Mendelssohn and His World (The Bard Music Festival (30))

During the 1830s and 1840s the remarkably versatile composer-pianist-organist-conductor Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy stood at the forefront of German and English musical life. Bringing together previously unpublished essays by historians and musicologists, reflections on Mendelssohn written by his contemporaries, the composer's own letters, and early critical reviews of his music, this volume explores various facets of Mendelssohn's music, his social and intellectual circles, and his career. The essays in Part I cover the nature of a Jewish identity in Mendelssohn's music (Leon Botstein); his relationship to the Berlin Singakademie (William A. Little); the role of his sister Fanny Hensel, herself a child prodigy and accomplished composer (Nancy Reich); Mendelssohn's compositional craft in the Italian Symphony and selected concert overtures (Claudio Spies); his oratorio Elijah (Martin Staehelin); his incidental music to Sophocles' Antigone (Michael P. Steinberg); his anthem "Why, O Lord, delay forever?" (David Brodbeck); and an unfinished piano sonata (R. Larry Todd). Part II presents little-known memoirs by such contemporaries as J. C. Lobe, A. B. Marx, Julius Schubring, C. E. Horsley, Max Mller, and Betty Pistor. Mendelssohn's letters are represented in Part III by his correspondence with Wilhelm von Boguslawski and Aloys Fuchs, here translated for the first time. Part IV contains late nineteenth-century critical reviews by Heinrich Heine, Franz Brendel, Friedrich Niecks, Otto Jahn, and Hans von Blow. Bringing Together Previously Unpublished Essays By Historians And Musicologists, Reflections On Mendelssohn Written By His Contemporaries, The Composer's Own Letters, And Early Critical Reviews Of His Music, This Volume Explores Various Facets Of Mendelssohn's Music, His Social And Intellectual Circles, And His Career. The Essays In Part I Cover The Nature Of A Jewish Identity In Mendelssohn's Music; His Relationship To The Berlin Singakademie; The Role Of His Sister Fanny Hensel, Herself A Child Prodigy And Accomplished Composer; Mendelssohn's Compositional Craft In The Italian Symphony And Selected Concert Overtures; His Oratorio Elijah; His Incidental Music To Sophocles' Antigone; His Anthem Why, O Lord, Delay Forever?; And An Unfinished Piano Sonata. Part Ii Presents Little-known Memoirs By Such Contemporaries As J.c. Lobe, A.b. Marx, Julius Schubring, C.e. Horsley, Max Mller, And Betty Pistor. Mendelssohn's Letters Are Represented In Part Iii By His Correspondence With Wilhelm Von Boguslawski And Aloys Fuchs, Here Translated For The First Time. Part Iv Contains Late Nineteenth-century Critical Reviews By Heinrich Heine, Franz Brendel, Friedrich Niecks, Otto Jahn, And Hans Von Blow. --from Publisher's Description. The Aesthetics Of Assimilation And Affirmation : Reconstructing The Career Of Felix Mendelssohn / Leon Botstein -- Some Notes On An Anthem By Mendelssohn / David Brodbeck -- Mendelssohn And The Berlin Singakademie : The Composer At Crossroads / Wm. A. Little -- The Power Of Class : Fanny Hensel / Nancy B. Reich -- Samplings / Claudio Spies -- Elijah, Johann Sebastian Bach, And The New Covenant : On The Aria Es Ist Genug In Felix Mendelssohn-bartholdy's Oratorio Elijah / Martin Staehelin ; Transl. By Susan Gillespie -- The Incidental Politics To Mendelssohn's Antigone / Michael P. Steinberg -- The Unfinished Mendelssohn / R. Larry Todd -- Conversations With Felix Mendelssohn / Johann Christian Lobe ; Transl. By Susan Gillespie -- From The Memoirs Of Adolf Bernhard Marx / Transl. By Susan Gillespie -- Reminiscences Of Felix Mendelssohn-bartholdy / Julius Schubring -- Reminiscences Of Felix Mendelssohn By His English Pupil / Charles Edward Horsley -- From The Memoirs Of F. Max Müller -- From The Memoirs Of Ernst Rudorff / Transl. And Annotated By Nancy B. Reich. Letters From Felix Mendelssohn-bartholdy To Aloys Fuchs / Eduard Hanslick ; Transl. By Susan Gillespie -- Mendelssohn As Teacher, With Previously Unpublished Letters From Mendelssohn To Wilhelm V. Boguslawski / Bruno Hake ; Transl. By Susan Gillespie -- Robert Schumann With Reference To Mendelssohn-bartholdy And The Development Of Modern Music In General / Franz Brendel ; Transl. By Susan Gillespie -- Heinrich Heine On Mendelssohn / Selected And Introduced By Leon Botstein ; Transl. By Susan Gillespie -- On F. Mendelssohn-bartholdy's Oratorio Elijah / Otto Jahn ; Transl. By Susan Gillespie -- On Mendelssohn And Some Of His Contemporary Critics / Friedrich Niecks -- Felix Mendelssohn / Hans Von Bülow ; Transl. By Susan Gillespie. Edited By R. Larry Todd. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Bringing together previously unpublished essays by historians and musicologists, reflections on Mendelssohn written by his contemporaries, the composer's own letters, and early critical reviews of his music, this volume explores various facets of Mendelssohn's music, his social and intellectual circles, and his career. The essays in Part I cover the nature of a Jewish identity in Mendelssohn's music; his relationship to the Berlin Singakademie; the role of his sister Fanny Hensel, herself a child prodigy and accomplished composer; Mendelssohn's compositional craft in the Italian Symphony and selected concert overtures; his oratorio Elijah; his incidental music to Sophocles' Antigone; his anthem "Why, O Lord, delay forever?"; and an unfinished piano sonata. Part II presents little-known memoirs by such contemporaries as J.C. Lobe, A.B. Marx, Julius Schubring, C.E. Horsley, Max Miller, and Betty Pistor. Mendelssohn's letters are represented in Part III by his correspondence with Wilhelm von Boguslawski and Aloys Fuchs, here translated for the first time. Part IV contains late nineteenth-century critical reviews by Heinrich Heine, Franz Brendel, Friedrich Niecks, Otto Jahn, and Hans von Blow. --From publisher's description