The Cambridge Companion to Mendelssohn (Cambridge Companions to Music)

The Companion to Mendelssohn, is written by leading scholars in the field. In fourteen chapters they explore the life, work, and reception of a composer-performer once thought uniquely untroubled in life and art alike, but who is now broadly understood as one of the nineteenth century's most deeply problematic musical figures. The first section of the volume considers issues of biography, with chapters dedicated to Mendelssohn's role in the emergence of Europe's modern musical institutions, to the persistent tensions of his German-Jewish identity, and to his close but enigmatic relationship with his gifted older sister, Fanny. The following nine essays survey Mendelssohn's expansive and multi-faceted musical output, marked as it was by successes in almost every contemporary musical genre outside of opera. The volume's two closing essays confront, in turn, the turbulent course of Mendelssohn's posthumous reception and some of the challenges his music continues to pose for modern performers. Introduction: Mendelssohn as border-dweller Peter Mercer-Taylor Part I. Issues in Biography: 1. Mendelssohn and the institution(s) of German art music Peter Mercer-Taylor 2. Mendelssohn and Judaism Michael P. Steinberg 3. Felix and Fanny: gender, biography, and history Marian Wilson-Kimber Part II. Situating the Compositions: 4. Mendelssohn and the rise of musical historicism James Garratt 5. Mendelssohn as progressive Greg Vitercik Part III. Profiles of the Music: 6. Symphony and Overture Douglass Seaton 7. The works for solo instrument(s) and orchestra Steve Lindeman 8. Mendelssohn's chamber music Thomas Schmidt-Beste 9. The music for keyboard Glenn Stanley 10. On Mendelssohn's sacred music, real and imaginary R. Larry Todd 11. Mendelssohn's songs Susan Youens 12. Felix Mendelssohn's dramatic compositions: from Liederspiel to Lorelei Monika Hennemann Part IV. Reception and Performance: 13. Mendelssohn received John Michael Cooper 14. Wagner as Mendelssohn: reversing habits and reclaiming meaning in the performance of Mendelssohn's music for orchestra and chorus Leon Botstein. Authored by leading scholars in the field, this collection of fourteen essays surveys the life, work, and posthumous reception of the nineteenth-century German-Jewish composer. Sections cover aspects of biography as well as Felix Mendelssohn's expansive and multi-faceted musical output. Two closing essays confront the turbulent course of his posthumous reception and the challenges his music continues to pose for modern performers. Essays by leading scholars in the field of Mendelssohn studies Though thoroughly scholarly, the volume also provides sufficient background information to be of use to those relatively unfamiliar with Mendelssohn and his work Includes essays focusing on some of the most pressing issues confronting Mendelssohn scholarship This collection of fourteen essays, authored by leading scholars in the field, surveys the life, work, and posthumous reception of nineteenth-century German-Jewish composer Felix Mendelssohn. While engaging with the most up-to-date scholarly literature, each chapter also provides sufficient background information to provide an introduction to Mendelssohn for the virtual newcomer. Edited By Peter Mercer-taylor. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 269-300) And Index.