Felix Mendelssohn

Romantic · 1809–1847

Few composers started faster than Felix Mendelssohn. Born in Hamburg in 1809 into a cultured banking family, a grandson of the philosopher Moses Mendelssohn, he wrote the String Octet at sixteen and the overture to A Midsummer Night's Dream at seventeen, and neither sounds remotely like student work.

As an adult he became one of Europe's busiest musicians: conductor of the Gewandhaus Orchestra in Leipzig, founder of the Leipzig Conservatory, favorite guest of Queen Victoria. At twenty he conducted a revival of Bach's St Matthew Passion that helped bring Bach's big choral works back into concert life after decades of neglect. He worked at a punishing pace and died at 38, a few months after his sister Fanny, herself a gifted composer.

Start with the Italian Symphony, then the Octet he wrote at sixteen.

267 works in the catalog, across 5 genres. Log what you listen to with Opus, the classical music journal for iPhone.

Chamber

Piano Trio no. 1 in D minor, op. 49
String Octet in E flat major, op. 20
String Quartet no. 2 in A minor, op. 13
String Quartet no. 6 in F minor, op. 80
String Quintet no. 2 in B flat major, op. 87
4 Pieces for String Quartet, op. 81
12 Fugues for String Quartet
Allegro for Violin and Piano in C
Andante for Violin and Piano in D minor
Assai tranquillo, for cello and piano
Capriccio for String Quartet in E minor, op. 81, no. 3
Cello Sonata no. 1, op. 45
Cello Sonata no. 2, op. 58
Clarinet Sonata in E flat major
Concert Piece for Clarinet, Basset Horn and Piano no. 1 in F major, op. 113
Concert Piece in D minor for Clarinet, Bassoon, and Piano, op. 114
Contemplation: Romance sans parole, for flute and piano
Flute Sonata in F
Fugue for Violin and Piano in C minor
Fugue for Violin and Piano in D minor
Lied ohne Worte, for cello and piano, op. 109
Movement for Violin and Piano in G minor
Piano Quartet no. 1 in C minor, op. 1
Piano Quartet no. 2 in F minor, op. 2
Piano Quartet no. 3 in B minor, op. 3
Piano Trio no. 2 in C minor, op. 66
Sextet for Violin, 2 Violas, Cello, Double Bass and Piano in D major, op. 110
Sonata in D major, for 2 Pianos
Sonata Movement in G minor, for 2 pianos
String Quartet in E flat major, op. posth.
String Quartet no. 1 in E flat major, op. 12
String Quartet no. 3 in D major, op. 44, no. 1
String Quartet no. 4 in E minor, op. 44, no. 2
String Quartet no. 5 in E flat major, op. 44, no. 3
String Quintet no. 1 in A major, op. 18
Variations and Scherzo
Variations concertantes, for cello and piano, op. 17
Viola Sonata in C minor
Violin Concerto
Violin Sonata in E minor
Violin Sonata in F
Violin Sonata in F
Violin Sonata in F
Violin Sonata in F major, MWVQ26
Violin Sonata in F minor, op. 4

Keyboard

Andante and Rondo capriccioso
Songs without Words, Book 5, op. 62
2 Klavierstücke
2 Pieces
3 Caprices, op. 33
3 Etudes, op. 104b
3 Fantasias or Caprices, op. 16
3 Fantasies or Caprices, op. 16
3 Little Pieces
3 Preludes and Fugues, op. 37
3 Preludes for piano, op. 104a
4 Little Pieces for Organ
5 Little Pieces
6 Children's Songs, op. 72, "Christmas Songs"
6 Organ Sonatas, op. 65
6 Preludes and Fugues, op. 35
7 Character Pieces, op. 7
Adagio and Presto agitato in B flat minor
Albumblatt in A
Albumblatt in E minor, op. 117
Allegretto in A
Allegro, Chorale, and Fugue in D
Allegro brillant in A major, for piano 4-hands, op. 92
Allegro in B flat major
Allegro maestoso in C
Andante alla marcia in B flat major
Andante cantabile and Presto agitato in B
Andante con moto in G minor
Andante in A
Andante in D
Andante in D major, MWV W32
Andante in F
Andante in G minor
Andante sostenuto in D
Capriccio in E flat major/Eb-
Capriccio in E major, op. 118
Capriccio in F sharp minor, op. 5
Chorale in A flat major
Chorale in D
Etude in F minor
Fantasia in C minor and D major
Fantasy in F sharp minor, op. 28, "Scottish Sonata"
Fantasy on The Last Rose of Summer' in E major, op. 15
Fughetta in A
Fughetta in D
Fugue in A
Fugue in B flat major
Fugue in C
Fugue in E minor
Fugue in F minor
Gondollied in A, "Barcarole"
Kleines Lied in A
Lied in A
Lied ohne Worte in E flat major
Lied ohne Worte in F sharp minor
March in C
Nachspiel in D
Ostinato in C minor
Passacaglia in C minor
Perpetuum Mobile in C major, op. 119
Piano Sonata in B flat major, op. 106
Piano Sonata in E major, op. 6
Piano Sonata in G minor, op. 105
Piano Sonatina in E
Praeludium in C minor
Prelude and Fugue in E minor
Prelude in C minor
Rondo capriccioso in E major, op. 14
Scherzo and capriccio in F sharp minor
Scherzo in B minor
Scherzo in E minor, op. 16, no. 2
Song in E flat major
Songs without Words, Book 1, op. 19b
Songs without Words, Book 2, op. 30
Songs without Words, Book 3, op. 38
Songs without Words, Book 4, op. 53
Songs without Words, Book 6, op. 67
Songs without Words, Book 7, op. 85
Songs without Words, Book 8, op. 102
Song without Words in D minor, "Reiterlied"
Song without Words in F
Theme with variaitons in D
Trauermarsch in A minor, op. 103
Variations brillantes on march from C.M. von Weber's Preciosa, for piano
Variations in B flat major, for piano 4-hands, op. 83a
Variations in B flat major, op. 83
Variations in E flat major, op. 82
Variations sérieuses in D minor, op. 54
Wie die Zeit läuft!, for piano
Wie gross ist des Allmacht'gen Gute

Orchestral

A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 61
Piano Concerto no. 1 in G minor, op. 25
Symphony no. 3 in A minor, op. 56, "Scottish"
Symphony no. 4 in A, op. 90, "Italian"
Symphony no. 5 in D minor, op. 107, "Reformation"
The Hebrides: Overture in B minor, op. 26, "Fingal's Cave"
Violin Concerto in E minor, op. 64
Antigone, incidental music, op. 55
Athalie, op. 74 Incidental music
Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage, overture in D major, op. 27
Capriccio brillant for Piano and Orchestra in B minor, op. 22
Concerto for 2 Pianos and Orchestra in A flat major
Concerto for 2 Pianos and Orchestra in E
Concerto for Piano, Violin, and String Orchestra in D minor
March in D, op. 108, "Cornelius"
Meerestille und glückliche Fahrt, op. 27
Oedipus in Kolonos, incidental music, op. 93
Overture for Wind Instruments in C, op. 24, "Harmoniemusik"
Overture in C, op. 101, "Trumpet"
Overture in E, op. 32, "Fair Melusina"
Piano Concerto in A minor
Piano Concerto in E minor
Piano Concerto no. 2 in D minor, op. 40
Rondo brillant, for piano and orchestra in E flat major, op. 29
Ruy Blas, overture in C minor, op. 95
Serenade and Allegro giocoso, for Piano and Orchestra in B minor, op. 43
Sinfonia no. 1 in C major, for string orchestra
Sinfonia no. 2 in D major, for string orchestra
Sinfonia no. 3 in E minor, for string orchestra
Sinfonia no. 4 in C minor, for string orchestra
Sinfonia no. 5 in B flat major, for string orchestra
Sinfonia no. 6 in E flat major, for string orchestra
Sinfonia no. 7 in D minor, for string orchestra
Sinfonia no. 8 in D major, for string orchestra
Sinfonia no. 9 in C, for string orchestra, "Swiss"
Sinfonia no. 10 in B minor, for string orchestra
Sinfonia no. 11 in F major, for string orchestra
Sinfonia no. 12 in G minor, for string orchestra
Sinfonia no. 13 in C minor, for string orchestra
Symphonic Movement in C minor
Symphony no. 1 in C minor, op. 11
Symphony no. 2 in B flat major, op. 52, "Lobgesang"
Violin Concerto in D minor

Stage

Die beiden Neffen oder Der Onkel aus Boston Opera
Die Hochzeit des Camacho, op. 10 Opera

Vocal

Elijah, op. 70 Oratorio
2 Geistliche Lieder, op. 112
2 Romances
2 Sacred Choruses, for male chorus, op. 115
2 Songs
3 Folksongs
3 Motets, for female chorus, op. 39
3 Motets, for soloists and chorus, op. 69, "English Church Pieces"
3 Psalms, for soloists and double chorus, op. 78
3 Sacred Pieces, for soloists, chorus and organ, op. 23
3 Songs, op. 77
3 Songs, op. 84
4 Lieder, for male chorus, op. 75
6 Anthems for double chorus, op. 79
6 Duets, op. 63
6 Lieder, for chorus, op. 41
6 Lieder, for chorus, op. 48
6 Lieder, for chorus, op. 59
6 Lieder, for chorus, op. 88
6 Lieder, for male chorus, op. 50
6 Songs, op. 19a
6 Songs, op. 34
6 Songs, op. 47
6 Songs, op. 57
6 Songs, op. 71
6 Songs, op. 86
6 Songs, op. 99
12 Songs, op. 8
12 Songs, op. 9
Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh' darein, chorale cantata for soloists, chorus, and orchestra
An die Künstler, festival song for male chorus and brass, op. 68
Ave maris stella
Cantique pour l'Eglise wallonne de Francfort, for 4 voices
Christe, du Lamm Gottes, chorale cantata for chorus and orchestra
Christus, op. 97
Des Mädchens Klage
Die deutsche Liturgie, for double chorus
Die Erste Walpurgisnacht, cantata for chorus and orchestra, op. 60
Ehre sei Gott in der Hohe, for double chorus
Ersatz für Unbestand, song for male voices, "Lieblich mundet der Becher Wein"
Festgesang for the Gutenberg Festival
Geistliches Lied, for voice, chorus and organ in E flat major
Gloria in E flat major for soloists, chorus and orchestra
Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
Hear my Prayer, hymn for soprano, chorus, and organ
Heilig, Heilig ist Gott, der Herr Zebaoth, for double chorus
Heimkehr aus der Fremde, op. 89, MWV L6
Herr Gott, dich loben wir, for soloists, double chorus, 4 trombones, strings and organ
Hora est in G minor/A, for 16 voices and organ
Hymn for alto, chorus and orchestra or organ, op. 96
Hör mein Bitten
Im Süden, song for male chorus, op. 120, no. 3, "Süsse Düfte, milde Lüfte"
Infelice, concert aria for soprano and orchestra, op. 94
Jagdlied, song for male chorus, op. 120, no. 1, "Auf, ihr Herrn und Damen schön!"
Jesu, meine Freude, chorale cantata for chorus and strings
Jube Domine, for soloists and double chorus in C
Kyrie, for soloists and double chorus
Lauda Sion, for soloists, chorus, and orchestra, op. 73
Lob der Trunkenheit, song for male chorus, "Trunken müssen wir alle sein"
Lord! my heart's devotion raises, for voice, chorus and organ
Magnificat in D major, for soloists, chorus and orchestra
Nachtgesang, song for male chorus, "Schlummernd an des Vaters Brust"
O beata et benedicta, for 3 sopranos and organ, "Zum Feste der Dreieinigkeit"
O Haupt Voll Blut und Wunden, chorale cantata for voice, chorus, and orchestra in C minor
Paulus, op. 36 Oratorio
Psalm 5, for chorus, "Lord hear the voice"
Psalm 31, for chorus, "Defend me, Lord"
Psalm 42,, for chorus, soloists, and orchestra, op. 42, "Wie der Hirsch schreit"
Psalm 91, motet for double chorus, "Denn er hat seinen Engeln befohlen über dir"
Psalm 95, for tenor, chorus and orchestra, op. 46, "Come, let us sing"
Psalm 98, for soloists, chorus, orchestra and organ in D major, op. 91, "Sing to the Lord"
Psalm 100, for chorus, "Jauchzet dem Herrn, Alle Welt"
Psalm 114, for double chorus and orchestra, op. 51, "When Israel out of Egypt came"
Psalm 115, for soloists, chorus and orchestra, op. 31, "Non Nobis, Domine"
Psalm Melodies and Harmonizations for chorus
Responsorium et Hymnus, for male chorus, cello, double bass and organ or orchestra, op. 121
Salve Regina, for soprano and strings
Te Deum for soloists, chorus and organ
Trauer-Gesang, song for chorus, op. 116, "Sahst du ihn hernieder schweben"
Tu es Petrus, for 5 voices and orchestra, op. 111
Verleih' uns Frieden in E flat major, prayer for chorus and organ
Vom himmel hoch
Weib gesang zur Trauerfeier von Goethe, MWVG9
Weihnachtslied, song for voice and piano, "Auf schicke dich recht feierlich"
Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten, chorale cantata for soloist, chorus, and strings in A minor
Wir glauben all' an einen Gott, chorale cantata for chorus and orchestra
Zigeunerlied, song for male chorus, op. 120, no. 4, "Im Nebelgeriesel"

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