Composer of the Week - Fanny Mendelssohn (1805-1847)

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Donald Macleod traces the musical development of Fanny Hensel née Mendelssohn. Whilst Fanny’s famous brother Felix Mendelssohn’s career flourished, the equally talented Fanny was often held back by the conventions of the period and at times, by her own brother. Despite this, in her final years, Fanny would go on to publish her own music under her married name, Fanny Hensel.

Music Featured:

Das Jahr, H-U 385 Piano Quartet in A flat, H-U 55 Ferne, H-U 97 Der Fischer, H-U 85 An Suleika, H-U 148 Mailied, H-U 122 Piano Sonata in C minor, H-U 128 Prelude in G, H-U 243 Der Rosenkranz, H-U 168 Ostersonate, piano sonata in A, H-U 235 Am Flusse, H-U 204 Harfners Lied, H-U 162 Deinem Blick mich zu bequemen, H-U 151 Sonata o Fantasia, H-U 238 Hiob, H-U 258 Oratorio on words from the Bible, H-U 260 (Gott unser Schild) Klavierstück, in F minor H-U 302 (Allegro agitato) Hero und Leander, H-U 262 String Quartet in E flat, H-U 277 Mélodie, Op 4/5 No 4 (Lento appassionato) Overture, H-U 265 Im wunderschönen Monat Mai, H-U 323 Lobgesang, H-U 257 (Chorus: Meine Seele ist stille zu Gott) Warum sind denn die Rosen so blass, H-U 312 Gondellied, H-U 377 Capriccio in A flat, H-U 247 Aus meinen Tränen sprießen, H-U 327 Abschied von Rom, H-U 352 Die frühen Gräber, H-U 222 Dämmrung senkte sich von oben, H-U 392 Piano Trio in D minor, Op 11 Lobgesang, H-U 257 (excerpt) Im Herbste, H-U 416 Vorwulf, H-U 462 Bergeslust, H-U 466

Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Luke Whitlock for BBC Audio Wales & West

For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Fanny Mendelssohn (1805-1847) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002cym9

And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z

Published on Thursday, 12th June 2025.

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