Presents
Felix Mendelssohn
Sinfonia No.10 (String Symphony) in b minor
For 2 Violins, 2 Violas, Cello & Bass
Felix Mendelssohn's String Symphony No.10 in b minor dates from 1823 at which time he was 14 years old. It is one of the last of the so-called string symphonies he wrote between 1821 and 1823, although a movement also for strings is sometimes called No.13, it is generally not considered one of the string symphonies. Although No.10 was, like the others, an assignment in counterpoint from his composition teacher Carl Zelter, it is nonetheless a finished work. All of the twelve symphonies are in three movements with the exception of No.11 which has five and No.10 which only has one. That it only has one movement has led some scholars to speculate that there were two other movements which were lost, but this remains a speculation.
There are three tempo designations in the work. It opens with an Adagio introductionsounding of Johann Sebastian Bach. There are also touches of Haydn and Mozart at the end of the introducion. The main part of the movement is marked Allegro. The first theme appears to be modeled on the music of C.P.E. Bach with its sudden changeds in mood and dynamics. The music also recalls Haydn’s early symphonies often referred as his Sturm und Drang style. A second theme has a rapid and busy quality while a third theme that became a trademark of Mendelssohn's style. The final section is makred Piu presto in which the music increases in tempo and rushes to a satisfying conclusion.
It is ironic that while none of these early sinfonia as he called them were intended to be played by the massed string section of a modern symphony orchestra or even the size of today's chamber orchestra, that is the only way these works seem to be heard. The title of Sinfonia was given because of the style rather than the number of players he intended for the work. It is almost certain that Mendelssohn intended this work for six players not more. These lovely pieces were meant for home use and for musical soirees. Long out of print, we are pleased to reintroduce a work which makes a fine selection for sextet or small string orchestra.
Every other edition has paid no attention whatsoever to page turns and the problems performers have with bad page turns and as a result make a poor choice for performance. However, our edition has eliminated these problems by creating page turns designed for performance.
Parts: $19.95
Parts & Score: $28.95
