Overture
There are two artists with this name: (1) a German composer, (2) a British … Read Full Bio ↴There are two artists with this name: (1) a German composer, (2) a British singer and band leader.
(1) Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, known generally as Felix Mendelssohn (1809–1847) was a German composer, pianist, organist, and conductor of the early Romantic period.
Mendelssohn was born on 3rd February 1809 in Hamburg, Germany into a notable Jewish family (his grandfather was the philosopher Moses Mendelssohn). He was a child prodigy, though his family were careful not to allow this to distort his upbringing, and only approved of his following a musical career when it was clear that he was serious about music.
Early success in Germany 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 Conservatory he founded at Leipzig became a bastion of this anti-radical outlook.
Mendelssohn’s work includes symphonies, concertos, oratorios, piano works, and chamber music. He also had an important role in the revival of interest in the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. After a long period of relative denigration due to changing musical tastes and antisemitism in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, his creative originality has again been recognised, and re-evaluated. He is now among the most popular composers of the Romantic era. He died on 4th November 1847 in Leipzig.
(2) The other Felix Mendelssohn was a popular British crooner of the 1930s and 1940s. He became fascinated with Hawaiian music and became best known performing as Felix Mendelssohn & His Hawaiian Serenaders. See the Wikipedia article about this band and their Last.fm artist profile.
(1) Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, known generally as Felix Mendelssohn (1809–1847) was a German composer, pianist, organist, and conductor of the early Romantic period.
Mendelssohn was born on 3rd February 1809 in Hamburg, Germany into a notable Jewish family (his grandfather was the philosopher Moses Mendelssohn). He was a child prodigy, though his family were careful not to allow this to distort his upbringing, and only approved of his following a musical career when it was clear that he was serious about music.
Early success in Germany 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 Conservatory he founded at Leipzig became a bastion of this anti-radical outlook.
Mendelssohn’s work includes symphonies, concertos, oratorios, piano works, and chamber music. He also had an important role in the revival of interest in the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. After a long period of relative denigration due to changing musical tastes and antisemitism in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, his creative originality has again been recognised, and re-evaluated. He is now among the most popular composers of the Romantic era. He died on 4th November 1847 in Leipzig.
(2) The other Felix Mendelssohn was a popular British crooner of the 1930s and 1940s. He became fascinated with Hawaiian music and became best known performing as Felix Mendelssohn & His Hawaiian Serenaders. See the Wikipedia article about this band and their Last.fm artist profile.
Overture
Felix Mendelssohn Lyrics
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@alicemilne1444
@@jaakkokeskinen The sea has many faces. The prelude to Act 3 of Tristan and Isolde sounds like a powerful but largely calm sea, such as the Baltic.
Listen to Wagner's prelude to The Flying Dutchman to get an impression of a stormy sea, such as that which Wagner and his wife experienced on a crossing to England after they had fled Riga in the eastern Baltic.
Or listen to the Sea Interludes in Benjamin Britten's opera Peter Grimes.
Mendelssohn is describing sea passages around Hebridean islands in the eastern Atlantic.
I grew up close to the North Sea coast in Scotland and have seen the Atlantic in Scotland, Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal, Iceland and Norway. It can be a very, very wild indeed. I've been on ferries in a Force 10 gale. The Baltic just doesn't get gales like that.
@nickwright6034
So many appreciative comments here...
And I, too, have much to recognise, acknowledge and appreciate.
My reception teacher, Miss Irwin, in 1959, was an outstanding teacher and musician.
Sadly, long gone, I pay public tribute to a truly lovely lady who helped to shape my life and life-long interest in music.
RIP Miss Irwin.
@lilwen4063
At primary school in the UK 1960s, late afternoon, we would close our eyes and rest our heads on our desks to have some quiet time. My teacher at the time, Mr Jones, would play classical music for us to listen to, this was always one, if not my favourite! I'm 65 now and have listened to and enjoyed classical music every day of my life since then! My children and grandchildren are devoted fans too having been brought up on such classical masterpieces.
@brunorossibonin788
@Lil Wen You had a great teacher!
@marielouiseweeksb33attitud33
How amazing. I’m 62 and our Headmistress did the same in 1960’s. Miss Gayford (Primary school in the UK) played this and it has stuck ever since.
@ianskilton7641
Q
@MOGGS1942
On rainy days, we would gather in the hall at lunchtime and the Headmaster would play classical music for us. My introduction to such gems as Swan Lake, Peter and the wolf, etc. I still remember those occasions with great fondness.
@ClariceAust
I'm 65; why on earth didn't they do that in Australia, too? It would have been brilliant. As it was, it took me decades to discover the joys of classical music.
@ProbablyYoghurt
My mother said that this was playing when she gave birth to me, hence the reason why I decided to look it up. Seems pretty awesome to think that this was the first thing I would have heard.
@beaglybeagle
Wow! That is quite an anecdote to share! Fascinating that this welcomed you into the world!!
@fanofnormalclips
Unborn babies can already hear in their mother's womb.
@spikespa5208
But the strings don't come through very well underwater.