MENDELSSOHN Piano Music Of (Op. 54), Vladimir Horowitz, RCA, DM-1121

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MENDELSSOHN
Piano Music Of (Op. 54)


Vladimir Horowitz - Piano


RCA Victor Masterpiece Set
DM-1121

Complete on Three Twelve-inch Records

Matrix numbers: 9565 - 9567

Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (German: [?ja?k?p ?lu?tv?ç ?fe?l?ks ?m?ndl?szo?n ba??t?ldi]; 3 February 1809 – 4 November 1847), born, and generally known in English-speaking countries, as Felix Mendelssohn, was a German composer, pianist, organist and conductor of the early Romantic period.

A grandson of the philosopher Moses Mendelssohn, Felix Mendelssohn was born into a prominent Jewish family, although initially he was raised without religion and was later baptised as a Reformed Christian. Mendelssohn was recognised early as a musical prodigy, but his parents were cautious and did not seek to capitalise on his talent.

Early success in Germany, where he also revived interest in the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, was followed by travel throughout Europe. Mendelssohn was particularly well received in Britain as a composer, conductor and soloist, and his ten visits there – during which many of his major works were premiered – form an important part of his adult career. His essentially conservative musical tastes, however, set him apart from many of his more adventurous musical contemporaries such as Franz Liszt, Richard Wagner and Hector Berlioz. The Leipzig Conservatoire (now the University of Music and Theatre Leipzig), which he founded, became a bastion of this anti-radical outlook.

Mendelssohn wrote symphonies, concerti, oratorios, piano music and chamber music. His best-known works include his Overture and incidental music for A Midsummer Night's Dream, the Italian Symphony, the Scottish Symphony, the overture The Hebrides, his mature Violin Concerto, and his String Octet. His Songs Without Words are his most famous solo piano compositions. After a long period of relative denigration due to changing musical tastes and anti-Semitism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, his creative originality has now been recognised and re-evaluated. He is now among the most popular composers of the Romantic era.

Includes the following works:

1. Variations Sérieuses, Op. 54
2. Songs Without Words
   1. Book 5, Op. 62 (1842–1844)
   2. Book 6, Op. 67 (1843–1845)
3. "Wedding March" in C major

 Variations Sérieuses, Op. 54

The Variations Sérieuses, Op. 54, is a set of variations on a theme in D minor, by Felix Mendelssohn. It was completed on 4 June 1841. A performance lasts about eleven minutes.

The work was written as part of a campaign to raise funds for the erection of a large bronze statue of Ludwig van Beethoven in his home town of Bonn. The publisher Pietro Mecchetti asked Mendelssohn to contribute to a 'Beethoven Album', published in January 1842, which also included pieces by Liszt, Chopin, Moscheles and others, of which the proceeds would go to the Monument. (Schumann's Fantasie in C was the final result of a work originally intended for the same purpose).

Mendelssohn is known to have written three sets of piano variations, but only this one was published during his lifetime.

Many of the variations require a virtuoso technique. Mendelssohn's good friend Ignaz Moscheles stated "I play the Variations sérieuses again and again, each time I enjoy the beauty again." Ferruccio Busoni also liked the work very much. Many pianists have recorded them, including Vladimir Horowitz, Sviatoslav Richter, Rena Kyriakou, Vladimir Sofronitsky and Murray Perahia.

Songs Without Words

Songs Without Words (Lieder ohne Worte) is a series of short lyrical piano pieces by the Romantic composer Felix Mendelssohn, written between 1829 and 1845.

Book 5, Op. 62 (1842–1844)

• No. 1 Andante espressivo in G major, in 4/4 time. As with many of the Songs without Words, this is in ternary form with a coda. The left hand accompanies the melody throughout with a rhythm of one quaver followed by six semiquavers.
• No. 2 Allegro con fuoco in B-flat major
• No. 3 Andante maestoso in E minor ("Trauermarsch" [Funeral march])
• No. 4 Allegro con anima in G major
• No. 5 Andante con moto in A minor ("Venezianisches Gondellied" [Venetian Boat Song])
• No. 6 Allegretto grazioso in A major ("Frühlingslied" [Spring Song])
  
  
  Song No. 6 "Spring Song" was also sometimes known in England as "Camberwell Green", being the place in London where Mendelssohn composed it while staying with the Benneckes, relatives of his wife.

Book 5 was dedicated to Clara Schumann.

Book 6, Op. 67 (1843–1845)

1. No. 1 Andante in E-flat major
2. No. 2 Allegro leggiero in F-sharp minor
3. No. 3 Andante tranquillo in B-flat major
4. No. 4 Presto in C major ("Spinnerlied" [Spinner's Song])
5. No. 5 Moderato in B minor
6. No. 6 Allegro non troppo in E major

The "Spinnerlied" (Spinner's Song), has also been given the nickname the "Bee's Wedding" since the busy accompaniment to the melody resembles the buzzing of bees.

Book 6 was dedicated to Sophie Rosen.

Felix Mendelssohn's "Wedding March" in C major, written in 1842, is one of the best known of the pieces from his suite of incidental music (Op. 61) to Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Night's Dream. It is one of the most frequently used wedding marches, generally being played on a church pipe organ.

At weddings in many Western countries, this piece is commonly used as a recessional, though frequently stripped of its episodes in this context. It is frequently teamed with the "Bridal Chorus" from Richard Wagner's opera Lohengrin, or with Jeremiah Clarke's "Prince of Denmark's March", both of which are often played for the entry of the bride. 

The first time that Mendelssohn's "Wedding March" was used at a wedding was when Dorothy Carew wed Tom Daniel at St Peter's Church, Tiverton, England, on 2 June 1847 when it was performed by organist Samuel Reay. However, it did not become popular at weddings until it was selected by Victoria, The Princess Royal for her marriage to Prince Frederick William of Prussia on 25 January 1858. The bride was the daughter of Queen Victoria, who loved Mendelssohn's music and for whom Mendelssohn often played while on his visits to Britain.

An organ on which Mendelssohn gave recitals of the "Wedding March", among other works, is housed in St Ann's Church in Tottenham.

Franz Liszt wrote a virtuoso transcription of the "Wedding March and Dance of the Elves" (S. 410) in 1849-50. Vladimir Horowitz transcribed the Wedding March into a virtuoso showpiece for piano and played it as an encore at his concerts.

From the private collection of the late Dr. Harry Hammer, who was the Chairman of Macalester College’s music department from 1969-1977 as well as an avid collector for over 40 years. Dr. Hammer once served as a special hitting coach for the New York Mets. That was in August, 1965...hired to help the Mets' hitters follow the ball better, using a method he originally developed to teach musicians sight reading. All albums are from the late 20’s to early 40’s, and many are original, 1st editions containing pristine pressings from the golden age of 78’s. This collection consists of a nearly complete run of RCA Victor Musical Masterpiece Albums and Columbia Masterworks Album Sets.

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