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Mendelssohn - Piano Music

As a child, Felix Mendelssohn (1809—1847) was the sort of musical prodigy whose stature could rival that of Mozart fifty years earlier.
Growing up in a distinguished Berlin family of intellectuals and bankers, he spent some time at the University of Berlin, but most of his education was received through family travel and through eminent visitors to the parents’ salon: early influences included the poetry of Goethe, whom he knew from 1821, and the Schlegel translations of Shakespeare. His musical style, fully developed before he was 20, drew upon a variety of influences, including the complex chromatic counterpoint of Bach, the clarity and gracefulness of Mozart and the dramatic power of Beethoven. Mendelssohn was one of the foremost champions of Bach’s music in th 19th century: his 1829 performance of the St. Matthew Passion at the Berlin Singakademie became legendary.
After holding the position as music director in Düsseldorf for two years, Mendelssohn moved to Leipzig in 1835, where he became music director of the Gewandhaus Orchestra, a post that he held until his death.
His marriage to Cécile Jeanrenaud in 1838 seems to have been very happy and calm to a degree that one would not expect from a romantic composer.
Throughout the rest of his life he stood at the forefront of German music, in great demand as a conductor, pianist, organist and composer. He was intermittently employed by the king as a composer and choirmaster in Berlin, and internationally sought after as a festival organiser. In Leipzig he established a new conservatory, which still bears his name.
Mendelssohn suffered from bad health in the final years of his life, and he was greatly distressed by the death in May 1847 of his sister Fanny. His own death later that same year after a series of strokes, was announced in The Musical World as the "eclipse of music."

Major works:
Orchestral: 5 symphonies (incl. no 3 "Scottish", and no 4 "Italian"), incidental music for A Midsummer Night´s Dream, concert overtures incl. A Midsummer Night´s Dream and The Hebrides, Violin Concerto in E minor, two piano concertos.
Vocal: The oratorios Elijah and St Paul, and a large quantity of other sacred and secular choral songs (incl. Hear my Prayer and Hark the herald angels sing), as well as solo songs with piano.
Chamber: Octet, two string quintets and six string quartets, two piano trios, two cello sonatas, Variations Concertantes for cello and piano
Piano: 8 albums of Lieder ohne Worte (Songs without Words)

Quotes:
Hector Berlioz about Mendelssohn: "There is one god – Bach – and Mendelssohn is his prophet."

Piano Sheet music by Felix Mendelssohn to Download

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Total pieces by Mendelssohn: 102

Collections - Mendelssohn
Mendelssohn - Concertos (2 pieces)
Mendelssohn - Seven Characteristic Pieces (7 pieces)
Mendelssohn - Six Pieces (6 pieces)
Mendelssohn - Six Pieces for Children (6 pieces)
Mendelssohn - Six Preludes and Fugues (6 pieces)
Mendelssohn - Songs Without Words (48 pieces)
Mendelssohn - Three Caprices (3 pieces)
Mendelssohn - Three Fantasies or Caprices (3 pieces)
Mendelssohn - Two Pieces (2 pieces)

Title	Key	Published	Type	Level
Andante cantabile e Presto agitato	B Major	1838	Piece	8+
Etude	F Minor	1836	Study	8+
Gondola Song	A Major	1837	Piece	7
Prelude & Fugue	E Minor	1841	Piece	7
Scherzo	B Minor	-	Piece	8+
Scherzo a Capriccio	F-sharp Minor	-	Piece	8+
Capriccio - op 5	F-sharp Minor	1825	Piece	8+
Sonata - op 6	E Major	1826	Sonata	8+
Rondo Capriccioso - op 14	E Major	1824	Piece	8+
Fantasy on The last Rose of Summer - op 15	E Major	-	Piece	7
Fantasy - op 28	F-sharp Minor	1833	Piece	8+
Variations Sérieuses - op 54	D Minor	1841	Variations	8+
Variations - op 82	E-flat Major	1841	Variations	8+
Variations - op 83	B-flat Major	-	Variations	8+
Sonata - op 105	G Minor	1821	Sonata	8+
Sonata - op 106	B-flat Major	1827	Sonata	8+
Album Leaf - op 117	E Minor	-	Piece	7
Capriccio - op 118	E Major	1837	Piece	8
Perpetuum Mobile - op 119	C Major	1837	Piece	8+

Posts in the piano forum about Mendelssohn:

All Mendelssohn Recital Program, ideas sought
March 03, 2007, 07:10:39 AM by iumonito

Hi all,

I got a little Mendelssohn fever and I am toying with the idea of doing a Mendelssohn program after I complete my current project (Mozart 330, 331 and 332). Here is what I have in mind so far:

Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso Op. 14 (E Major/E Minor)
Song without words Op. 19 No. 3 (A Major)
Song without words Op. 30 No. 6 (F Sharp Minor - One of the Venetian Gondola Songs)
Song without words Op. 102 No. 5 (A major)
Song without words Op. 62 No. 6 (A Major - Spring Song)
Song without words Op. 67 N. 2 (F Sharp Minor)
Song without words Op. 67 N. 4 (C Major - Spinning Song)
Song without words Op. 62 No. 1 (G Major)
Variations Sérieuses Op. 54 (D Minor)

Plus a secret encore or two, from Mendelssohn's transcriptions (Thal? Special suggestions there?)

I think that's about one hour of music, but I have not timed it. No intermission, of course (It would totally break the atmosphere).

I know the first thought is that this is a lot of Mendelssohn, but think of it for a few moments before you toss it off. I think it flows pretty nicely (but then, I think multi composer programs are like having Indian, Chinese and Italian all in the same meal!)

What do you think? You may need to go grab that song without words book to figure out what we are talking about. I personally don't know them that well by number or anything, but they are so gorgeous!