Surprised this hasn't been done already! My choices are all chamber works (though I love many of his orchestral works as well):
Cello Sonata no. 2
String Quartet no. 2
Octet
String Quintet no. 2
Piano Trio no. 1
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Symphony No. 5
Symphony No. 4
Hebrides Overture
String Quartet No. 6, Op. 80
String Quartet No. 6
Piano Trio No. 1
Octet
Preludes and Fugues Op. 35
Symphony No. 4
Violin Concerto
Piano Trio No. 2
Symphony No. 3 "Scottish"
String Quartet No. 6
Hebrides
Violin Concerto in E minor
String Octet
A Midsummer Night's Dream
String Quartet no. 2
String Quartet no. 6
Haven't listened to his great oratorios yet, I say these ones:
Symphony 3 Scottish
String quartet 6, op. 80
Octet
Violin concerto
The Hebrides Overture
A Midsummer's Night Dream
Overture 'The Hebrides'
Symphony no 3
Piano concerto in g minor
Violin concerto in e minor
I know only a few works of his chamber music (I know, it's a shame :-[ ) . Further acquaintance is high on my list of priorities.
Quote from: Brian on November 01, 2017, 10:57:14 AM
Preludes and Fugues Op. 35
Don't know this one - must investigate!
Quote from: André on November 01, 2017, 05:18:06 PM
I know only a few works of his chamber music (I know, it's a shame :-[ ) . Further acquaintance is high on my list of priorities.
Oh yes, you must rectify that soon! :) Mendelssohn's chamber output contains his finest achievements IMHO.
Apart from the octet, I only have the piano sextet, 2 piano trios op 49 and 66 and the 3 piano quartets.
I wish I could contribute here, but I never thought much of Mendelssohn. I like a few of his symphonies and chamber works, but his music, for me, lacks that dramatic element I yearn for in music. What is his most turbulent work?
Quote from: Mirror Image on November 01, 2017, 06:39:29 PM
I wish I could contribute here, but I never thought much of Mendelssohn. I like a few of his symphonies and chamber works, but his music, for me, lacks that dramatic element I yearn for in music. What is his most turbulent work?
I'd say his String Quartet no. 6, especially that shuddering, dramatic opening movement. The slow movements of his Cello Sonata no. 2, Octet, and String Quintet no. 2 all contain a great amount of pathos (if not turbulence).
Quote from: André on November 01, 2017, 06:35:39 PM
Apart from the octet, I only have the piano sextet, 2 piano trios op 49 and 66 and the 3 piano quartets.
His quartets (especially 1, 2, and 6), String Quintet no. 2 (don't know no. 1), and Cello Sonata no. 2 are very much worth your time as well.
A minor string quartet Op. 13
A major string quintet Op. 18
C minor symphony Op. 11
F minor string symphony
F# minor Lied ohne Worte Op. 67 no. 2
Quote from: amw on November 01, 2017, 08:21:37 PM
C minor symphony Op. 11
Great choice. I've always loved this invigorating work.
Hebrides Ouverture
a minor string quartet op.13
violin concerto
string quartet op.80
midsummer night's dream ouverture + incidental music
Quote from: Mirror Image on November 01, 2017, 06:39:29 PM
I wish I could contribute here, but I never thought much of Mendelssohn. I like a few of his symphonies and chamber works, but his music, for me, lacks that dramatic element I yearn for in music. What is his most turbulent work?
probably the f minor string quartet.
Many other works, e.g. the Hebrides Ouverture or the "Scottish symphony" have dramatic passages but are overall more in "generally romantic" moods, often with a turn to the major at the end.
Even a wild finale in the minor as in the "Italian" seems more pittoresque than dramatic (in the Beethoven sense).
Mendelssohn is cool - I like all the lists posted so far:
Quote from: aesthetic on November 01, 2017, 01:16:54 PM
Violin Concerto
Piano Trio No. 2
Symphony No. 3 "Scottish"
String Quartet No. 6
Hebrides
Quote from: SymphonicAddict on November 01, 2017, 04:06:34 PM
Haven't listened to his great oratorios yet, I say these ones:
Symphony 3 Scottish
String quartet 6, op. 80
Octet
Violin concerto
The Hebrides Overture
These could be my choices too (except I'd substitute Piano Trio #1 instead of #2 in
Aesthetic's list). :)
Angst in music is hugely overrated but if one wants melancholy, nostalgia and bittersweetness experienced and expressed within an essentially healthy and happy outlook, Mendelssohn has aplenty.
Actually, he is a victim (one of many, actually) of the persistent and pernicious myth that music which is not Angst-ridden, sorrowful and tragic is somehow less worthy or interesting than music which is.
I am particularly fond of his best kept secrets: the Lieder and the piano music besides Songs without Words.
So glad to see people responding about the piano Preludes & Fugues Op. 35. Many of Mendelssohn's piano and chamber works deserve better repute...Op. 35 certainly belongs in that category and deserves more recording attention, too.
Quote from: Florestan on November 03, 2017, 04:50:47 AM
Angst in music is hugely overrated but if one wants melancholy, nostalgia and bittersweetness experienced and expressed within an essentially healthy and happy outlook, Mendelssohn has aplenty.
Actually, he is a victim (one of many, actually) of the persistent and pernicious myth that music which is not Angst-ridden, sorrowful and tragic is somehow less worthy or interesting than music which is.
Very much agree!
Quote from: Brian on November 03, 2017, 06:04:55 AM
F major, perhaps?
Only the introduction is in F major; the rest of the symphony is in F minor, so F major is kind of a mislabelling. But yeah. That one.
Also, the fugue in E minor from Op. 35 probably should be on my list.
Quote from: amw on November 03, 2017, 06:18:45 AM
Only the introduction is in F major; the rest of the symphony is in F minor, so F major is kind of a mislabelling. But yeah. That one.
Also, the fugue in E minor from Op. 35 probably should be on my list.
Thanks, listening to it today. Had to go with the way those internet streaming pedants file it, so I wanted to be sure.
The E minor is the best part of Op. 35 in my book, too.
Meeresstille und glückliche Fahrt
Violin Concerto
Symphony No 4
Octet
Lieder Ohne Worte (cheating, I know)
Quote from: Brian on November 03, 2017, 06:05:38 AM
So glad to see people responding about the piano Preludes & Fugues Op. 35. Many of Mendelssohn's piano and chamber works deserve better repute...Op. 35 certainly belongs in that category and deserves more recording attention, too.
Thanks for bringing it to my attention!
Todd mentioned the 4th great ouverture (quasi symphonic poem) that tends to get overlooked in favor of Hebrides, Midsummer night's dream and Melusina. There are a few more, not quite as convincing, but still fun, e.g. "Ruy Blas"
Some fairly major chamber works that are not well known are the 2nd piano trio (which is about as good as the first but far less popular), the string quartets op.44 (some movements are a little on the flashy side) and the mature violin sonata F major (from 1838, not published by the composer but he didn't like his "Reformation symphony" either...)
Besides his oratorios, Mendelssohn was also an important composer of a cappella and smaller scale choral music, both sacred and secular.