String symphonies (Mendelssohn)
Felix Mendelssohn wrote twelve string symphonies between 1821 and 1823, when he was between 12 and 14 years old. (For his mature symphonies, see here). These symphonies were tributes to early Classical symphonies especially by Joseph Haydn, Johann Christian Bach, Carl Philip Emanuel Bach and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Instrumentation
The string symphonies are written for a string orchestra. String Symphony No. 11 also contains percussion (timpani, triangle, cymbals) in the second movement.
Structure
Most of the string symphonies were composed in three movements, with the exceptions of nos. 7, 8 and 9, which are in four movements, no. 10 which is in one movement, and no. 11 which is in five movements.[1]
No. 1 in C major
- Allegro
- Andante
- Allegro
No. 2 in D major
- Allegro
- Andante
- Allegro vivace
No. 3 in E minor
- Allegro di molto
- Andante
- Allegro
No. 4 in C minor
- Grave – Allegro
- Andante
- Allegro vivace
No. 5 in B-flat major
- Allegro vivace
- Andante
- Presto
No. 6 in E-flat major
- Allegro
- Menuetto
- Prestissimo
No. 7 in D minor
- Allegro
- Andante amorevole
- Menuetto
- Allegro molto
No. 8 in D major
- Adagio e grave – Allegro
- Adagio
- Menuetto
- Allegro molto
Mendelssohn also created an arrangement of this symphony that included wind, brass, and timpani. Known as Symphony in D major, MWV.N.8, it was composed in 1822 when the composer was only 13 years old; Mendelssohn completed the expanded orchestration by himself. The work is scored for two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, two horns, two trumpets, timpani in D and A, and strings. A typical performance lasts half an hour. [2]
No. 9 in C major
- Grave – Allegro
- Andante
- Scherzo
- Allegro vivace
No. 10 in B minor
- Adagio – Allegro – Piu presto
No. 11 in F major
- Adagio – Allegro molto
- Scherzo comodo. Schweizerlied
- Adagio
- Menuetto: Allegro moderato
- Allegro molto
No. 12 in G minor
- Fuga: Grave – Allegro
- Andante
- Allegro molto
Symphoniesatz
Mendelssohn also wrote a single movement, Grave – Allegro molto, for a string symphony in C minor, known as the Symphoniesatz.
References
- "Twelve String Symphonies" at Hyperion Records
- Recording on Allmusic, "Various Artists Mendelssohn: The Masterworks":
External links
- String Symphony No.1: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)
- String Symphony No.2: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)
- String Symphony No.3: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)
- String Symphony No.4: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)
- String Symphony No.5: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)
- String Symphony No.6: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)
- String Symphony No.7: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)
- String Symphony No.8: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)
- String Symphony No.9: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)
- String Symphony No.10: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)
- String Symphony No.11: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)
- String Symphony No.12: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)
- String Symphony No.13 Sinfoniesatz: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)