Well we made it to Friday and I am stopping in in the midst of a buys day to make sure I get a post up today. Seems like everyone wants a piece of my time today in addition to my weekly chores and errands. And then there is that little thing called a 9 hour truck night shift coming up at 5 o'clock. No rest for us wicked folks, eh? So, as I 'v e not read the news or anything like that, let's just do Music and Men and then I gotta jet off to those who are calling for me.
Your featured Composer for today is Felix Mendelssohn. 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 baptized as a Reformed Christian.
Mendelssohn was recognized early as a musical prodigy, but his parents
were cautious and did not seek to capitalize on his talent.
Mendelssohn enjoyed early success in Germany, where he also revived interest in the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, and in his travels throughout Europe. He 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 recognized and re-evaluated. He is now among the most popular composers of the Romantic era.
Mendelssohn enjoyed early success in Germany, where he also revived interest in the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, and in his travels throughout Europe. He 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 recognized and re-evaluated. He is now among the most popular composers of the Romantic era.
I have two of Mendelssohn's works for you today. Down below you will find Mendelssohn's Octet for Strings in E Flat Major, Opus 2o with a performance by L'Archibudelli and The Smithsonian Chamber Players, on period
instruments. Vera Beths, Jody Gatwood, Lisa Rautenberg, and Gijs Beths, Violins. Steven Dann and David Cerutti, Violas. Anner Bylsma and Kenneth
Slowik, Cellos. While over on my tumblr, join YoYo Ma, Emmanuel Ax and Itzhak Perlman for Mendelssohn's Piano Trio Number 1 in D Minor, Opus 49.
Finally on this Friday I have some seriously sensuous Fantasy Fuel posted down below to inspire your desire and on my tumblr your Hottie of the Day! is putting on a 'Floor Show'. Thanks for hangin' in til I got here, see you again for the Sunday Morning Concert. Until next time as always, Enjoy!
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