Great
Classical Music
Composers

Felix MENDELSSOHN

3 February 1809 - 4 November 1847 (age 38)

Portrait by Paul Helm
click on image for more info

Felix Mendelssohn was a German composer, conductor,organist and pianist. One of the most popular composers of the Romantic period. He was also largely responsible for arousing interest in the music of J.S.Bach.

Family

Born: Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy
3 February 1809, Hamburg
Grandfather: Moses Mendelssohn, well known rabbi and Jewish philosopher.
Father: Abraham Mendelssohn, wealthy banker
Mother: Leah Salomon
Siblings: Fanny, Rebecka and Paul
Wife: Cécile Jeanrenaud, daughter of a protestant clergyman
Children: Carl, Marie, Paul, Felix and Lilli.

Works

- 11 Symphonies
- 5 operas
- 1 Violin cocerto
- 2 piano concertos
- choral music and songs
- piano music including 48 'Songs without Words'

Quotes

- "Ever since I began to compose, I have remained true to my starting principle: not to write a page because no matter what public, or what pretty girl wanted it to be thus or thus; but to write solely as I myself thought best, and as it gave me pleasure."

- "People often complain that music is too ambiguous, that what they should think when they hear it is so unclear, whereas everyone understands words. With me, it is exactly the opposite, and not only with regard to an entire speech but also with individual words."

- "Though everything else may appear shallow and repulsive, even the smallest task in music is so absorbing, and carries us so far away from town, country, earth, and all worldly things, that it is truly a blessed gift of God."

- "Life and art are not two different things...."

Felix's facebook

Click on the facebook logo, join the group, share your views and comments with the world!

If you find any other good relative social networking sites please let me know.

Moods of the Sea (Fingal's Cave)

Moods of the Sea is a non-narrative visual(1941) film by Slavko Vorkapich and John Hoffman (1904-1980), set to the music of Felix Mendelssohn known as the Hebrides (or Fingal's Cave) Overture. This 10-minute-long film has become well known as an early example of American avant-garde and independent film.

I love the match of the film to the music. It really does capture the Moods of the Sea.

make custom gifts at Zazzle

Mendelssohn on eBay

You will find lots of Felix related goods on eBay, some new, some used, some common, some rare. Always good for a browse - you never know what you may find!

2010 Great Composers Calendar

My 2010 Great Composers calendar includes 12 composers from my series of classical composer portraits: Mozart, Rossini, Rimsky-Korsakov, Prokofiev, Debussy, Stravinsky, Bach, Bernstein, Bruckner, Mendelssohn, Puccini and Beethoven.

Click on the calendar to see it in detail.

The 2011 Great Composers calendar should be ready in October 2010. If you would like to be informed when it is available let me know.

Links - and where to go for more information

The Mendelssohn Project
www.themendelssohnproject.org/

BBC's composer of the year
www.bbc.co.uk/composers/mendelssohn/

Answers.com
www.answers.com/topic/felix-mendelssohn

Fanny
www.answers.com/topic/fanny-mendelssohn-1

Bio,works,links
www.felixmendelssohn.com/

Classical Net
www.classical.net/music/comp.lst/mendelssohn.php

Mull Festival
www.mullfest.org.uk

- German Composers
Other profiles of German composers here at 52composers.com