Felix Mendelssohn Popular Songs Ranking [2026]

Barcarolle of Venice, Op. 57 No. 5Felix Mendelssohn51rank/position

Mendelssohn – “Venezianisches Gondellied” – Schreier

This is a work from 1842.

It is a poignant yet passionate song in which a man, having taken on the guise of a Venetian gondolier, longs for his beloved and sings as he waits for her.

The poem is by Thomas Moore.

Thomas Moore was a poet born in Ireland in 1805, known for writing “The Last Rose of Summer” (The Thousand Leaves of the Garden).

The Venetian barcarolle, Venetianisches Gondellied, was translated into German, and begins with the lines, “When the evening breeze blows in the square, Ninetta, you know who is waiting here.” Performed by tenor Peter Schreier with Walter Olbertz at the piano.

Peter Schreier, born in 1935, was a German tenor who in recent years also took up conducting.

He had a wide-ranging career in opera (Mozart, Wagner, Strauss, etc.), oratorio, the St.

Matthew Passion, and German Lieder.

The accompanist, Walter Olbertz, is a pianist specializing in the Classical period (particularly Haydn).

May Breeze Op. 62-1Felix Mendelssohn52rank/position

Songs Without Words (11 pieces) in G major, Op. 62-1 “May Breezes”

Another spring-like masterpiece opens the same Book 5 of Songs Without Words that includes Felix Mendelssohn’s famous Spring Song.

Published in 1844, this fifth book is also known for being dedicated to Clara Schumann, with whom he had a close friendship.

The work’s greatest charm is, above all, its gentle and beautiful melody.

The singing right-hand line and the breeze-like, swaying accompaniment are exquisitely balanced, letting you feel the air of the warm season just by listening.

As a study piece, it’s also ideal for carefully refining the resonance of the inner voices.

If you want to develop expressive, emotionally rich playing rather than mere finger exercises, be sure to add it to your repertoire.

Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 11Felix Mendelssohn53rank/position

Mendelssohn: 1. Sinfonie ∙ hr-Sinfonieorchester ∙ Andrés Orozco-Estrada

Composed when Mendelssohn was just fifteen, this work fully showcases his talent.

Consisting of four movements, it reflects Classical influences while shining with the originality of a young genius.

The strength of the first movement, the elegance of the second, the vitality of the third, and the grandeur of the fourth—each movement presents a different character that keeps listeners engaged.

It was premiered in November 1824 at a celebration for his sister’s birthday.

This piece is recommended not only for lovers of classical music but also for those who are just beginning to explore the world of music.

Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op. 90 ‘Italian’Felix Mendelssohn54rank/position

Mendelssohn Italian Symphony (Herbert von Karajan)

The multilingual Mendelssohn began composing during a six-month trip to Italy.

He started the work in 1831 and completed it in 1833, when he was 22 to 24 years old.

The first movement begins in A major, and the fourth movement ends in A minor; however, rather than a mournful minor, it’s a dazzling, exuberant finale that incorporates the rhythm of the tarantella.

Throughout all the movements, the piece brims with bright, lively vitality, making it truly worthy of the name “Italian.” The performance time is about 30 minutes.

Please give it a listen!

Symphony No. 5 “Reformation” in D minor, Op. 107Felix Mendelssohn55rank/position

F. Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 5 in D minor, Op. 107 “Reformation” (1830 Original Version)

This is music that Mendelssohn, a devout Lutheran (Martin Luther led the Reformation in opposition to the Catholic Church), refined through many revisions.

Although Mendelssohn was Jewish and therefore would have been expected to follow Judaism, in order to survive in Europe at the time one needed a Christian baptismal certificate.

After converting, he became a fervent believer.

It was the Jewish Mendelssohn who revived the St.

Matthew Passion and restored the quintessentially German Bach to prominence.

His Christian music is extraordinarily beautiful.

The first movement begins with the prayers of the Mass, the Dresden Amen, and the final movement opens with the chorale “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” by Luther, first intoned by the flute, and concludes with power and splendor.

In the fourth movement, he uses the serpent—a rare instrument with a sinuously curved, snake-like shape—which is now almost always substituted by the tuba.

Claudio Abbado and the London Symphony Orchestra.

Symphony No. 2 “Hymn”Felix Mendelssohn56rank/position

Mendelssohn: 2e symfonie, ‘Lobgesang’ – Live Concert HD

Mendelssohn’s Symphony No.

2, “Lobgesang” (Hymn of Praise), is a two-part symphony that incorporates chorus.

Although it is called No.

2, the actual order of composition was 1 → 5 → 4 → 2 → 3.

The trombones bear a significant role by presenting the main theme at the outset, and this motif is employed throughout the entire work.

Wedding March from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Op. 61 (incidental music)Felix Mendelssohn57rank/position

Zen-On Piano Solo PP-014 Mendelssohn: Wedding March, Zen-On Music Publishing

The works of Felix Mendelssohn, a German composer who represents the early Romantic era, are known for honoring the classical style while embracing the emotions and imagination of Romanticism.

Incidental Music to A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Op.

61, published in 1842, is especially famous for its Wedding March, which is widely beloved as background music for wedding ceremonies.

The piece is characterized by its brilliant, majestic melody, evoking the joyous cries of fairies and the happiness of lovers.

Why not enjoy this masterpiece—expressing Mendelssohn’s dreamlike world through elegant melody—on the piano as well?

Severe Variations, Op. 54, U 156, in D minorFelix Mendelssohn58rank/position

Mendelssohn / Variations sérieuses, Op. 54, U 156 / Performed by: Hitomi Maeyama

This is a solo piano piece composed by Mendelssohn in 1841.

Commissioned by a Viennese publisher, the proceeds from the sheet music were used to fund the erection of a monument to Beethoven.

While belonging to the Romantic era, it retains a classical sense of formal beauty.

As a set of variations, it shows strong influences from Beethoven and Mozart, setting it apart from the dazzling variation works popular at the time by Liszt and Chopin that emphasized virtuosic display.

It is one of the crowning achievements of Mendelssohn’s mature period.

The work consists of a strict, polyphonic theme in D minor followed by 17 variations.

The key remains D minor throughout, except for the 14th variation, which is in D major.

The principal variations feature syncopation and triplets, creating a dramatic character, and the piece concludes with a rapid coda.

The performer is Hitomi Maeyama, a Japanese pianist.

Performance duration: approximately 12 minutes.

Strict Variations in D minor, Op. 54Felix Mendelssohn59rank/position

Mendelssohn: Variations sérieuses, Op. 54 | Mendelssohn: Serious Variations, Op. 54

Among the piano works of German composer Felix Mendelssohn, the Variations Sérieuses is one of the most beloved pieces.

Written in 1841 to raise funds for the construction of a monument to Beethoven, the work consists of 17 variations.

Based on a solemn theme, it unfolds dramatically through changes in rhythm and tempo, combining technical difficulty with inner depth.

Although technically demanding, it is a piece that conveys Mendelssohn’s musical profundity and artistry.

Glory in the highestFelix Mendelssohn60rank/position

Hark The Herald Angels Sing

A Christmas carol with lyrics by Charles Wesley and music by Felix Mendelssohn, known as one of the four great English hymns.

Its original form is the Festgesang, a cantata for male chorus and orchestra composed for the 400th anniversary celebration of the invention of printing.

The lyrics introduce Christ and offer words of praise to Him—perfect for Christmas.

A romantically inclined recommended way to listen is to hear it in a church at Christmastime while contemplating Christ.

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