Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (1809-1847), German composer, was a piano prodigy. He began to perform in public at the age of 9, and composed music for "Psalm 19" at the age of 10 , completed the overture to "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at the age of 17. From 1826 to 1829, he conducted the "Matthew Passion" for the first time after Bach's death, causing a sensation and becoming a famous conductor. He composed several important works such as "Fingal's Cave", "Piano Concerto No. 1", "Songs without Words", "Italian Symphony" and "Scottish Symphony". In 1843, he founded the New Conservatory of Music in Leipzig and served as its director. Mendelssohn is the most perfect master of musical form after Mozart. Classical traditions and romantic interests are perfectly combined in his works, giving them a poetic elegance. He is good at incorporating beautiful melodies into formal classical forms. He is not only a poet who passionately praises nature, but also a landscape painter who is good at using ethereal brushes. His music is called "descriptive romanticism".
Song of Spring is selected from Mendelssohn's piano solo collection "Songs Without Words" (Opus No. 62), in A major, in 4/4 time. This piece is the most famous of all the "songs without words" written by Mendelssohn. It is not only used for piano solo, but has also been adapted into orchestral music and solo pieces for violin and other instruments and is widely circulated. It is loved by people all over the world. . "Song without words", also known as "song without words", is a small instrumental music genre pioneered by Mendelssohn. Most of it consists of song-like melody and simple accompaniment. This method is to make the melody fully exposed under the accompaniment of a certain sound pattern. Moreover, the melody of a song without words does not necessarily have to be limited to a certain range like a song, but can be slightly wider. Mendelssohn composed a total of forty-nine wordless songs throughout his life, which were composed approximately between 1830 and 1845 and published in eight volumes. This wordless song titled "Song of Spring" has a romantic melody as gentle as flowing water, immersing the listener in a happy atmosphere. Although the form of the music is simple, it uses decorative sounds very skillfully, thereby using the piano to create unprecedented beautiful effects. From this, we have to admire Mendelssohn's genius. The relationship between accompaniment and pedal also shows the characteristics of piano music in the Romantic era.
Venice Barcarolle (Song 2), Mendelssohn’s "Opus 30" are all in the genre of piano sketches "Songs without Words", among which the sixth song in the second set is commonly known as "Songs without Words" Venetian Barcarolle No. 2, this song is the most familiar to everyone. The music is in the key of F sharp minor, in 6/8 time. The beautiful cantabile-like melody plays out against the comfortable accompaniment, and like all other "Venetian Barcarolles", it has a slightly sad mood. The fine wave-like vibrato present in the middle and rear sections is impressive.
"Fingal's Cave" by the German composer Mendelssohn
"Fingal's Cave" (also known as "Hebride Islands") is a work by the German composer Mendelssohn A more representative concert overture. This song was composed in 1829. In this year, Mendelssohn and his friends crossed the sea to Scotland and visited the Hebride Islands on the west coast. There are many beautiful and charming caves on the Hebride Islands, the most famous of which is Fingal's Cave in the islands, named after the Scottish national hero. When the tide flows in and out of the cave and the waves hit the stone pillars in the cave, Fingal Cave will make a loud and sweet sound that can be heard for miles. Therefore, it is also known as the "Cave of Music". Impressed by the magical scenery of Fingal Cave, Mendelssohn began writing immediately after returning from his visit, and finally completed it in 1832. Once performed, this overture became famous and was praised by colleagues. After listening to this overture, the German composer Wagner called Mendelssohn "a first-rate landscape painter." Brahms also lamented: "If I could write an overture like Mendelssohn's, I would be willing to use all my works to offset it."
"Fingal's Cave" adopts sonata form in structure. As soon as the music begins, the first theme of the presentation is presented.
It is played by viola, cello and bassoon, depicting the scene of waves crashing on the broken rock cliffs: Then, the second theme also played. It is played by the bassoon and cello, beautiful and unrestrained. This is the composer's eulogy of this natural beauty: the music continues to progress and develop, and the endless melody is like the waves of waves and the sunshine. Under the sparkling sea...the tide is rising! Suddenly, strong winds blew on the sea and huge waves were set off. The waves crashed together and broke into countless waves. The end of the presentation shows us this extremely spectacular scene.
In the expansion part, the music returns to the scene at the beginning of the overture - the waves once again make a uniform lapping sound. Soon, the waves rolled again, and from here we heard the echoes of heroic legends and saw the roaring storm: in the recapitulation, the music regained calm after experiencing tranquil moods and high-spirited enthusiasm. . Finally, the whole song ends with the soft sound of the clarinet.
Mendelssohn's overture describes the landscape of seagulls flying, Fingal's Cave facing the sea, and the impact of the waves. Wagner once called Mendelssohn "the first-rate landscape painter" regarding this piece. The overture is Allegro Moderate, in B minor. The first theme, representing rippling waves, appears first as a weak bass and then expands. The second theme is then expressed by the woodwinds, and its climax is reminiscent of strong winds and cold caves. After calming down, the third theme in D major is performed by bassoon and cello, giving the feeling of the warm and bright sea under the sun. After reaching the climax, the first and third themes are reproduced, and the ending unfolds vividly, still focusing on the first theme, ending powerfully.
Available versions of this overture:
1. Karajan conducted the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in 1987, DG, CD No. 449 743-2. This album also has Mendelssohn’s Third and Fourth Symphonies, which received three stars from the Penguin review.
2. Abbado conducted the London Symphony Orchestra version in 1985. DG, CD No. 423 104-2. Album of Mendelssohn's Overtures, which also includes selections from "A Midsummer Night's Dream", "Ruy Blas" Overture, "Calm Sea and Happy Voyage", "Beautiful Melusina" ", "Penguin" reviews three stars.
3. Colin Davis conducted the BBC Symphony Orchestra version in 1970, Philips, CD No. 442 302-2, cheap small double. These two records also include Mendelssohn's "Violin Concerto" (Accardo/Dutoit conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra), "Fourth Symphony", "A Midsummer Night's Dream" selections, "Louy... Brass" Overture, "Rondo Capriccio" and "Songs Without Words" selections (Haas Piano), "Penguin" reviewed three stars but retained one.
4． Philharmonic Orchestra version conducted by Weller, Chandos, 1993 edition. CD number CHAN9099. This album also has Mendelssohn's Symphonies No. 1 and 5, which "Penguin" rated three stars.
Historical recordings of this overture are available:
1. Furtw?ngler conducted the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra version in 1930, collected in KOCH. CD number 37073-2 (2 pieces).
2. Beecham conducting the London Philharmonic Orchestra in 1938, included in DUTT, CD number CDLX001.