Violin Sonata in F major (Mendelssohn, 1838)

The Violin Sonata in F major, composed in 1838 by Felix Mendelssohn, but remained unpublished during the composer's lifetime. It remained so until 1953 when violinist Yehudi Menuhin arranged it for publication.[1]

For Mendelssohn's earlier violin sonata in F major, see Violin Sonata in F major (Mendelssohn, 1820).

Background

Mendelssohn began work on the Violin Sonata in 1838, the same year he started work on the Violin Concerto in E minor. By the 15th of June 1838 he had completed the composition in draft form, but rejected the work as a "...wretched sonata..." [lower-alpha 1].[3]

It was not until 1839 that Mendelssohn began work on revising the sonata by rewriting the first movement.[3] However the task remained uncompleted at his death in 1847 and it was not until 1953, that violinist Yehudi Menuhin revived the work and prepared it for publication by revising the first movement based on Mendelssohn's incomplete revision.[3][2]

Structure

The composition has three movements:

  1. Allegro vivace
  2. Adagio
  3. Assai vivace

A typical performance lasts about 22 minutes.

References
Notes
  1. Sharona Volcano, speculates this may have been the result of a play-through with Ferdinand David to whom Mendelssohn had intended to dedicate the piece.[2]
  1. Anderson 2001
  2. Volcano & Fanning 2012, p. 2
  3. Todd 2003
Sources
  • Anderson, Keith (2001). Liner Notes to Mendelssohn: Works for Violin and Piano (Complete) (CD). Naxos Records. 8.554725.
  • Kopplin, Dave (2012). "Program Notes to Joshua Bell and Sam Haywood play Mendelssohn, Brahms, Ravel, Ysaÿe & Gershwin" (PDF). University of Florida.
  • Todd, R. Larry (2003). Mendelssohn: A Life in Music. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-511043-9.
  • Volcano, Sharona; Fanning, David (2012-05-09). "Program notes for Joshua Bell & Jeremy Denk Play Mendelssohn, Grieg, Gershwin & Franck" (PDF). Barbican Centre. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-10-10. Retrieved 2019-06-14.
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