Mendelssohn's Songs Without Words

[gkatele]

I had my lesson on Wednesday of last week, and after we got done (working on WTC P&F in C minor BKII and the Brahms Intermezzo Op 118 #2), my teacher reached into her bag and asked, "Ever seen this?"

It was a complete collection of the Mendelssohn Songs without Words.

I sat down this afternoon and started looking at them. They're WONDERFUL! Most are relatively approacable by my meager skills, and they're a blast to sight-read through. In fact, reading through some of the easier ones would be wonderful sight-reading practics (a skill I need to acquire).

If you haven't looked at these gems - seek them out. I'm sure that there are free PDF's out there.

George

[gonzalo]

Hi.... I agree with you. Mendelssohn Songs without Words are really good and worth listening to.
I have been working on some of them too...
If you want to listen to one, you can go to the audition room and look for it.. It is a really good version of the 4th one.

[bernhard]

Right you are: Mendelssohn’s SWW are superb (even though some people criticise them as derivative). Have a look here for more discussion on them:

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,5143.msg49023.html#msg49023
(grades for Mendelssohn’s SWW).

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4371.msg40871.html#msg40871
(Mendelssohn favourites)

And since you are at it, have a look also at Grieg’s “Lyric pieces” which are very similar (and clearly influenced by the SWW):

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,1314.msg14339.html#msg14339
(grades for Grieg’s Lyric pieces)

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[gkatele]

Bernhard,

Thank you for the links.

I find myself frustrated. At this point in my life, I'm finding all this wonderful new music - The SWW that I mentioned, the WTC, Haydn sonatas!

So much music, so little time!

Anyhow, the SWW are wonderful to just sit down and make some music with. I feel I can just "play" a fair number of them - just for the sake of having fun - without having to "learn" them.

I remain grateful.

George

[makala]

I agree also

I've just been recently inspired to start playing again after a 3 year break and have found so many things I want to play but don't have time to sit down and play them all. Also need time to go back and learn my scales again - I seem to have forgotten everything!

I have a copy of Mendelssohn's Song Without Words op19 that was my great-grandmothers. It is beautiful, despite the fact the paper is dark brown now and crumbles and you have to stop and take 2 minutes to turn the page.

Anyone know anywhere on the Internet where I could get a copy so I can stop ruining this poor book?

[superstition2]

I have a cheap disc with Sylvia Capova playing No. 12 in F# minor. It's very nice. I also have a Naxos disc with them all, or many of them, and it's not good.

[gkatele]

Anyone know anywhere on the Internet where I could get a copy so I can stop ruining this poor book?

Er, how about right here! In the sheet music section for PianoStreet Gold Subscribers!

Sheetmusicarchive.com also has a nice selection, but you're limited to 2 downloads per day.


George

[lisztisforkids]

SWW? EUUWWWWWW!!!!!   

[burstroman]

If you want to show your musicality, play the sww, simply, clearly, and with expression.