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Felix Mendelssohn
February 3, 1809 - November 4, 1847
born in Hamburg, Germany, composed during the Romantic period
born in Hamburg, Germany, composed during the Romantic period
Far from the troubled, coarse libertine that has become an archetype of the Romantic composer, Felix Mendelssohn was something of an anomaly among his contemporaries. His own situation -- one largely of domestic tranquility and unhindered career fulfillment -- stands in stark contrast to the personal Sturm und Drang familiar to his peers. Mendelssohn was the only musical prodigy of the nineteenth century whose stature could rival that of Mozart. Still, his parents resisted any entrepreneurial impulses and spared young Felix the strange, grueling lifestyle that was the lot of many child prodigies. He and his sister Fanny were given piano lessons, and he also studied violin, and both joined the Berlin Singakademie. Carl Friedrich Zelter, director of the Singakademie, became Mendelssohn's first composition instructor. Even in his youth, Mendelssohn moved with natural grace among the circles of influence in society, politics, literature, and art. Although he did spend some time at the University of Berlin, most of his education was received through friendships and travel. Mendelssohn's advocacy was the single most important factor in the revival of Bach's vocal music in the nineteenth century, most famously realized in the 1829 performance of the St. Matthew Passion at the Berlin Singakadamie. He did some touring as a pianist with Ignaz Moscheles, then took the position as music director in Düsseldorf from 1833 to 1835, which involved conducting both the choral and orchestral societies, preparing music for church services and later, becoming intendant for the new theatre. Tension with the theater owner caused him to resign some of his duties, and he began looking for a new post. In 1835, Mendelssohn became municipal music director in Leipzig, where he also would conduct the Gewandhaus Orchestra. He would raise the level of the still-thriving ensemble to a new standard of excellence. In 1838, he married Cécile Jeanrenaud, enjoying an idyllic marriage and family life that was quite unlike the stormy romantic entanglements which profoundly affected such composers as Berlioz, Chopin, and Liszt. He was in demand as a conductor, spent some time as royal composer and music director in Berlin, but remained committed to musical life in Leipzig. He was even able to establish a new conservatory in the city, which is still a well-respected institution.
Mendelssohn was a true Renaissance man. A talented visual artist, he was a refined connoisseur of literature and philosophy. While Mendelssohn's name rarely arises in discussions of the nineteenth century vanguard, the intrinsic importance of his music is undeniable. A distinct personality emerges at once in its exceptional formal sophistication, its singular melodic sense, and its colorful, masterful deployment of the instrumental forces at hand. A true apotheosis of life, Mendelssohn's music absolutely overflows with energy, ebullience, drama, and invention, as evidenced in his most enduring works: the incidental music to A Midsummer Night's Dream (1826-1842); the Hebrides Overture (1830); the Songs Without Words (1830-1845); the Symphonies No. 3 (1841-1842) and No. 4 (1833); and the Violin Concerto in E minor (1844). While the sunny disposition of so many of Mendelssohn's works has led some to view the composer as possessing great talent but little depth, his religious compositions -- particularly the great oratorios Paulus (1836) and Elijah (1846) -- reflect the complexity and deeply spiritual basis of his personality. ~ All Music Guide, Rovi
Mendelssohn was a true Renaissance man. A talented visual artist, he was a refined connoisseur of literature and philosophy. While Mendelssohn's name rarely arises in discussions of the nineteenth century vanguard, the intrinsic importance of his music is undeniable. A distinct personality emerges at once in its exceptional formal sophistication, its singular melodic sense, and its colorful, masterful deployment of the instrumental forces at hand. A true apotheosis of life, Mendelssohn's music absolutely overflows with energy, ebullience, drama, and invention, as evidenced in his most enduring works: the incidental music to A Midsummer Night's Dream (1826-1842); the Hebrides Overture (1830); the Songs Without Words (1830-1845); the Symphonies No. 3 (1841-1842) and No. 4 (1833); and the Violin Concerto in E minor (1844). While the sunny disposition of so many of Mendelssohn's works has led some to view the composer as possessing great talent but little depth, his religious compositions -- particularly the great oratorios Paulus (1836) and Elijah (1846) -- reflect the complexity and deeply spiritual basis of his personality. ~ All Music Guide, Rovi
Selected Discography
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Track List: Complete String Quartets
Disc 1
Title: String Quartet No. 1 In E Flat Major, Op. 12
Title: String Quartet No. 2 In A Minor, Op. 13
Title: String Quartet No. 6 in F Minor, Op. 80
Disc 2
Title: String Quartet No. 3 in D Major, Op.44/1
Title: String Quartet No. 4 In E Minor, Op.44/2
Disc 3
Title: String Quartet No. 5 In E Flat Major, Op.44/3
Title: Pieces (4) for String Quartet, Op. 81
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Track List: Felix Mendelssohn: Elijah, Op. 70 / Hickox, White, Plowright, Finnie, Davies, London Symphony (Sung In English)
Disc 1
Title: Elijah (Elias), Oratorio, Op. 70
Disc 2
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Track List: Highlights Vol.1
Disc 1
Title: Violin Concerto In E Minor, Op. 64
Title: Symphony No. 4 In A Major ("Italian"), Op. 90
Title: Elijah (Elias), Oratorio, Op. 70
Title: Paulus (Saint Paul), Oratorio, Op. 36
Disc 2
Title: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Incidental Music, Op. 61
Title: Paulus (Saint Paul), Oratorio, Op. 36
Title: Symphony No. 2 In B Flat Major ("Lobgesang", "Hymn Of Praise"), Op. 52
Title: Elijah (Elias), Oratorio, Op. 70
Title: Symphony No. 2 In B Flat Major ("Lobgesang", "Hymn Of Praise"), Op. 52
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Track List: Mendelssohn - String Quartets - Vol.2
Title: String Quartet No. 1 In E Flat Major, Op. 12
Title: String Quartet No. 4 In E Minor, Op.44/2
Title: String Quartet In E Flat Major
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Track List: Mendelssohn: - Piano Concerto No. 1 & 2 · Variations sérieuses, op. 54 · Rondo capriccioso, op. 14
Title: Piano Concerto No. 1 In G Minor, Op. 25
Title: Variations Sérieuses, For Piano In D Minor, Op. 54
Title: Rondo Capriccioso, For Piano In E Major, Op. 14
Title: Piano Concerto No. 2 In D Minor, Op. 40
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Track List: Mendelssohn: 5 Symphonies; 7 Overtures
Disc 1
Title: Symphony No. 1 In C Minor, Op. 11
Title: Octet For Strings In E Flat Major, Op. 20
Title: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Overture, Op. 21
Title: The Hebrides, Overture For Orchestra In B Minor ("Fingal's Cave"), Op. 26
Title: Calm Sea And Prosperous Voyage, Overture In D Major, Op. 27
Disc 2
Title: Symphony No. 2 In B Flat Major ("Lobgesang", "Hymn Of Praise"), Op. 52
Disc 3
Title: Symphony No. 3 In A Minor ("Scottish"), Op. 56
Title: Overture For Orchestra In E Major ("Fair Melusina"), Op. 32
Title: Overture For Orchestra In C Major ("Trumpet"), Op. 101
Title: Ruy Blas, Overture For Orchestra In C Minor, Op. 95
Disc 4
Title: Symphony No. 4 In A Major ("Italian"), Op. 90
Title: Symphony No. 5 In D Major/D Minor ("Reformation"), Op. 107
Title: Overture For Wind Instruments In C Major ("Harmoniemusik"), Op. 24
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Track List: Mendelssohn: Complete Music For Cello
Title: Sonata For Cello & Piano No. 1 In B Flat Major, Op. 45
Title: Variations Concertantes, For Cello & Piano In D Major, Op. 17
Title: Sonata For Cello & Piano No. 2 In D Major, Op. 58
Title: Assai Tranquillo For Cello & Piano In B Minor
Title: Song Without Words For Cello & Piano In D Major, Op. 109
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Track List: Mendelssohn: Concerto for piano & violin in Dm; Concerto for violin in Dm
Title: Concerto For Piano, Violin, And String Orchestra In D Minor
Title: Violin Concerto In D Minor
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Track List: Mendelssohn: Lieder
Title: Altdeutsches Frühlingslied ("Der Trübe Winter Ist Vorbei"), Song For Voice & Piano, Op. 86/6
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Track List: Mendelssohn: Lieder Ohne Worte Vol. 1
Title: Songs Without Words (6) For Piano, Book 1, Op. 19b
Title: Songs Without Words (6) For Piano, Book 2, Op. 30
Title: Songs Without Words (6) For Piano, Book 3, Op. 38
Title: Songs Without Words (6) For Piano, Book 4, Op. 53
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Track List: Mendelssohn: Lieder Ohne Worte Vol. 2
Title: Songs Without Words (6) For Piano, Book 5, Op. 62
Title: Songs Without Words (6) For Piano, Book 6, Op. 67
Title: Songs Without Words (6) For Piano, Book 7, Op. 85
Title: Songs Without Words (6) For Piano, Book 8, Op. 102
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Track List: Mendelssohn: Motets & Psaumes
Title: Psalm 2 ("Warum Toben Die Heiden"), For Soloists & Double Chorus In G Minor, Op. 78/1
Title: Psalm 22 ("Mein Gott, Mein Gott, Warum Hast Du Mich Verlassen"), For Soloists & Double Chorus In E Minor, Op. 78/3
Title: Nunc Dimittis, Motet For Soloists & Chorus In E Flat Major (English Church Pieces), Op. 69/1
Title: Ehre Sei Gott In Der Hohe, For Double Chorus
Title: Mitten Wir Im Leben Sind, Sacred Piece For Chorus In C Minor, Op. 23/3
Title: Anthems (6) For Double Chorus (Sechs Sprüche), Op. 79
Title: Work(s)
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Track List: Mendelssohn: Octet, Op. 20; Quintet, Op. 87
Title: Octet For Strings In E Flat Major, Op. 20
Title: String Quintet No. 2 In B Flat Major, Op. 87
x
Track List: Mendelssohn: On Wings of Song
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Track List: Mendelssohn: Organ Sonatas Nos. 1 - 6, Op. 65
Title: Organ Sonata No. 1 In F Minor/f Major, Op. 65/1
Title: Organ Sonata No. 2 In C Minor/c Major, Op. 65/2
Title: Organ Sonata No. 3 In A Major, Op. 65/3
Title: Organ Sonata No. 4 In B Flat Major, Op. 65/4
Title: Organ Sonata No. 5 In D Major, Op. 65/5
Title: Organ Sonata No. 6 In D Minor/d Major, Op. 65/6
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Track List: Mendelssohn: Overtures
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Track List: Mendelssohn: Piano Concertos
Title: Piano Concerto No. 1 In G Minor, Op. 25
Title: Piano Concerto No. 2 In D Minor, Op. 40
Title: Prelude & Fugue For Piano In E Minor/E Major, Op. 35/1
Title: Variations Sérieuses, For Piano In D Minor, Op. 54
Title: Rondo Capriccioso, For Piano In E Major, Op. 14
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Track List: Mendelssohn: Piano Music
Title: Piano Sonata In E Major, Op. 6
Title: Piano Sonata In G Minor, Op. 105
Title: Piano Sonata In B Flat Major, Op. 106
Title: Rondo Capriccioso, For Piano In E Major, Op. 14
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Track List: Mendelssohn: Piano Trios
Title: Piano Trio No. 1 In D Minor, Op. 49
Title: Piano Trio No. 2 In C Minor, Op. 66
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Track List: Mendelssohn: Piano Trios Nos. 1 & 2
Title: Piano Trio No. 1 In D Minor, Op. 49
Title: Piano Trio No. 2 In C Minor, Op. 66
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Track List: Mendelssohn: Piano Works Vol. 1
Title: Preludes & Fugues (6) For Piano, Op. 35
Title: Caprices (3) For Piano, Op. 33
Title: Perpetuum Mobile, For Piano In C Major, Op. 119
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Track List: Mendelssohn: Piano Works, Vol. 2
Title: Preludes (3) For Piano, Op. 104a
Title: Etudes (3) For Piano, Op. 104b
Title: Variations Sérieuses, For Piano In D Minor, Op. 54
Title: Kinderstücke (6) For Piano ("Christmas Pieces"), Op. 72
Title: Gondollied, For Piano In A Major ("Barcarole")
Title: Scherzo For Piano In B Minor
Title: Piano Sonata In E Major, Op. 6
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Track List: Mendelssohn: Songs Without Words
Title: Songs Without Words (6) For Piano, Book 4, Op. 53
Title: Songs Without Words (6) For Piano, Book 2, Op. 30
Title: Songs Without Words (6) For Piano, Book 5, Op. 62
Title: Songs Without Words (6) For Piano, Book 8, Op. 102
Title: Songs Without Words (6) For Piano, Book 7, Op. 85
Title: Songs Without Words (6) For Piano, Book 8, Op. 102
Title: Songs Without Words (6) For Piano, Book 3, Op. 38
Title: Songs Without Words (6) For Piano, Book 8, Op. 102
Title: Songs Without Words (6) For Piano, Book 7, Op. 85
Title: Songs Without Words (6) For Piano, Book 2, Op. 30
Title: Gruß ("Leise Zieht Durch Mein Gemüt"), Song For Voice & Piano, Op. 19a/5
Title: Songs Without Words (6) For Piano, Book 6, Op. 67
Title: Songs Without Words (6) For Piano, Book 7, Op. 85
Title: Songs Without Words (6) For Piano, Book 6, Op. 67
Title: Songs Without Words (6) For Piano, Book 3, Op. 38
Title: Songs Without Words (6) For Piano, Book 4, Op. 53
Title: Songs Without Words (6) For Piano, Book 2, Op. 30
Title: Songs Without Words (6) For Piano, Book 6, Op. 67
Title: Songs Without Words (6) For Piano, Book 5, Op. 62
Title: Songs Without Words (6) For Piano, Book 6, Op. 67
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Track List: Mendelssohn: Songs Without Words
Disc 1
Title: Songs Without Words (6) For Piano, Book 1, Op. 19b
Title: Songs Without Words (6) For Piano, Book 2, Op. 30
Title: Songs Without Words (6) For Piano, Book 3, Op. 38
Title: Songs Without Words (6) For Piano, Book 4, Op. 53
Disc 2
Title: Songs Without Words (6) For Piano, Book 5, Op. 62
Title: Songs Without Words (6) For Piano, Book 6, Op. 67
Title: Songs Without Words (6) For Piano, Book 7, Op. 85
Title: Songs Without Words (6) For Piano, Book 8, Op. 102
Title: Kinderstücke (6) For Piano ("Christmas Pieces"), Op. 72
Title: Gondollied, For Piano In A Major ("Barcarole")
Title: Klavierstücke (2) For Piano
Title: Albumblatt For Piano In E Minor, Op. 117
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Track List: Mendelssohn: Songs Without Words (Selections)
Title: Song Without Words For Piano No. 1 In E Major, Op. 19b/1
Title: Song Without Words For Piano No. 2 In A Minor, Op. 19b/2
Title: Song Without Words For Piano No. 3 In A Major ("Jägerlied"), Op. 19b/3
Title: Song Without Words For Piano No. 6 In G Minor ("Venetianisches Gondellied"), Op. 19b/6
Title: Song Without Words For Piano No. 7 In E Flat Major, Op. 30/1
Title: Song Without Words For Piano No. 8 In B Flat Minor, Op. 30/2
Title: Song Without Words For Piano No. 10 In B Minor, Op. 30/4
Title: Song Without Words For Piano No. 12 In F Sharp Minor ("Venetianisches Gondellied"), Op. 30/6
Title: Song Without Words For Piano No. 14 In C Minor, Op. 38/2
Title: Song Without Words For Piano No. 17 In A Minor, Op. 38/5
Title: Song Without Words For Piano No. 18 In A Flat Major ("Duetto"), Op. 38/6
Title: Song Without Words For Piano No. 20 In E Flat Major, Op. 53/2
Title: Song Without Words For Piano No. 22 In F Major, Op. 53/4
Title: Song Without Words For Piano No. 25 In G Major, Op. 62/1
Title: Song Without Words For Piano No. 27 In E Minor ("Trauermarsch"), Op. 62/3
Title: Song Without Words For Piano No. 29 In A Minor ("Venetianisches Gondellied"), Op. 62/5
Title: Song Without Words For Piano No. 30 In A Major ("Frühlingslied"), Op. 62/6
Title: Songs Without Words (6) For Piano, Book 6, Op. 67
Title: Songs Without Words (6) For Piano, Book 7, Op. 85
Title: Song Without Words For Piano No. 44 In D Major, Op. 102/2
Title: Song Without Words For Piano In D Minor ("Reiterlied")
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Track List: Mendelssohn: Songs Without Words II
Title: Songs Without Words II
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Track List: Mendelssohn: Songs without Words
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Track List: Mendelssohn: String Quartets Nos. 1 & 2, Opp. 12 & 13
Title: String Quartet No. 1 In E Flat Major, Op. 12
Title: String Quartet No. 2 In A Minor, Op. 13
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Track List: Mendelssohn: String Quartets, Vol. 1
Title: String Quartet No. 6 in F Minor, Op. 80
Title: String Quartet No. 3 in D Major, Op.44/1
Title: Pieces (4) for String Quartet, Op. 81
x
Track List: Mendelssohn: String Quartets, Vol. 3
Title: String Quartet No. 2 In A Minor, Op. 13
Title: String Quartet No. 5 In E Flat Major, Op.44/3
Title: Andante Sostenuto & Variations For String Quartet In E Major, Op. 81/1
Title: Scherzo For String Quartet In A Minor, Op. 81/2
x
Track List: Mendelssohn: String Symphonies
Title: Sinfonia (String Symphony) For String Orchestra No. 12 In G Minor
Title: Sinfonia (String Symphony) For String Orchestra No. 1 In C Major
Title: Sinfonia (String Symphony) For String Orchestra No. 7 In D Minor
Title: Sinfonia (String Symphony) For String Orchestra No. 4 In C Minor
Title: Sinfonia (String Symphony) For String Orchestra No. 6 In E Flat Major
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Track List: Mendelssohn: Symphonies 3 & 4
Title: The Hebrides, Overture For Orchestra In B Minor ("Fingal's Cave"), Op. 26
Title: Symphony No. 3 In A Minor ("Scottish"), Op. 56
Title: Symphony No. 4 In A Major ("Italian"), Op. 90
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Track List: Mendelssohn: Symphonies 3 & 5
Title: Symphony No. 3 In A Minor ("Scottish"), Op. 56
Title: Symphony No. 5 In D Major/D Minor ("Reformation"), Op. 107
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Track List: Mendelssohn: Symphony 4 / Midsummer Night's Dream
Title: Symphony No. 4 In A Major ("Italian"), Op. 90
Title: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Incidental Music, Op. 61
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Track List: Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 1 & 4 "Italian"
Title: Symphony No. 1 In C Minor, Op. 11
Title: Symphony No. 4 In A Major ("Italian"), Op. 90
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Track List: Mendelssohn: The Complete String Quartets
Disc 1
Title: String Quartet No. 2 In A Minor, Op. 13
Title: Fugue For String Quartet In E Flat Major, Op. 81/4
Title: String Quartet No. 1 In E Flat Major, Op. 12
Disc 2
Title: String Quartet No. 4 In E Minor, Op.44/2
Title: String Quartet No. 5 In E Flat Major, Op.44/3
Disc 3
Title: String Quartet No. 3 in D Major, Op.44/1
Title: Capriccio For String Quartet In E Minor, Op. 81/3
Title: String Quartet No. 6 in F Minor, Op. 80
Title: Andante Sostenuto & Variations For String Quartet In E Major, Op. 81/1
Title: Scherzo For String Quartet In A Minor, Op. 81/2
Disc 4
Title: Octet For Strings In E Flat Major, Op. 20
Title: String Quartet In E Flat Major
Title: Data Track
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Track List: Mendelssohn: Twelve String Symphonies
Disc 1
Title: Sinfonia (String Symphony) For String Orchestra No. 1 In C Major
Title: Sinfonia (String Symphony) For String Orchestra No. 2 In D Major
Title: Sinfonia (String Symphony) For String Orchestra No. 3 In E Minor
Title: Sinfonia (String Symphony) For String Orchestra No. 4 In C Minor
Title: Sinfonia (String Symphony) For String Orchestra No. 5 In B Flat Major
Title: Sinfonia (String Symphony) For String Orchestra No. 6 In E Flat Major
Disc 2
Title: Sinfonia (String Symphony) For String Orchestra No. 7 In D Minor
Title: Sinfonia (String Symphony) For String Orchestra No. 8 In D Major
Title: Sinfonia (String Symphony) For String Orchestra No. 9 In C Major ("Swiss")
Disc 3
Title: Sinfonia (String Symphony) For String Orchestra No. 10 In B Minor
Title: Sinfonia (String Symphony) For String Orchestra No. 11 In F Major
Title: Sinfonia (String Symphony) For String Orchestra No. 12 In G Minor
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Track List: String Quintets
Title: String Quintet No. 2 In B Flat Major, Op. 87
Title: String Quintet No. 1 In A Major, Op. 18
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