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Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Jakob Ludwig Felix

Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (1809-1847) was grandson of Jewish philosopher Moses Mendelssohn. Born in Hamburg, brought up in Berlin, he was a piano prodigy in his youth. Both he and his sister, Fannny, composed from an early age. Fanny was discouraged by her father and brother because she was a woman (only the late Twentieth Century 20 produced the first recordings of most of her compositions); Felix was encouraged, and produced sonatas, songs, cantatas, organ works, and even a symphony by the time he was 16 years old.

When Felix was 17, he and Fanny read Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream together, and he was so enchanted with the work that he wrote a long piece about it; this became the "Overture" to the incidental music for the play, written 17 years later in 1843. Felix first wrote the "Overture" for 2 pianos, for Fanny and himself to play, and it is considered his first real masterpiece. In 1843, when Mendelssohn wrote the rest of the incidental music to be played along with the performance of Shakespeare's play, he orchestrated the "Overture" along with the other pieces.

He married the daughter of a Huguenot pastor and, although he formally and publicly renouncing his Judaism, added the hyphenated Bartholdy to their names to indicate his conversion to Protestantism. This may explain why Mendelssohn eventually wrote Symphony No. 5, "The Reformation", which includes as the main theme in the 3rd movement the famous chorale "Ein feste Burg (A Mighty Fortress)".

Sites in Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Jakob Ludwig Felix

Felix Mendelssohn
Brief biography and discography from Classical Net's Basic Repertoire.
Felix Mendelssohn
Biography extracts from Grove Dictionary of Music (by Matt Boynick).
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
Message board and live chat about the life and works.
Felix Mendelssohn
Biography, picture, and links.
Felix Mendelssohn
Biography and evaluation of his talents plus comments on his Bach revival from the Internet Piano Page.
Felix Mendelssohn: Classical Music Master
Biography, analysis of works, comments on revivals of Bach and Lutheran chorale styles, links and MP3s.
Facility and Mastery: Felix Mendelssohn
Jeffrey Dane examines his life, conversion from Judaism to Christianity, works, and historical context.
Felix Mendelssohn: An Overview
This is the mfiles page for Felix Mendelssohn, with career highlights and links to related composers, plus selected music examples in Sheet Music, MIDI and MP3 formats.
Felix Mendelssohn: Man of the Moment
Brief biography, key works, suggested reading and recordings, timeline, quotes, links, and additional resources. From Humanities Web.
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (1809 - 1847)
Karadar dictionary entry with life, works, catalogue, portraits and other illustrations, related composers, and MIDI audio samples.
Felix Mendelssohn
Portrait, biography, and works.
Classical Music Archives: Mendelssohn
Over 200 complete works by Mendelssohn offered in MIDI, MP3, and Windows Media audio formats, including live recordings of featured artists. Two biographies, including that from the Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. Timelines, search engine.
Electronic Library: Mendelssohn, Felix
(most articles available to subscribers only).
Classic Cat
Directory of mp3s on the internet that have been made available by the performing artists.
Kunst der Fuge | Felix Mendelssohn
Biography, MIDI files, and WMA/MP3 files.
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
Filmography at IMDb. Lists movies in which his music was featured.
Jacob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn: Concerto in D Minor for Violin, Piano, and Orchestra
Program notes from the San Francisco Symphony with detailed biography, family information, and comments on the work.
Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Jakob Ludwig Felix
Detailed biography showing how he championed the works of others, including J. S. Bach, as well as writing and performing his own from the Grove Concise Dictionary of Music entry at WQXR radio. Includes summary works list.
Felix Mendelssohn
List of hymn tunes from the Cyber Hymnal with MIDI audio and NWC format scores plus portrait.
Felix Mendelssohn
Find a Grave listing with biographical, familial, and musical commentary, portraits, pictures of his gravesite, and interactive memorial.
Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
Listing at the Lied and Art Songs Text Page with extensive list of vocal works with German lyrics, many also in translation.
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
Biographical sketch, caricature, commentary on his forays into various musical genres, and Naxos discography.

cross references

Arts : Music : Composition : Composers : By Region : Europe : German Arts : Music : Composition : Composers : By Region : Europe : German
Arts : Music : Composition : Composers : Mendelssohn Family Arts : Music : Composition : Composers : Mendelssohn Family
Arts : Music : Composition : Composers : Romantic Arts : Music : Composition : Composers : Romantic
Arts : Music : Instruments : Keyboard : Piano : Pianists Arts : Music : Instruments : Keyboard : Piano : Pianists
Arts : Music : Styles : Choral : Composers Arts : Music : Styles : Choral : Composers
Arts : Music : Styles : Classical : Conductors Arts : Music : Styles : Classical : Conductors
Arts : Music : Styles : Classical : Lieder : Composers Arts : Music : Styles : Classical : Lieder : Composers
Arts : Music : Styles : Opera : Composers Arts : Music : Styles : Opera : Composers
Society : Religion and Spirituality : Christianity : Music : Hymns : Authors and Composers Society : Religion and Spirituality : Christianity : Music : Hymns : Authors and Composers

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Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Felix German : Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Felix
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