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Women Composers - #2: Fanny Mendelssohn [1]
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Date: 2023-03-02
Fannie (Mendelssohn) Hensel 1842, by Moritz Daniel Oppenheim
As I present a new woman composer, I hope it will inspire to you explore their music in greater depth, and that you will consider the obstacles each one had to overcome as they pursued creative work in what was considered a man’s field.
Fanny Mendelssohn, a German composer ( November 14, 1805 – May 14, 1847) was the oldest of four children, and the older sister of her more famous brother, Felix by four years. Their family was well-to do, descended on both sides from distinguished Jewish figures, such as philosopher Moses Mendelssohn and entrepeneur Danile Itzig. There was a considerable amount of pressure at that time to assimilate into larger German society - one route the Mendelssohns hoped would gain them and their musically-talented children more acceptance was through music, and the other was through Christianity, and so her father had the children baptized. The family continued their affinity for the social and moral values found in Judaism. The family name was changed to Mendelssohn-Bartholdy.
Fannie had some of the best formal training available at that time, including from her mother who had formidible piano skills of her own. She was a prolific composer, having written a piano trio, a piano quartet, four cantatas, an orchestral overture, over 250 lieder, more than 125 pieces for the piano, — most of which went unpublished during her lifetime. The few pieces she was permitted to publish were under her brother’s name. Renowned for her piano playing ability, Fannie rarely gave public performances outside of her family circle. Prejudice and social mores of the times prevented her from pursuing the career she would have chosen for herself, unlike her brother Felix who was encouraged to pursue composing and performing as a career. Her works were often performed in their home alongside her brother’s at the Sunday concert series which were held for many years. Her father tolerated her creative musical endeavors, while with younger Felix, he encouraged them. Felix was privately encouraging but reluctant to have her publish her works under her own name. Eventually, she published several pieces under her married name, Fannie Hensel geb (neé) Mendelssohn-Bartholdy.
Interest concerning Fanny Mendelssohn-Bartholdy’s life and work has been growing since the 1980’s.
Here’s Fannie Mendelssohn’s Overture in C major, performed by the ROCO, under the baton of conductor Mei-Ann Chen.
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