Fanny Mendelssohn - A Life of Music - Music History Crash Course

Summary

Fanny Mendelssohn, a prominent German composer and pianist of the early Romantic era, was born in 1805. Despite her musical talent and privileged upbringing, societal norms restricted her from pursuing a professional music career. Fanny's compositions, including songs and chamber works, were often published under her brother Felix's name. She was deeply supported by her husband, Wilhelm Hensel, who encouraged her creativity. Fanny composed over 460 pieces, many of which were unpublished during her lifetime. Her music continues to be rediscovered today, with some works, like an Easter sonata, being attributed to her only recently.

Takeaways

• 😀 Fanny Mendelssohn was born in 1805 as the eldest child of a wealthy family, receiving a privileged education in music.
• 😀 Despite her exceptional musical talent, Fanny was discouraged from pursuing music professionally due to societal views on women in the arts.
• 😀 Fanny’s music education began early, and she was able to play all 24 preludes of Bach’s *The Well-Tempered Clavier* from memory by age 13.
• 😀 Her father, Abraham Mendelssohn, believed music should be a hobby for Fanny and not a career, emphasizing traditional gender roles in his letters to her.
• 😀 In 1821, the Mendelssohn family moved to Berlin, where Fanny continued composing and hosting concerts in their home for intellectuals and artists.
• 😀 Fanny had a close relationship with her brother, Felix Mendelssohn, who was also a composer. They often exchanged letters discussing music and critiques.
• 😀 Felix Mendelssohn published some of Fanny’s music under his own name, with her contributions appearing in his *Opus 8* and *Opus 9* collections.
• 😀 In 1829, Fanny married artist Wilhelm Hensel, who supported her music career, even encouraging her to compose every day.
• 😀 Fanny began publishing her own music under her own name in 1846, with several collections for voice and piano, as well as solo piano pieces.
• 😀 Fanny Mendelssohn passed away in 1847 at the age of 41 due to complications from a stroke, leaving behind over 460 pieces of music, many unpublished during her lifetime.
• 😀 Many of Fanny’s works were rediscovered in the 20th century, including a manuscript for an Easter sonata that was initially attributed to Felix but later confirmed to be her composition.
• 😀 Fanny's Easter sonata received its world premiere in 2012 under her name, marking a significant moment in the rediscovery of her musical legacy.

Q & A

What was Fanny Mendelssohn's early musical education like?

Fanny Mendelssohn received an early and extensive musical education, beginning at a young age. Her mother, who had also studied piano, was her first music teacher. By the age of 13, she could play all 24 preludes of Bach's *The Well-Tempered Clavier* from memory.

How did Fanny Mendelssohn's family background influence her musical career?

Fanny Mendelssohn came from a wealthy family. Her father, Abraham Mendelssohn, was a successful banker, which allowed Fanny to receive a high-quality musical education. However, despite her talents, societal norms at the time limited her career opportunities as a woman in music.

How did societal attitudes affect Fanny Mendelssohn's career?

Fanny faced societal expectations that discouraged her from pursuing music professionally. Her father even wrote to her in 1820, stating that music should only be an ornament for her, and not her primary career. She was encouraged to focus on the 'real' calling of a woman, which was marriage and running a household.

How did Fanny Mendelssohn collaborate with her brother, Felix Mendelssohn?

Fanny and her brother, Felix, shared a close relationship and often collaborated on music. They frequently wrote to each other for advice and critiques. Felix even arranged for some of Fanny's compositions to be published under his name in his opus 8 and opus 9 collections.

What kind of music did Fanny Mendelssohn compose?

Fanny Mendelssohn composed over 460 pieces of music, including works for voice and piano, solo piano, choir, chamber ensembles, and orchestra. Many of her compositions were in the popular German genre of Lieder (songs), often featuring voice and piano.

How did Fanny Mendelssohn's marriage to Wilhelm Hensel impact her music?

Fanny's husband, Wilhelm Hensel, was supportive of her music career. He encouraged her to continue composing, even telling her that he wouldn't marry her unless she kept writing music. Every morning, he would place blank manuscript paper on her music stand to inspire her to fill it with new compositions.

What is significant about Fanny Mendelssohn's decision to publish her music?

In 1846, Fanny Mendelssohn took the bold step of publishing her own music under her own name. These works, collected in opus 1 to opus 7, were mainly for voice and piano, and some for solo piano. This was a significant move in a time when female composers were often overlooked.

How did Fanny Mendelssohn's legacy come to light after her death?

Fanny Mendelssohn passed away in 1847, and many of her compositions remained unpublished. However, her legacy was revived in the 20th and 21st centuries. A key moment came in 1970 when a manuscript attributed to Felix Mendelssohn was discovered, only to later be recognized as Fanny's work.

What role did Fanny Mendelssohn's home play in her musical career?

Fanny Mendelssohn's home, a large estate in Berlin, became an important cultural space. The Mendelssohn family hosted musical gatherings for intellectuals and artists, providing Fanny with an opportunity to share her music with a broader audience. Many of the pieces performed at these gatherings were composed by Fanny and her brother, Felix.

What was the significance of the Easter Sonata manuscript discovered in 1970?

The Easter Sonata manuscript, initially attributed to Felix Mendelssohn, was discovered in France in 1970. It wasn't until 2010 that it was definitively attributed to Fanny Mendelssohn, highlighting her role in composing music that had long been overshadowed by her brother's fame. The piece was later premiered in 2012 under Fanny's name.