture

(L) Symphony No. 3 - aka the 'Scottish'

 

(R) Symphony No. 4 - aka the 'Italian'

IV. Saltarello: Presto

Symphony No. 5 - aka the 'Reformation' - I.

Violin Concerto

- this Opus 64 is the last of his 3 violin concertos

(L) all 3 movements        (R) first movement

 

Piano Concerto No. 1 

Concerto for Piano, Violin & Strings

- aka Double Concerto [in d]

Die erste Walpurgisnacht 

/ The First Walpurgis Night 

- chorale cantata   

St. Paul 

- 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. 1 - May Breezes
* 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

Rondo capriccioso 

On Wings of Song 

/ Auf Flügeln des Gesanges

- 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.