Letters Of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy

Reprint of the original, first published in 1863.

Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel (1805-47), pianist and composer, maintained a prolific and witty correspondence with her younger brother Felix over the course of approximately 25 years, which is here presented in English translation, with the original German for reference. As the leader of a vibrant salon, Hensel deploys her critical prowess to describe Berlin musical life, including its conservative institutions and personalities, as well as to evaluate Felix's works-in-progress in detail. We also learn about Hensel's own compositions, her attitudes toward herself as a composer, and the significance of Felix's views on the formation of those attitudes. Hensel's letters provide a fascinating glimpse into the problems and challenges facing gifted women musicians in the nineteenth century. The 150 letters are drawn from the Green Books collection of letters addressed to Felix Mendelssohn, in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. Reviews-These letters reveal Fanny Mendelssohn to be a thoroughly fascinating individual, one whose special relationship to Felix would be enough to guarantee the interest of the documents. But we soon become engrossed with Fanny herself, as composer, as critic, as musical commentator and figure in the musical life of Berlin. To watch this world through her eyes is to watch it come alive through the wisdom, wit, and grace of a remarkable person. Citron has a gift for rendering the substance and spirit of these letters into charming and effective English prose that preserves something of the formality of nineteenth-century discourse together with the passion and spirit of Fanny Mendelssohn. Philip Gossett ...reading this volume is a pleasure, not just a musicological duty. Clifford Bartlettthe volume contains penetrating and highly scholarly critical commentaries and is a valuable addition to mendelssohniana. J.R. Belanger, Choice, April 1988

Selected letters by the nineteenth century German composer to his family, friends, and colleagues help document the developing concerns of his life.

'Letters of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy from Italy and Switzerland' is a collection of letters written by the famed German composer during a pivotal time in his life. At just twenty-one years old, Mendelssohn embarked on a journey through Italy, Switzerland, and France that would shape his musical career. These letters offer a glimpse into the personal thoughts and experiences of Mendelssohn as he writes to his family and friends. For those who want to understand Mendelssohn as a person, not just as a musician, these letters provide invaluable insights into his character and his artistic sensibilities. This collection is a must-read for any fan of classical music and those interested in the life of one of the greatest composers of the Romantic period.