Romantic · Germany
Mendelssohn's symphonies
A prodigy who wrote his first symphony at 15 and put the scenery of his travels into music
- English name
- Felix Mendelssohn
- Life
- 1809–1847
- Country
- Germany
- Mainly active in
- Berlin · Leipzig (conducting the Gewandhaus)
- Symphony
- 5 symphonies
- In a line
- An early Romantic composer who wrote A Midsummer Night's Dream and Songs Without Words
Fun to know
- He completed his Symphony No. 1 in 1824, at the age of 15
- The "Reformation" Symphony, "No. 5," was written in 1830 but not published until 1868, after his death, which is how it became No. 5
- The finale of No. 5 is based on Luther's chorale "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God"
5 symphonies
- Symphony No. 1C minor · 1824 · about 30 minA fifteen-year-old's first full symphony
- Symphony No. 2, "Hymn of Praise"B-flat major · 1840 · about 65 minA symphony plus chorus celebrating 400 years of printing
- Symphony No. 3, "Scottish"A minor · 1842 · about 40 minA melody from a ruined chapel, 13 years in the making
- Symphony No. 4, "Italian"A major · 1833 · about 30 min"The jolliest piece I have ever done," yet he himself was dissatisfied
- Symphony No. 5, "Reformation"D minor · 1830 · about 30 minToo late for the festival, rejected in Paris, and "No. 5" only after his death
Credits