Mendelssohn’s Masterpieces | Popular Classical Music
Mendelssohn, a composer who represents German Romanticism.
He was active not only as a composer but also as a pianist and conductor, and from a young age he possessed such musical talent that he was called a child prodigy.
In this article, we introduce some of the masterpieces Mendelssohn left behind.
Whether you’re a fan of Mendelssohn or not very familiar with him, please take a look.
We hope you’ll notice the characteristics and charm of his style and discover some new favorite pieces.
If you play an instrument or sing, do try performing them yourself!
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Mendelssohn’s Masterpieces | Popular Classical Music (101–110)
Songs Without Words, Book V, Op. 62, No. 6 “Spring Song”Felix Mendelssohn
Felix Mendelssohn, active in the 19th century, was a composer who, while profoundly influenced by Classical masters such as Bach, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven, is also known as a pioneer of Romanticism.
One of his representative works, “Songs Without Words, Book 5, Op.
62,” includes No.
6, “Spring Song,” a picturesque miniature themed around spring.
The piano’s gentle melody seems to announce the end of winter and express the hopeful arrival of spring, when new life begins to bud.
Its light yet transparent touch evokes flowers swaying in the spring breeze and the chirping of small birds.
This piece, which paints the joy and beauty of spring in sound, is perfect for anyone who wants to savor music while sensing the changing of the seasons.
Spring Song from Songs Without WordsFelix Mendelssohn
Among the 48 Songs Without Words, this is the most famous piece.
With its short form and approachable melody, the collection has become one of Mendelssohn’s signature works.
The title was not given by Mendelssohn himself; because the score begins with the indication “like a spring song,” it came to be popularly known as “Spring Song.” The piece conveys a sense of longing for spring and a fresh, cheerful atmosphere.
A Midsummer Night’s DreamFelix Mendelssohn
This suite is based on Shakespeare’s play A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
The “Nocturne” features a truly dreamlike, beautiful melody that continues throughout.
It feels like you can immerse yourself in a world of happiness reserved just for the two of you.
The thorns in your heart are removed, leaving you calm, peaceful, and gentle.
The “Wedding March” is the most famous piece; rather than simply affirming love, it conveys a powerful resolve—a strong will for the two to live their lives together from here on.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream: OvertureFelix Mendelssohn
This is A Midsummer Night’s Dream, a piece completed by the German composer Felix Mendelssohn when he was just 17.
It is said to be based on Shakespeare’s play.
The piece also appears to be used in the Japanese TV anime beloved over many years, Doraemon, specifically in the film Doraemon: Nobita and the Galaxy Super-Express.
You’ll be overwhelmed by the dynamic, grand performance unique to an orchestra.
It’s also used as incidental music, making it familiar and full of the charm of classical music, so please give it a listen.
Hymn No. 98: ‘Glory to God in the Highest’Felix Mendelssohn
Known as a quintessential hymn celebrating Christmas, this piece has a profound historical background.
The lyrics were written by Charles Wesley in 1739 and later revised by George Whitefield.
The melody was adapted from part of a cantata composed by Felix Mendelssohn in 1840.
In 1855, William H.
Cummings shaped it into the form we know today, leading to its wide popularization.
The hymn celebrates the reconciliation between God and humanity through the birth of Christ, the coming of peace and mercy, and the dawning of a new light of life.
Its beautiful melody and powerful message enhance the atmosphere of the holy night and deeply move listeners.
It is sung in many churches during the Christmas season and continues to be loved by Christians around the world.
Mendelssohn’s Masterpieces | Popular Classical Music (111–120)
Hymn No. 98: Glory in the HighestFelix Mendelssohn
Gloria in Excelsis (Hark! The Herald Angels Sing) was composed by Felix Mendelssohn, a composer and keyboardist born in Berlin in the Kingdom of Prussia.
It is a very famous Christmas hymn, and even people who don’t know the title have likely heard it during the Christmas season.
Six Preludes and Fugues, Op. 35: No. 1, PreludeFelix Mendelssohn
Mendelssohn’s representative work, Prelude and Fugue in E minor, Op.
35 No.
1 – Prelude.
It’s a piece in which melodies strongly influenced by Bach gradually reveal a Romantic character, and its high level of difficulty means it is still performed by many pianists today.
The most challenging aspect is undoubtedly the section in the latter half where the tempo accelerates.
In addition to the difficulty of rapid passages, it also demands a high degree of expressiveness, making it truly a piano piece for advanced players.
