By Barry Lenson
We recently profiled Clara Schumann, a supremely gifted composer who was married to Robert Schumann. Today, we would like to turn our attention to Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel, another astonishingly talented woman composer who stood in the shadow of a famous man.
In Fanny’s instance, the man who cast an obscuring shadow over her was her brother Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (1809-1847). And it was an immense shadow. Felix was not only one of the greatest composers of the Romanic era, he was nothing short of a miracle. Think of his Octet, his incidental music for A Midsummer Night’s Dream, his chamber music, his symphonies, his piano music, his oratorios . . . what kind of human can write music like his? And write it all before he died at the age of thirty-eight.
Yet even alongside a colossus like Felix, Fanny holds her own. Had she lived in an era when women were not so marginalized, and had she not died at the age of 41, she might have enjoyed the recognition and respect she deserved.
But today, we will strike one small blow in her favor. We can’t correct nearly two centuries of neglect in one day, but together, we can discover more of the wonderful music composed by this remarkable woman.
About Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel
Fanny Mendelssohn (who took the name Mendelssohn-Hensel after her marriage in 1829) was born on November 14, 1805, in Hamburg, Germany. She was the eldest of four children in a distinguished Jewish family. Her mother was the granddaughter of the philosopher Moses Mendelssohn. (Note that due to social norms observed by some German Jews at the time, the Mendelssohn children and their parents were baptized and became Lutherans in 1816.)
Fanny showed prodigious musical talent. She received her first piano lessons from her mother and later studied under Carl Friedrich Zelter, an important composer in his own right. Despite her talent, she refrained from performing publicly or promoting her own compositions. Many of her first works were published under her brother’s name. In 1829, she married the artist Wilhelm Hensel.
Fanny continued to compose and perform in private settings. It wasn’t until 1846 that she published a collection of songs under her own name. She passed away from a stroke on May 14, 1847, at the age of 41. Her brother Felix was devastated and died only six months later, at the age of 38.
Legacy
Fanny Mendelssohn’s works have gained increasing recognition in recent years, revealing her significant contributions to the musical landscape of the Romantic era. Her compositions include a string quartet, a piano trio, more than 125 pieces for the piano, and more than 250 songs.
Selected Works by Fanny Mendelssohn on Classical Archives*
Songs
Eichendorff-Lieder (six song settings of poems by Joseph von Eichendorff)
Piano Works
Six Songs for Piano Op. 4 and 5
Chamber Music
Choral Works
Oratorio on Scenes from the Bible, for soloists, chorus, and orchestra
* Please note that to listen, you must be a member of Classical Archives. We invite you to join today. Free 14-day trial memberships are available.
