Chinua

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Title: **Mendelssohn Octet in E flat major** Composer: **Felix Mendelssohn** Performers: **The Borodin Quartet and the Fine Arts Quartet** Time period: **Romantic**

The Mendelssohn Octet in E flat major is a work of absolute genius because of its beauty, colour and complexity. Felix Mendelssohn composed the octet when he was only sixteen and it is an outstanding example of Mendelssohn's amazing talent. He composed the piece for his violin teacher and good friend Eduard Rietz (born October 17, 1802). This piece is believed to have been inspired by a section in Goethe's Faust entitled "Walpurgis Night's Dream." Mendelssohn had met the German poet Goethe when he was only 12 and Goethe 72.

Felix Mendelssohn was born on February 3, 1809 in French-occupied, Hamburg, German into a well to do, Jewish family. Being born into a wealthy family meant Felix would have a good education and would be exposed to all the forms of art. From a young age Felix showed true talent as a prodigy in both violin and piano, painting and writing. He had three siblings, a brother named Paul and two sisters named Fanny and Rebekah. All four children were baptized into Christianity in order for the family to gain greater social acceptance.

Felix first received violin lessons from his older sister Fanny before the family moved to Berlin, Germany in 1816. In Berlin, he studied piano under Ludwig Berger and composition under Karl F. Zelter. Felix traveled to Paris with his sister to study the works of Mozart and Bach. He was truly inspired by these masters but especially Bach. He composed eleven symphonies, five operas and many other pieces for piano, by the time he was fifteen years old.

From 1826 to 1829, Felix studied at Berlin University. This is when he decided music would be his chosen profession. Approximately, a year before he when't off to university he composed The Mendelssohn Octet it E flat major and which was then followed by the Overture to "A Midsummer Night's Dream".

Felix Mendelssohn died in Leipzig, Germany on November 4, 1847 at the young age of 38, leaving behind an extensive and varied body of work.

I chose the entire Octet and not just one movement because I feel that they fit together in such a way that if you only play one movement it feels incomplete.

The first movement is an allegro filled with many runs and dynamics which makes the opening enticing and dramatic to listeners. The movement has a very soft and smooth texture in the violins but changes to a light staccato section. These parts move back and forth with lots of crescendos and decrescendos and a steady base line played by the cellos. The melody is bounced around the violins and throughout the entire group.

The second movement is an andante. It has a much different feel and colour than the previous movement. It is much sadder than the allegro and has a much different flow. The movement is smooth and has a thoughtful feel about it that makes you wonder what the composer was experiencing when he wrote this movement. The dynamics are very exaggerated which contribute to the romantic feel. The bowing is slurred and legato throughout the entire movement.

The third movement is described as allegro leggerissimo. The translation is light and quick. The movement is extremely fast with a staccato bow stroke. Dynamics are not so apparent as the previous movements. Most of this movement is supposed to be played very quietly (based on the sheet music) but the performers added some of their own dynamics to make the piece more exciting and interesting. It appears that the instruments are having a conversation with one another and even an argument at some points. There are a lot of trills in the first violin part which a nice texture over top of everyone else's playing.

The last movement is the presto. It starts with a very intense cello introduction which sets the pace for the rest of the octet. The last movement combines all of the three previous movements. It has a mix of beautiful legato bows and staccato eight notes which makes the piece more fun. Throughout this presto, there is a series of echoes between the upper and lower strings. The last movement is extremely fast with crazy (high and fast) runs by the violins and a classic ending with three big chords. Altogether, the octet seems orderly but still uncontrolled.

Other works by Felix Mendelssohn are The Overture to A Midsummer Night's Dream, and the Violin Concerto in E minor Op. 64 which is one most popular and frequently performed violin concertos. He composed the operas The Two Nephews and the Return of the Roamer.He was also an accomplished painter.

Lucerne by Felix Mendelssohn.