Mendelssohn’s Best Loved Music Poll

Mendelssohn’s Best Loved Music Poll


	Felix Mendelssohn was born on Feb 3, 1809 in Hamburg, Germany to a wealthy and cultured family. His father was a banker, and his mother an accomplished pianist. Raised in such an excellent environment, Mendelssohn was provided with a solid humanistic education. Mendelssohn did not live long; in his 38 years he left us with many moving masterworks. As we celebrate the 200th anniversary of this child prodigy, Radio 4 has selected ten of his masterpieces in a poll of the best-loved Mendelssohn pieces. Cast your vote now for your favourite composition by Mendelssohn! The results of the poll will be announced in the three-hour programme – On Wings of Song – Mendelssohn Salon (in Cantonese) on Feb 7, 2009. Participants of the poll will have a chance to win a Radio 4 CD (20 CDs on offer), and the winner of the Grand Prize will be awarded a set of three Mendelssohn DVDs! Winners will be announced on this website on 7 February.


	Polling Results

			In first place: A Midsummer Night’s Dream Listen As a young man of 17, Mendelssohn wrote the Overture to Shakespeare’s comedy, the first example of the concert overture genre, and continued pioneering this genre in the early romantic period. Using musical material from the overture, he composed incidental music for the play (op. 61) sixteen years later, music filled with an elfin quality. The Wedding March from A Midsummer Night’s Dream has become one of the most frequently played wedding processionals.

			In second place: Violin Concerto in E minor, Op.64 Listen An audience favourite as well as standard repertoire for performers, Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto is today frequently performed around the world. With soaring melodies and virtuosic display loved by many, this concerto has a single exposition section and has an innovative written-out cadenza. It stands as a masterpiece among concertos by Beethoven, Brahms and Tchaikovsky.

			In third place: Symphony No.4 in A, Op.90 Italian Listen Also a product of his youthful travels in Europe between 1929-1832, Mendelssohn’s visit to Italy inspired him to write his fourth symphony. The symphony is a set of scenes of Italian life, including carnival season is Rome, a procession and a folk dance ‘tarantella’. Although it is one of his best-known symphonies, it was never published in his lifetime.

			In forth place: On Wings of Song, Op.34/2 Listen On Wings of Song is Mendelssohn’s best-known song, composed when he moved to Leipzig in 1835. Set to Heinrich Heine’s text for voice and piano, the song describes the power of the melody to transport lovers to the most beautiful surroundings where they dream of bliss. This song also was later arranged by Liszt for piano solo.

			In fifth place: Piano Trio No. 1 in D Minor, Op.49 Listen An audience favourite as well as standard repertoire for performers, Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto is today frequently performed around the world. With soaring melodies and virtuosic display loved by many, this concerto has a single exposition section and has an innovative written-out cadenza. It stands as a masterpiece among concertos by Beethoven, Brahms and Tchaikovsky.

			Elijah, Op. 70 Listen Elijah is Mendelssohn’s best-known oratorio, based on the life of Old Testament prophet Elijah. In this work, he highlights the episodes from the prophet’s life, including the contest of gods and his ascent to heaven in a chariot of fire. Mendelssohn completed Elijah in 1846 as a commission by the Birmingham Festival, and used oratorios by Bach and Handel as his models. Famous excerpts include Hear Ye, Israel, Lift Thine Eyes and O Rest in the Lord.

			Fingal’s Cave Overture, Op. 26 Listen Fingal’s Cave Overture was composed after Mendelssohn visited the west coast of Scotland in 1829. He used modal harmonies to evoke an ancient feeling, painting a picturesque seascape redolent of Bardic poetry. This work is also known as ‘The Hebrides’ Overture.

			Rondo Capriccioso in E, Op. 14 Listen This work was originally planned in 1828 as an etude, and was later reworked into a present for pianist Delphine von Schauroth in 1830. With a lyrical Andante introduction leading to the fast Presto section, this work is indebted to Weber’s Concert-Stück, and remains as a popular piece among pianists.

			Songs Without Words Listen Mendelssohn’s 48 Songs Without Words were published as collections of piano pieces, intended for general playing. These pieces transferred vocal ideas to the keyboard and were popular among the middle class. These were intended as absolute music, and only a few had indicative titles.

			Symphony No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 56 Scottish Listen Mendelssohn went on a walking tour of Scotland, and as he reached the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, he came up with the opening of the ‘Scottish’ symphony. A mixture of history and legend, the work depicts the romantic history of Queen Mary and David Rizzio. However the work is not programmatic per se, and the four chivalric movements follow without pauses.

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