Felix Mendelssohn wrote thirteen string symphonies between 1821 and 1823, when he was between 12 and 14 years old. (For his mature symphonies, see
here). These symphonies were tributes to Classical symphonies especially by
Joseph Haydn
Franz Joseph Haydn ( , ; 31 March 173231 May 1809) was an Austrian composer of the Classical period. He was instrumental in the development of chamber music such as the string quartet and piano trio. His contributions to musical form have le ...
,
Johann Christian Bach
Johann Christian Bach (September 5, 1735 – January 1, 1782) was a German composer of the Classical era, the eighteenth child of Johann Sebastian Bach, and the youngest of his eleven sons. After living in Italy for several years, Bach mov ...
,
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (8 March 1714 – 14 December 1788), also formerly spelled Karl Philipp Emmanuel Bach, and commonly abbreviated C. P. E. Bach, was a German Classical period musician and composer, the fifth child and sec ...
, and
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 17565 December 1791), baptised as Joannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period. Despite his short life, his rapid pace of composition r ...
.
Instrumentation
The symphonies are written for a
string orchestra. String Symphony No. 11 also contains percussion (
timpani
Timpani (; ) or kettledrums (also informally called timps) are musical instruments in the percussion family. A type of drum categorised as a hemispherical drum, they consist of a membrane called a head stretched over a large bowl traditiona ...
,
triangle
A triangle is a polygon with three edges and three vertices. It is one of the basic shapes in geometry. A triangle with vertices ''A'', ''B'', and ''C'' is denoted \triangle ABC.
In Euclidean geometry, any three points, when non- colli ...
,
cymbals) in the second
movement. No. 8 exists in two forms: the original for string orchestra, and an
arrangement
In music, an arrangement is a musical adaptation of an existing composition. Differences from the original composition may include reharmonization, melodic paraphrasing, orchestration, or formal development. Arranging differs from orchestr ...
that Mendelssohn wrote that added woodwinds,
brass
Brass is an alloy of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn), in proportions which can be varied to achieve different mechanical, electrical, and chemical properties. It is a substitutional alloy: atoms of the two constituents may replace each other wit ...
, and timpani. The work is scored for two flutes, two
oboe
The oboe ( ) is a type of double reed woodwind instrument. Oboes are usually made of wood, but may also be made of synthetic materials, such as plastic, resin, or hybrid composites. The most common oboe plays in the treble or soprano range.
...
s, two
clarinets, two
bassoons, two
horns, two trumpets, timpani in D and A, and strings. (A typical performance lasts half an hour).
Recording on Allmusic, "Various Artists Mendelssohn: The Masterworks"
/ref>
Structure
Most of the string symphonies were composed in three movements, with the exceptions of nos. 7, 8 and 9, which are in four movements, nos. 10 and 13 which are in one movement, and no. 11 which is in five movements.["Twelve String Symphonies"]
at Hyperion Records
Hyperion Records is an independent British classical record label.
History
Hyperion is an independent British classical label that was established in 1980 with the goal of showcasing recordings of music in all genres and from all time period ...
Symphonies
No. 1 in C major
# Allegro
# Andante
# Allegro
No. 2 in D major
# Allegro
# Andante
# Allegro vivace
No. 3 in E minor
# Allegro di molto
# Andante
# Allegro
No. 4 in C minor
# Grave – Allegro
# Andante
# Allegro vivace
No. 5 in B-flat major
# Allegro vivace
# Andante
# Presto
No. 6 in E-flat major
# Allegro
# Menuetto
# Prestissimo
No. 7 in D minor
# Allegro
# Andante amorevole
# Menuetto
# Allegro molto
No. 8 in D major
# Adagio e grave – Allegro
# Adagio
# Menuetto
# Allegro molto
No. 9 in C major
# Grave – Allegro
# Andante
# Scherzo
# Allegro vivace
No. 10 in B minor
# Adagio – Allegro – Piu presto
No. 11 in F major
# Adagio – Allegro molto
# Scherzo comodo. '
# Adagio
# Menuetto: Allegro moderato
# Allegro molto
No. 12 in G minor
# Fuga: Grave – Allegro
# Andante
# Allegro molto
No. 13 ''Symphoniesatz''
Mendelssohn sketched out a 13th string symphony, called ("symphonic movement"). This Grave – Allegro molto is in C minor.
References
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mendelssohn, Felix
Lists of symphonies by composer
Symphonies for string orchestra
String symphonies
1821 compositions
1822 compositions
1823 compositions