FELIX MENDELSSOHN

(1809-1847)

German composer; a grandson of a Jewish philosopher Moses Mendelssohn, but was brought up
as a Lutheran. Brother of Fanny Cäcilie Mendelssohn.

Noted pianist and organist; also conductor, head of Leipzig Conservatory (1843), and amateur painter.

Born in Hamburg; boy prodigy, composing the overture to 'A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM' at 17
(the other music to it later).

Visited Scotland in 1829 ('SCOTCH SYMPHONY', 'HEBRIDES') and afterwards re-visited Britain nine times, conducting the first performance of 'ELIJAH' in 1846.

Combined Romantic ardour with classical decorousness of form but did not fulfill all his early promise, and in the 20th. Century underwent a severe decline in popularity.

There is a delightful story about Mendelssohn........

He was a great admirer of Johann Sebastian Bach's music and visited Leipzig and the St. ThomasKirche where Bach had been Cantor and organist. While Mendelssohn was in Leipzig he went into the butcher's shop and apparently noticed that the butcher was wrapping the meat up in musical manuscripts.
Mendelssohn picked up the pile of paper and recognised Bach's music and rescued a great deal of
Bach's works, that were published later.

For the music of Mendelssohn, go to our online store at:

http://klavarskribo.com/