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celebrating three hundred years of music by women |
Fanny Mendelssohn (1805-1847)
Fanny was Felix's elder sister by four years, and like him was a child prodigy. By 14, Fanny could play all the Preludes of Bach’s Well-Tempered Klavier by memory. Throughout their lives they had an extremely close personal and musical relationship, Felix often depending on Fanny for advice about his works. In 1831 Fanny Hensel revived the family practice of Sonntagsmusiken, Sunday concerts in her home (Leipzigerstrasse, Berlin), during which she premièred her own compositions; these eventually totalled over 250 lieder, 125 piano pieces, a string quartet, an overture, a piano trio and four cantatas; they were presented alongside works by composers including Beethoven, Bach and Mozart. The events were attended by prominent musicians, such as Franz Liszt and Clara Schumann, and important poets and political figures.On their Italian journey, 1839-1840, Fanny and Wilhelm met Charles Gounod, who was very appreciative of Fanny's abilities; his encouragement gave her more confidence. Despite being discouraged by both Felix and her father from publishing her works, she wrote over 400 pieces, in the main piano works and Lieder; a year before her death she decided to accept offers from German publishers. Goethe was not alone in considering her to be just as gifted as her genius brother; she was among the earliest composers to set Goethe's Faust. While people often compare her music with that of Felix, her expression is of an altogether more passionate nature. There is a growing appreciation of her music. Click on these works and books for more details below:
Overture in C, c1830 2 fl, 2 ob, 2 cl, 2 bn; 4 hn, 2 tpt, timps, strings. 10 mins Andante - Allegro di molto - Con fuoco - Piu presto When we gave the UK première of this work in 1994 the London Independent newspaper wrote "Put it down to sibling rivalry, but this week's most exciting premiere, an Overture in C, was by a girl. A taut finely orchestrated structure, brimful of invention, its pacing and harmonic wit showed not just potential but genuine mastery. There were good tunes too. The composer - Fanny Mendelssohn. This overture, for classical orchestra with an extra pair of horns, is an excellent concert opener, and a highly effective concert piece. It is her only known orchestral piece; more's the pity given her strong sense of orchestration. Published by Furore Edition (see below). Back to Contents Quartet for Piano, Violin, Viola & Cello in A flat, 1822 1. Allegro moderato, A flat. 2. Larghetto, E flat. 3. Tempo di Menuetto, A flat. 4. Presto, A flat. 20 mins This is the work of a brilliant seventeen-year-old, showing both compositional abilities and pianistic flair. There is a glittering piano part, which dominates, with attractive writing for the strings. The swaying Larghetto has an elegant, dancing mood. The Menuet and Trio again feature the piano, and the whole is rounded off with a brief and speedy Presto. When we performed this in 1996, one of the players said during rehearsal "this is the kind of piece that gives women's music a bad name." However we worked at it, and after the performance he said "that really had something!" Perseverance paid off. Back to Contents Trio for Piano, Violin & Cello in D minor, Op 11 1. Allegro molto vivace, D min. 2. Andante espressivo, A maj. 3. Lied: Allegretto, D maj. 4. Allegro moderato, D min. 25 mins The Mendelssohn family published this Trio in 1850 after Fanny's death. Given it's quality, it is now becoming better known. The piano part illustrates that she must have been a phenomenal pianist. Every time I relearn it, it's a major task, but worth it because the music is so passionate. Torrents of notes pour from the piano against sonorous string lines. Both the middle movements are very beautiful, while the Finale, starting with a piano cadenza, shows influences from Bach and gypsy music. It is an enthralling work. Here's the opening, by my Ensemble Mendelssohn, from the Romantic women CD in the Ambache Recordings Romantic CD. Back to Contents Adagio for Violin & Piano Adagio, E major. 1823. 5 mins Probably written (when Fanny was 18 years old) for a Sunday Musicale, this 53 bar Adagio is a little musical gem. It is a heartfelt slow movement, with beautiful violin writing and some highly original chromatic piano writing. Published by Furore-Verlag.de (nr 137). Back to Contents Two Pieces for Cello & Piano 1. Fantasia: Andante doloroso - Prestissimo - Poco piu lento - Allegro molto moderato, G minor. 2. Capriccio: Andante - Allegro di molto - Andante, A flat. c1829. 10 mins These pieces were written for her cello-playing brother Paul. Fanny know the Beethoven Cello Sonatas, and used the idea of a work giving equal importance to both players; both take turns with tunes and accompaniment. As usual the music is highly charged, and both parts are challenging. Published by Breitkopf. Back to Contents Das Jahr, 12 Characterstücke für das Forte-Piano, 1841. 1. Januar: Ein Traum. Adagio, quasi una Fantasia - Presto. B major 2. Februar: Scherzo. Presto. F sharp major 3. Marz. Agitato - Andante - Allegro ma con fuoco. F sharp minor 4. April: Capriccioso. Allegretto - Allegro. E major 5. Mai: Fruhlingslied. Allegro vivace e gioioso. A major 6. Juni: Serenade. Largo. D minor 7. Juli: Serenade. Larghetto. F major 8. August: (Fassung II). Allegro - Tempo di Marcia - Allegro assai. D major 9. September: Am Flusse. Andante con moto. B minor 10. Oktober. Allegro con spirito. A flat major 11. November. Mesto - Allegro molto agitato - Allegro molto. F minor 12. December. Allegro molto - Andante. C minor. Das Jahr was the first work in history to depict all twelve months in music. It is also significant as an "a kind of second diary, or pleasant memoir" of Fanny's aesthetic and emotional experiences of her Italian tour 1839-40. This substantial cyle of twelve character pieces is a highly original creation. The pieces are very individual, evocative descriptions of her memories of the events and changing seasons of the tour. Some are technically challenging! It predated Tchaikovsky’s The Seasons by over 30 years. Published by Furore Verlag (nr 138); and IMSLP. See video link above. Op 5, No 4: Allegro appassionato, solo piano piece of 1846, played by Diana Ambache on Youtube. Writings Back to Contents Fanny Mendelssohn by Françoise Tillard This book is the first authoritative biography of Fanny Mendelssohn. It is a vivid portrait of an exceptional artist, who could have held her own among the greatest of her generation had she not been prohibited from venturing into the professional world. It illustrates what a remarkable pianist she was, the importance in the Berlin musical scene of their house concerts, and the encourangement she recieved from her husband the Prussian Court Painter Wilhelm Hensel. It is altogether a fascinating story. Published by Amadeus Press (see below) Back to Contents The Letters of Fanny Hensel to Felix Mendelssohn; Collected, Edited and Translated by Marcia J. Citron. This substantial collection of letters gives rich insight into the exceptional relationship between Fanny and her brother Felix. Not only were they almost inseparable as friends, they also had an extremely close musical relationship, with Felix often relying on Fanny for musical advice. I created a programme depicting their familial and musical relationships by putting readings of some of these letters, with some by Felix, mixed with chamber music by both of them. Published by Pendragon Press (see below). 1987. The Mendelssohn Family 1729-1847, Sebastian Hensel, CUP, 2014. Thematic Index of Compositions, Renate Hellwig-Unruh, Editor. The Letters of Fanny Hensel to Felix Mendelssohn, Marcia J. Citron, Archive. The Roman Holiday of Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel; , Michael Bar-Shany, Frankfurt National Library, 2009. Fanny Mendelssohn, Françoise Tillard, Archive / Amadeus Press; translated Camille Naish. Fanny Mendelssohn, the Other Mendelssohn, R Larry Todd, 2014. Fanny Hensel and Musical Style, R Larry Todd, Chapter 10; pp 217-231. Conversations within Hensel Scholarship, Laura K. T. Stokes, Routledge, 2019. Fanny Hensel's Chorwerke, R Larry Todd, 2009. The Lieder of Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel, M J Citron, The Musical Quarterly, 1983. Oxford Conference marking the 200th anniversary of the birth of Fanny Hensel-Mendelssohn, Susan Wollenberg. Sounds and Sweet Airs, Anna Beer, One World, pp 159-203. A Bicentenial Reflection, Marcia J Citron, 2005. Women and the Nineteenth-Century Lied, Susan Wollenberg & Aisling Kenny. Italienisches tagebuch, Hensel Mendelssohn, Societäts-verlag, in German. Ein Portrait in Breifen, Eva Weissweiler, personal correspondence. Tackling Gender Stereotypes: Fanny Mendelssohn's way to recognition and success, Rossella Marisi. Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel pocket book, Ute Büchter-Römer, German. Liebste Fenchel! Das Leben der Fanny Hensel-Mendelssohn in Etüden und Intermezzi, Peter Härtling; German, 2013. Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel: A Life of Music within Domestic Limits, Eugene Gates, Kapralova Journal, 2007. The "Suppression" of Fanny Mendelssohn: Rethinking Feminist Biography, Marian Wilson Kimber, 2002. The Easter Sonata of Fanny Mendelssohhn (1828), Angela Mace Christian, pp 182-209; Journal of Musicological Research. The Soul of the Journey, the Mendelssohns in Scotland and Italy, Diana Ambache, Birlinn Ltd. Thus far, but no further: Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel's unfinished journey, Sarah Rothenberg, The Musical Quarterly, 1993. Mendelssohn and his world, R Larry Todd. Fanny Hensel, geb. Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Beatrix Borchard, Monika Schwarz-Danuser, Editors; 2002. M Deneke Collection, Bodleian Library; materials related to Fanny; collected by Peter Ward Jones. Nineteenth-Century Choral Music, Donna M di Grazia, 2012; Chapter 9. Fanny Hensel's Piano Works, Kyungju Park Lee, Opp 2, 4, 5, 6; Florida State University dissertation. Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel: Her Contributions to Nineteenth-Century Musical Life, Carol Lynelle Quin, dissertation, 1984, University of Kentucky. Thematisches Verzeichnis der klavierbegleiteten Sololieder Fanny Hensel, Annette Maurer, Furore-verlag.de; 1997. Influence, Individuality and Stylistic Evolution in the Music of Fanny Hensel and Felix Mendelssohn, Hye-Bin Song, Kapralova Society Journal, 2016. Scores The Songs of Fanny Hensel, Stephen Rogers, Editor. 16 Songs Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel, Alfred publishing; Editor John Glenn Paton. Gartenlieder, Op 3, Carus Verlag; 1846. Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel Piano Music, Dover, R Larry Todd, Editor. Easter Sonata, Bärenreiter, authenticated by Angela Mace. Four Pieces for Piano four-hands, Kunzelmann Edition. Five Piano Pieces, Carl Fischer, Musikverlag Robert Lienau. String Quartet; Songs; Piano Pieces; Diary; Choral works; Breitkopf und Härtel. Piano Pieces; Piano Trio; Choral Works; Gartenlieder, Op 3; Hildegard.com. Lieder, Songs, Duets, Aria, Piano pieces, Das Jahr, etc; Furore-Verlag.de. Selected Piano Works, G Henle Verlag, Urtext, 11 previously unpublished pieces. Facsimile of Das Jahr, with Wilhelm Hensel's vignettes, Furore-Verlag.de. Berlin Staatsbibliotek, Fanny Hensel Collection. Recordings Mendelssohn & Mendelssohn (Fanny): String Quartets, Takács Quartet, Hyperion, 2021. Schumann (C) & Mendelssohn (Fanny): Piano Trios & String Quartet, The Nash Ensemble, Hyperion, 2020. Mendelssohn (Fanny) & Schumann (C): Piano Trios, The Dartington Piano Trio, Hyperion, 1989. The Year in Italy, Joanna Strzelecka-Orłowska, Dux, 0803. The Year, Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel, Lauma Skride. Mendelssohn Felix and Fanny, Quartets, Quatuor Ébène, Erato, 2013. Mendelssohn-Hensel, Fanny, Lieder, Vol 2, Dorothea Craxton, Babette Dorn. Mendelssohn-Hensel, Piano Sonatas / Lied / Sonata o Capriccio, Heather Schmidt; Naxos; 2010. Mendelssohn Complete Songs, Vol 3 Champs Hill, the other Mendelssohn 24 songs; Gaspar, Griffiths, Walser, Whateley, Martineau. Fanny Hensel & Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy Chen Reiss, Onyx. Oratorio, Nach Bildern der Bibel, Chandos Records. Hiob, Gartenlieder Op 3, etc, Crouch End Festival Chorus, London Mozart Players. Trio, Quartet, etc, Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective, Chandos, 2022. Fanny Hensel, Piano music, Liana Serbescu, CPO 999015-2. Sonatas, 4 Lieder Op 6. Fantasia, & Capriccio, Johannes Moser, Alasdair Beatson, Pentatone, 2019. O Wie Beseligend, Hänssler Classics, 4 Lieder für das pianoforte Op 2, Ave Maria, Loreley; Christine Shornsheim. Fanny Mendelssohn Piano Music, Martina Frezzotti, includes Das Jahr, Nocturnes, Capriccio. Fanny Mendelssohn 4 Piano Sonatas, Gaia Sokoli. Fanny Mendelsssohn, fortepiano, Els Biesemans, includes Das Jahr, Il Saltarello, Allegro molto, etc. Fanny Mendelssohn Lieder, Lauralyn Kolb, Arlene Shrut; Centaur; Opp 1; 7; 9; 10. Tim Parker-Langston, First Hand Records, 34 Songs by Hensel. Fanny & Felix Mendelssohn Museum, Composers Quarter Hamburg.. Fanny & Felix Mendelssohn Gesellschaft, Hamburg.
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