Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy <br />**Born:** February 3, 1809, Hamburg, Germany <br />**Died:** November 4, 1847, Leipzig, Germany (aged 38) <br />**Era:** Early Romantic Period<br /><br />**Key Details:**<br /><br />1. **Family & Background:**<br /> * Grandson of renowned Jewish philosopher Moses Mendelssohn.<br /> * Born into a wealthy, cultured, and converted Protestant family (added "Bartholdy" to surname after baptism).<br /> * Sister Fanny Mendelssohn was also a highly talented composer and pianist.<br /><br />2. **Child Prodigy:**<br /> * Displayed extraordinary musical talent from a very early age.<br /> * Began piano lessons with his mother at 6, composition with Carl Friedrich Zelter soon after.<br /> * Gave his first public concert at age 9.<br /> * Composed prolifically as a child/teenager, including symphonies, concertos, operas, and chamber music.<br /><br />3. **Education & Influences:**<br /> * Received a broad humanist education (languages, literature, art, philosophy).<br /> * Deeply influenced by J.S. Bach, Handel, Mozart, and Beethoven.<br /> * Met Goethe several times as a boy, greatly impressing the poet.<br /><br />4. **Major Contributions:**<br /> * **Revival of Bach:** His 1829 Berlin performance of Bach's *St. Matthew Passion* (at age 20) sparked a major revival of interest in Bach's music.<br /> * **Conductor & Performer:** A pioneering and influential conductor, raising performance standards. Also a renowned pianist and organist.<br /> * **Composer:** Prolific across genres:<br /> * **Orchestral:** 5 Symphonies (No. 3 "Scottish", No. 4 "Italian", No. 5 "Reformation"), *Hebrides Overture* ("Fingal's Cave"), *A Midsummer Night's Dream Overture* (written at 17).<br /> * **Concertos:** Violin Concerto in E minor (one of the most popular ever), Piano Concertos.<br /> * **Chamber Music:** String Quartets (Op. 44, Op. 80), Octet for Strings (written at 16), Piano Trios (No. 1 in D minor).<br /> * **Choral:** Oratorios *St. Paul* and *Elijah*, numerous sacred works (motets, psalms).<br /> * **Piano:** *Songs Without Words* (8 sets), Variations sérieuses.<br /> * **Incidental Music:** *A Midsummer Night's Dream* (including the famous "Wedding March").<br /> * **Educator:** Played a key role in founding the Leipzig Conservatory (1843), one of Germany's first.<br /><br />5. **Style:**<br /> * Blended Classical forms (learned from Bach, Mozart, Beethoven) with Romantic lyricism, expressiveness, and programmatic elements.<br /> * Known for clarity, elegance, formal balance, brilliant orchestration, and memorable melodies.<br /> * Often evokes nature, landscapes, and literary sources.<br /><br />6. **Significant Roles:**<br /> * Music Director of the Gewandhaus Orchestra in Leipzig (1835-1847), transforming it into one of Europe's finest.<br /> * Held positions in Düsseldorf and Berlin.<br /><br /><br />
