Mendelssohn

An 1884 biography of one of music's most prodigious talents, whose work remains a staple of the concert hall today.

William Smith Rockstro (Author)

9781108061186, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 26 September 2013

158 pages
21.6 x 14 x 0.9 cm, 0.21 kg

The composer, virtuoso pianist and conductor Felix Mendelssohn (1809–47) was lionised by the music-loving public during his lifetime, and his music is still greatly admired today. A versatile child prodigy, he wrote music for A Midsummer Night's Dream while he was still a teenager. Masterpieces such as the octet for strings, the 'Italian' symphony, the violin concerto and his great oratorio Elijah followed. His extraordinary ability was such that he was made an honorary member of the Philharmonic Society in 1829 at the age of only twenty during the first of his ten visits to Britain. A great advocate of Johann Sebastian Bach, Mendelssohn did much to reawaken interest in his music. This eminently readable short biography by the composer William Smith Rockstro (1823–95) was first published in 1884 as part of Francis Hueffer's 'Great Musicians' series. A list of Mendelssohn's works is included as an appendix.

1. The founder of the family
2. The removal to Berlin
3. Felix's childhood
4. Early efforts
5. The garden house
6. The first visit to England
7. The journey to Italy
8. At Düsseldorf
9. At the Gewandhaus
10. The wedding
11. In London and Leipzig
12. Difficulties at Berlin
13. At Buckingham Palace
14. Concerning the Conservatorium
15. The Philharmonic concerts
16. Personal reminiscences
17. Concerning the management of the Conservatorium
18. The last season at the Gewandhaus
19. Elijah
20. The end
21. Mendelssohn's position in art
Complete catalogue of Mendelssohn's works.

Subject Areas: Classical music [c 1750 to c 1830 AVGC4]