Felix Mendelssohn is known for having shown exceptional musical talent as a child prodigy from an early age.He was an important composer who had an extremely significant impact on the 19th-century music world, including reviving the music of Bach.His music is romantic and evokes majestic scenes of nature.Here is a ranking of some of his most popular pieces.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream: OvertureFelix Mendelssohn93rank/position
Mendelssohn – A Midsummer Night’s Dream Overture, Op. 21 (Kurt Masur, Gewandhausorchestra)
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.
Saint Paul, Op. 36Felix Mendelssohn94rank/position
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy: Paulus op.36 aus dem Katharinensaal der HMT-Rostock
A monumental oratorio by Felix Mendelssohn in which grand chorus and orchestra unite to paint the Bible’s dramatic narratives in sound.
Mendelssohn is renowned for reviving Bach’s music, and you can feel his profound reverence for that tradition in this work as well.
The piece traces the spiritual journey of Saul, once a persecutor, as he converts and becomes the Apostle Paul.
The overwhelming power of the chorus is no mere backdrop; at times it embodies the crowd, at others the community of believers, propelling the story with compelling force.
Premiered in May 1836, the work was celebrated as one of the composer’s signature pieces during his lifetime.
It is a masterpiece—ideal for immersing yourself in majestic, narrative-rich music that offers a different flavor from opera.
Hymn No. 98: ‘Glory to God in the Highest’Felix Mendelssohn95rank/position
Hymn No. 98: Glory to God in the Highest
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.
Hymn No. 98: Glory in the HighestFelix Mendelssohn96rank/position
Hymn No. 98: Glory in the highest
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 Mendelssohn97rank/position
Mendelssohn / Six Preludes and Fugues, Op. 35 No. 1, Prelude; pf: Michiya Otake
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.
