Mendelssohn · Felix Mendelssohn
Mendelssohn Symphony No. 4 in A major "Italian"
"The jolliest piece I have ever done," yet he himself was dissatisfied
- Key
- A major
- Composed
- 1833
- Premiere
- 1833 London
- Duration
- about 30 min
- Movements
- 4 movements
- Instrumentation
- Woodwinds 2·2·2·2 · Brass 2·2·0·0 · Timpani · Strings
The story behind this piece
Mendelssohn conceived this piece while traveling in Italy in 1830–1831. In a letter from the trip he wrote that it would be "the jolliest piece I have ever done, especially the last movement."
It was a commission from the Philharmonic Society of London that actually got it finished. He completed it in Berlin in March 1833, and conducted the premiere himself in London on May 13 of the same year.
But Mendelssohn himself was not at all happy with it. He rewrote the last three movements in 1834, yet never published it in his lifetime. The score appeared in 1851, after his death, and the version mostly played today is the original 1833 one.
It's also unusual that it begins brightly in A major and ends in A minor. For a large symphony of that time, ending in a minor key was very rare.
What to listen for
- Opening of the first movement: over the winds rapidly hammering out chords, the violins sing a sunlit theme that leaps upward. It starts with no introduction, so don't miss the first beat.
- Second movement: a slow, march-like melody that recalls a religious procession Mendelssohn saw.
- Fourth-movement saltarello: a hopping Italian dance. Its fast rhythm drives on without a break, making it a test of stamina for the strings.
Listen · Score
- Hear the full piece on YouTube · hr-Sinfonieorchester · Paavo Järvi
- Free scores on IMSLP (full score and parts)
Credits