He was only twenty years old when he yielded the baton for a performance of Bach's wondrous ST. MATHEW PASSION at the Berlin Singakedemie that revived the interest of the lost Bach's music. But an ugly incident followed when one of Felix's fellow choristers in the Singakedemie sneered and said 'The Jew-bow raises his voice for Christ, That remark spurred his devotion and love for Christ whereas he had of Jewish faith before and his father had decided to convert himself, mother, sister and brother because they found that being Protestants opened up many paths that were closed to Jews including music.
What started as a routine for the young Mendelssohn after the conversation from the Jewish faith to Christianity, he became passionately attached to Jesus Christ. He dedicated most of his scores to his belief that included the high profile ELIJAH oratorio.
Specialised symphony
Born in Hamburg, Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) was a contemporary of John Hartmann, Chopin, Otto Nicolai, Schumann and Liszt among others. He was highly influenced by Handel, Bach Mozart and Beethoven. He specialized in symphony, orchestral, oratorio, sacred, cantata, chamber and of course, the piano and organ. He wrote optimistic music without any effort that made him a Sunshine composer like Rossini and Saint-Sains. Hailing from a cultural and wealthy background, Mendelssohn's grandfather was a major influential figure of the eighteenth century and a philosopher, sometimes referred to as a modern Plato.
He built the powerful Hamburg Bank and his wife being a linguist and musician, provided the intellectual background to the family. Both his sister and brother proved to be excellent at the piano and violin and languages. It was clear that Mendelssohn's forte was music and his father encouraged him. When he was barely nine, he was good enough to appear as a pianist. His house was filled with musicians who were distinguished that included Weber. When he was twelve years old, he was introduced to the seventy-year-old Goethe the magnificent writer who was amazed by this prodigy and despite their age, became firm friends. 'Here without any doubt was a second Mozart, 'Goethe declared.'
He was one of the most remarkable of all musical child prodigies whose marvellous works can be compared with Mozart at a similar age. He had the style, technique to reveal an inexhaustible harmony and melody in a quality type of invention that Mozart lacked in comparison at the given age when young. He wrote music to charm the ear, unlike many other great composers. Such triumphs are found in String Octet written at the age of sixteen.
From 1830-35 he was appointed as Music director for the Lower Rhine Music Festival in Dusseldorf after he was acclaimed as a leading composer, conductor and pianist of the day. It was not such a good idea as it turned out to be unsuccessful because his demands were too high causing resentment in the music circle. Within a year and still twenty-six he was appointed as Music Director with famous Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, a feat never heard before. Over the next five years, he made the Orchestra into the finest in the world that made all music lovers sit up and praise his talent. His care and preparation proved to be an evolutionary achievement in the history of conducting and no one has been able to eclipse this marvel to date.
He met and fell in love with a French Protestant Clergywoman during his stay in Frankfurt. She was Cecile Jeanrenaud and seventeen years old. They married in 1837 and the union was a very happy one which they spent together with their five children. In 1840 he was appointed as the head of the music department academy in Berlin by the King of Prussia who helped him achieve his long-time dream of founding a conservatory. In Leipzig. The King of Saxony permitted him to do so with him and Schumann teaching the piano and compositions while Ferdinand David was in charge of the violin. Mendelssohn worked at a furious pace. He had the triumphant premiere of his famous oratorio ELIJAH in 1846 and played it again a year later for Queen Victoria his long-time fervent admirer.
A few months later he received the news that his beloved sister Fanny had passed away which disturbed him much. It had a devastating effect on him and became unconscious that resulted in a rupture of a blood vessel in the brain. He died six months later at thirty-eight.
GLORIOUS MUSIC
No one composer had touched the hearts of so many as Mendelssohn in both classical and light music the way he had. His extraordinary touch in scores such as E minor Violin Concerto or FINGAL'S CAVE has left his signature for no one to forge. He mixed the Classical form of structure with the Romantic's gift. The wonderful poise, balance and clarity he imparted to his sonata, concerto and symphony are way beyond the work of a colossus.
MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. Opp 21 and 61 incidental music to Shakespeare's play (826-42) The famous Overture written when Mendelssohn was only seventeen, is a miracle for a boy; here already is his mature style with its 'fairy' reaches. Few could spot the join between the remaining parts in the incidental music written at the request of the King of Prussia thirteen years later. SCHERZO is also well known from the prodigiously difficult transcription for solo piano by Rachmaninov made in a single take.
ELIJAH oratorio (1846) is Mendelssohn at his most profound; the music has overwhelming humanity in O Rest in the Lord.
HEAR MY PRAYER (1844) hymn for soprano
SYMPHONY No. 3 in A minor, Op.56 (1842) inspired by his visit to Scotland that was composed, performed and published within a year. The lilting second movement is one of his best achievements.
SYMPHONY No. 4 in A ' Italina', Op. 90 (1833) is the most popular of his five mature symphonies with an entrancing Romantic symphony with a spontaneous flow of melody from first to the last.
SYMPHONY No. 5 in D 'Reformation' Op. 107, (1830) written to commemorate the tercentenary of the Augsburg Protestant Confession which is the creed of the Lutheran Church.
