Mendelssohn was a master of writing for string orchestra and this arrangement presents the major themes of the first movement in an edited version sure to keep the interest of you intermediate or advanced. Mendelssohn, aged 21, visited to italy in autumn, 1830 and stayed there nine months, traveling to various areas. Several days later, mendelssohn and klingemann traveled to the hebrides islands, just. Mendelssohns italian new jersey symphony orchestra. Felix mendelssohns 1833 italian symphony was something else a brilliant. After a series of successful performances in london, mendelssohn embarked on a walking tour of scotland with his. Piano trio no 1 in d minor, op 49 mendelssohn from. With his third and fourth symphonies, as well as the concert overture the hebrides, mendelssohn managed to musicalize the literary travelogue. The joyful first movement, in sonata form, is followed by an impression in the subdominant minor of d minor of a religious procession the composer. Unwrap mendelssohns italian symphony auckland philharmonia. If there were any doubt about the national significance of this symphony, it would be removed by the italian finale, saltarello presto, evidently inspired by the roman carnival, of which mendelssohn was a.
The chicago symphony orchestras first subscription concert performances of sibeliuss second. Whereas scotland inspired the stormy hebrides overture and the scottish symphony, a visit to sunny italy sparked a symphony that. To launch the fifth season of the beyond the score series, the chicago symphony orchestra and guest conductor antonio pappano surveyed mendelssohns symphony no. Mendelssohn conducted the first performance for the london philharmonic society on may. At twenty, mendelssohn did what most young men from wealthy families did at the time. Italy, he found it beautiful and exciting and the ideas. Through the full orchestra and tremolo strings, the overture also evokes an. The main purpose of this document is to gain insight into mendelssohns compositional thought through a comparative analysis of the two complete versions of the d minor trio. This symphony was mendelssohns fourth symphony and is often. A brief analysis of mendelssohns first movement of his violin concerto in e minor op. In early 1833, mendelssohn completed his symphony no.
Mendelssohns italian symphony new york philharmonic. Staatsbibliothek in berlin as part of the volume known as mus. Useful for score analysis, understanding instrumentation, harmonytonality, structure and textures. The italian symphony, completed when mendelssohn had just turned. Redlands symphony proudly presents mendelssohns symphony no. Mendelssohns letters show that his first inspiration for the symphony came in 1829, during his first visit to england. A comprehensive powerpoint, giving an analysis of mendelssohn s symphony no. The version of the symphony that entered the canon in the nineteenth century and remains there today was premiered in may 1833 but was subsequently suppressed by mendelssohm himself, pending revision. Mendelssohn symphony no 4 in a major italian first. In 1831, he stopped work on the score for a decade, and the symphony was not completed until 1842. A buoyant and optimistic work, the symphony conjures up colour and atmosphere of italy and the supreme joy inlife mendelssohn felt at the time. Id like to acquire more of mendelssohns symphonic works. The return to the opening theme is particularly beautiful, with the cellos melody joined by a haunting descending line in the violin a new thought which mendelssohn will develop further in the slow movement.
Your analysis must explain the musical elements and features. The first movement opens with what is perhaps the most famous phrase in all of. Italian symphony, orchestral work by german composer felix mendelssohn. Dramatic and harmonically adventurous, mendelssohns first symphony is presented here in an exceptionally unique format, with both the original and revised versions of the third movement. The italian symphony, as we have come to know it, comprises the standard four symphonic movements yet has little need of formal analysis, as it radiates irresistible joy and affection, even while comfortably nestled within a customary structure. Its final movement, which is among the most strongly dramatic music the composer ever wrote, even uses the rhythms of neapolitan dances. Instantly view and print felix mendelssohn string orchestra sheet music online italian symphony first movement. Nothing can rival italian opera for the sheer joy of overflowing melody. Allegro vivace an introduction to the sonataallegro form.
The first movement conveys the breathless excitement of travel and the impression. Composition history mendelssohn began sketching the scottish symphony in 1829. It is numbered four because it was published posthumously, but it was completed third. Im strongly considering claus peter flors 6cd rca set with the bamberg symphony that includes all five symphonies, two piano concertos, several overtures and. He named the movement after the saltarello, a folk dance from central italy defined by its fast triplet pulse and its leaping movements. At its conclusion the first theme returns, and a charming coda constructed upon suggestions of this theme, brings the movement to a close. Listen out for mendelssohns premonition of wagners parsifal in the first movement of the reformation symphony, numbered as 5. Mendelssohn started composing this symphony while traveling in italy between 1830 and 1831.
The first movement of felix mendelssohn s fourth symphony italian, performed by the czech national symphony orchestra, with an. In this masterclass, the maestro works on the first two movements of the symphony no. Felix mendelssohnbartholdy 180947, one of the worlds great and romantic composers was born in hamburg, germany. Another dance with a similar rhythmic profile comes from the southern region of taranto, on the heel of italys boot. Mendelssohn was a master of writing for string orchestra and this arrangement presents the major themes of the first movement in an edited version sure to keep the interest of you intermediate or advanced high. The bright, sunny disposition of italy is evident in this arrangement of the first movement of mendelssohns symphony no. Italian symphony, orchestral work by german composer felix mendelssohn, so named because it was intended to evoke the sights and sounds of italy. Program notes by phillip huscher felix mendelssohn born february 3, 1809, hamburg, germany. Italian symphony first movement by felix bartholdy. Print on demand publisher prints this title after order is received. Sunday evenings with pierre monteux california 194152. If there were any doubt about the national significance of this symphony, it would be removed by the italian finale, saltarello presto, evidently inspired by the roman carnival, of which mendelssohn was a delighted spectator. The first movement of felix mendelssohns fourth symphony italian, performed by the czech national symphony orchestra, with an. The work was premiered at a private gathering on 14 november 1824 to honor his sister fanny mendelssohn s 19th birthday.
By age 15, when mendelssohn wrote his first symphony to receive a formal number, it already followed a dozen others for strings that, while highly accomplished, were intended for private performance in family musicales and never were issued. After some sketching, mendelssohn set aside the piece until 1841, when disappointments in his life placed him in a mood similar to that he experienced in england 12 years earlier. Although commentators have attributed each movement to an aspect of mendelssohns fascination with. Recorded in november 2010, under the supervision of bts creative director gerard mcburney, the program uses narration and live musical examples to provide an indepth look at mendelssohns masterwork, including never. Its public premiere occurred on 1 february 1827, with the leipzig. Symphony no 5 reformation, op 107 mendelssohn from. However, the autographed score was not published until 1831. The italian is designated as the fourth of mendelssohn s five symphonies, but the numbering is confusing. I want to share the first movement with you today and. The movement is a saltarello, a favorite dance rhythm in italy, combined with a whirling tarantella with astonishing skill. Mendelssohn was initially inspired to compose this symphony during his first visit to britain in 1829. The middle section of the movement is dominated by this second theme, at times woven into counterpoint, at others building to climaxes. A comprehensive powerpoint, giving an analysis of mendelssohns symphony no.
Mendelssohns 4th italian symphony is buoyantly tuneful and in high spirits converse to his 5th reformation symphony which is chastely, if not gloomily, german, and all of which is a big leadup to the grandiose final movement featuring that famous chorale, a mighty fortress. The following year he reworked the first movement, and he was. This is the first booklength study of the composition, reception, extramusical implications, and stylistic eclecticism of mendelssohns italian symphony, a staple of the nineteenthcentury musical canon. Its not every evening that you get to hear a symphony by a fourteenandahalf yearold genius. Yet he somehow managed to fit the entire italian into a single program, and. Mendelssohn was a master of writing for string orchestra and this arrangement presents the major themes of the first movement in an edited version sure to keep the interest of you intermediate or advanced high school orchestra.
The following year he reworked the first movement, and he was sufficiently. This lesson is followed by a complete performance of four students, each of them conducting one movement of this bright and light work. In 1829 and 1830, he undertook a grand tour of england, scotland, wales, and italy. Mendelssohns brilliant fourth symphony personifies the exuberant spirit of italy. The work has its origins as had the composers scottish 3rd symphony and the hebrides overture in the tour of europe which occupied mendelssohn from 1829 to 1831. As gardiner said when introducing the work in concert.
1211 1420 273 1038 123 1249 1533 845 747 149 793 270 456 404 1092 1159 1551 340 704 1283 682 730 971 1218 1289 1460 337 280 1029 1138 376 1326 1466 1038 408 696 626 1031 696 463 682 115 64 474