Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy

Felix Mendelssohn (Born February 3rd 1809 - Died November 4th 1847)

Felix Mendelssohn was a German composer,pianist and conductor. His full name is Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy.
Felix Mendelssohn was born in Hamburg in 1809. He was born into a wealthy banking family so he lived a life of privilage.
Felix's father was called Abraham and his mother's name was Lea.
The family moved to Berlin were they mixed with the elite and influential.
It was obvious to everyone that Felix was indeed an extraordinarily gifted child. He was a child prodigy. The Mendelssohn children were given the best education that money could buy and they were introduced to music, art and other cultural pursuits at a very early age.
Felix was at first taught piano by his mother Lea.
By the age of eight Felix could play all of Beethoven's symphonies from memory. By age eleven he was writing his own compositions.
Felix was influenced by the poet Goethe with whom he corresponded with from the age of 12.
He also gave recitals at his home and made many friends. By the age of fourteen he knew all of Bach's music. He was very much influenced by Bach's music and was instrumental in its revival.
Mendelssohn's first composition was Octet written in 1825, and a masterpiece for the string quartet. He had only started learning the violin the previous year at the age of 15.
At the age of 17 he wrote the overture for A Midsummer's Night Dream.
Mendelssohn also studied philosophy at the University of Berlin. He travelled throughout England, Scotland and Europe which inspired him to write new works which included:-
The Hebrides - the G minor Piano Concerto
Die erste Walpurgisnacht
The Italian Symphony
Songs Without Words (volume 1)
Mendelssohn was also brilliant at art, literature, languages and philosophy. He was a skilled artist in both pencil and watercolours. As well as his German language he was also fluent in English, Latin and Italian. At the University he studied Aesthetics, History and Geography.
On the 28/3/1937 Felix married Cecile Jeanrenaud and they had 5 children. Carl, Marie, Paul, Lilli and Felix.

Mendelssohn was a conservative musician and disapproved of the more radical music by composers such as Berlioz, Liszt and Meyerbeer.
Richard Wagner was jealous of the success and popularity of Mendelssohn and also disliked him for his Jewish origins, although Mendelssohns family had converted to Lutherism years earlier.
The Nazi regime even banned the sale and performance of Mendelssohns music when they were in power.

In 1835 Mendelssohn became the conductor and music director of the Leipiz Gewandhaus Orchestra.
Mendelssohn was very famous and popular throughout Europe and a great favourite of Queen Victoria. His Scottish symphony was later dedicated to the Queen.
Queen Victoria also requested that a statue of Mendelssohn be included in the rebuilding of the Crystal Palace in 1854.
Emperor Frederick William IV of Prussia asked Mendelssohn to accept the position of Kapellmeister of Berlin. At the age of 32 he accepted but still kept his role of director of the Leipzig.
Mendelssohn kept composing and organising festivals right up to 1846, he worked extremely hard and became exhausted.

Mendelssohn had a brother Paul and two sisters, Fanny and Rebecca.
Fanny was also a pianist and composer, but stayed an amateur as it was considered at the time not proper for a women to be a professsional musician.
Fanny published six works under her brothers name.

In May 1847, Mendelssohn's sister Fanny died. Felix was totally devastated as he adored his sister. Felix died just six months later after suffering several strokes. Felix had been working extremely hard and he became very exhausted which contributed to the decline in his health. He was just 38 years old. Mendelssohn was enormously respected and popular and his death was mourned all over the world.

Mendelssohns many works included:

The Overture for a Midsummer's Nights Dream
The Italian Symphony
Twelve string symphonies
Sonata for Clarinet
String Octet
E Minor Concerto
String Quartet in A Minor
Symphony No. 1 in C Minor
Symphony No. 5 in D Major(Reformation)
To celebrate the 300th anniversary of the Lutheran Church. Mendelssohn was dissatisfied with this work and wouldn't allow it to be published.
Scottish Symphony

Concertos Included:

Violin Concerto in E Minor (Op. 64)
Piano Concerto - Rondo Brilliant Op. 29
Capriccio Brilliant - Op. 22
Serenade und Allegro Giojoso Op. 43
Opp 113 and 114 Konzertstucke for Clarinet, basset horn and piano.

Also Composed:
The Wedding March
The Fair Melusine
Ruy Blas
Lobgesand (Hymn of Praise)
Piano Variations Serieuses Op. 54
Six preludes and fugues Op. 35

Mendelssohn also wrote many other symphonies, concerti, oratorios, piano and chamber music.