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

Fanny Mendelssohn was a german composer and pianist of the early romantic era. Born in 1805, she was the eldest of four children of Abraham and Lea Mendelssohn. Her father was a very successful banker which meant that the family was fairly well off. This privileged upbringing gave Fanny an opportunity to receive a music education that most women of her age didn’t have access to. By the age of 13 she was able to play all 24 preludes of Bach’s “The Well Tempered Clavier” from memory. In 1811, the family moved to Berlin Germany where Fanny continued to study and write music. Their house had a large hall with columns and a vaulted ceiling that was used to hold concerts for the intellectuals and artists of Berlin.Since the Mendelssohn family hosted these events, they chose what music was performed. And often it was Fanny’s and her little brother Felix’s music that people would come to hear.
And so, Fanny continued to write music and in 1846 she decided to start publishing her own work under her own name. These were printed under the collections Opus 1 to Opus 7. Most of these were for voice and piano and some were for solo piano. Unfortunately, a year later, she died from complications after suffering a stroke. Even though most of her music was never published we do know that she wrote over 460 pieces of music from the unpublished manuscripts that have survived. These include compositions for voice and piano, solo piano, choir, chamber ensemble, and orchestra. And more of her music continues to be rediscovered. In 1970, a manuscript for an Easter Sonata was discovered in France. The manuscript was simply signed, F. Mendelssohn, and attributed to Felix. It wasn’t until 2010 when American musicologist, Dr. Angela Christian, discovered that the manuscript was cut from an existing collection of music known to be written by Fanny. And in 2012 it received its world premier under Fanny’s name performed by Andrea Lam at a Duke University symposium dedicated to Fanny’s life and work.

Sources:
[1]“The Muse” Philharmonic: A Magazine Devoted to Music Art Drama, Volume 3 pp.318-320

[3]”The Letters of Fanny Hensel to Felix Mendelssohn” by Marcia J. Citron, Pendragon Press, 1987

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[pqijivf]

I just ADORE the Mendelssohns and I admire Fanny very much, because she became a composer in spite of all the difficulties and I love Fanny

[itsgoubie]

More than 460 songs, that is insane. I didn't know her, I'll listen to her music, thank you.

[abigailwilson]

I truly appreciate this video!!!! I could not find anything on her this was so

[erzsblasfantaven]

thank you for this video! she definitely deserves more recognition

[lindaesperanza]

I wish I could see more vídeos about female composers and pianists 🧡

[Alextv-tztw]

that was a very informative video! I will write a exam tomorrow and this helped me for my preperation! Thank you very much good sir

[michellealdeano]

I was left crying after listening about how many women have contributed to music over the years, yet being continuosly shadowed and left out by society due to misogyny and the patriarchy. What a beautiful ending.

[emmaghows]

Wow! I have to go right now, but never thought I'd see my topic suggestion uploaded! Thanks!

[rhodrimayer]

This is very interesting! Thanks for the upload =)

[mindyhopson]

I'm very impressed!! I feel smarter!

[biomuseum]

what happened to her unpublished music?