Fanny Mendelssohn Hansel

Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel was born On May 14, 1847 in Berlin, Germany. She was the eldest of four children. She descended from an extremely talented and successful Jewish families on both sides. Her mother, Lea Mendelssohn began training her on piano when she was just a child. To her benefit, Abraham Mendelssohn, tolerated Fanny's interest in the composition of music. Which was very uncharacteristic of a young female in this period. All four children were extremely fortunate to have the luxury of a top notch education in general studies and music. Of her siblings, Fanny was the closest to Felix Mendelssohn, whom she shared her deep love of music with. Even though they trained side by side, Felix gained more notoriety due to the oppression of woman in the 1800’s. It is argued she was just as good as her brother, Felix, if not better. Despite the families’ conversion to Christianity, Fanny was viewed as young Jewish woman, as she kept the values of a typical liberal Jewish woman.

It is very apparent, the influence Fanny had on her brother, Felixs’ career. For in this time period it was frowned upon when a woman showed interest the composition of music. So Felix published a few of Fanny’s works under his own name in his opus 8 and 9 collections. He relied on her for her input and critic of his compositions. So much, that even while away travelling abroad, they constantly exchanged letters depicting his travels. During one of his travels he was invited to Buckingham Palace by Queen Victoria and asked to perform her personal favorite, Italien, which he later admitted to Queen Victoria, was written by his sister Fanny.

Music of this period was usually of the romantic persuasion or that of nature. This rings true in Fanny’s work in “S...

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...iews kept her works in a shroud. It was not until recently that she began getting the recognition she deserves as one of the most influential composers of the Nineteenth Century, as musicians began performing her works in concerts. It was while rehearsing for one of these events that she died of a stroke in 1847 while rehearsing one of her brother, Felix’s oratorios. Filled with grief, Felix passed away of the same aliment just a short six months later. Even with all of the adversity she faced in her life it is believed she died a happy woman. For on her Piano at home was the newly finished work ‘Bergeslust’ in which she depicts a happy tone and bright outlook for her future.

Works Cited

http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/fanny-mendelssohn-hensel-387.php http://womencomposers.org/composer/show/1 http://www.answers.com/topic/das-jahr-cycle-for-piano-the-year