Description
Book SynopsisGranddaughter of the philosopher Moses Mendelssohn and sister of the composer Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Fanny Hensel (1805-1847) was an extraordinary musician who left well over four hundred compositions, most of which fell into oblivion until their rediscovery late in the twentieth century. In this book, Larry Todd offers a compelling, authoritative account of Hensel's life and music.
Trade ReviewAn authoritative new biography. * Forward.com *
Todd's exhaustively researched and engaging biography will probably remain the authoritative source into the foreseeable future. It has helped to life the curtain of silence" that kept Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel's works in the dark for well over a century. * Chamber Music *
At last an authoritative account of Hensel's life and music. Todd accords Hensel the creative recognition that is long overdue, and builds on his Mendelssohnian expertise to trace the mutually influential relationship between Fanny and Felix. A scholarly tour de force!-Marcia J. Citron, Author of Gender and the Musical Canon (1993) and Editor of Letters of Fanny Hensel to Felix Mendelssohn (1987)
The author of an acclaimed biography of Felix Mendelssohn, R. Larry Todd has now written what will surely be the authoritative life-and-works study of Fanny Hensel for a long time to come. With his superb insights into the workings of her music, he brings her out of her brother's shadow and enables her to take her rightful place in the sun. This book is an event, one that enlarges our picture of a woman, a family, a place, an era, and an important body of music. * Susan Youens, author of Heinrich Heine and the Lied (2008) and Hugo Wolf and his Morike Songs (2006) *
It is hard to believe that once again Larry Todd has made history with scholarship. Close on the heels of his authoritative biography of Felix Mendelssohn, for the first time we have a comprehensive biography of Fanny Mendelssohn. The biography is magisterial and pathbreaking, replete with a useful thematic catalog of Fanny's compositions. This book represents an indispensable piece of social and cultural history concerning German-speaking Europe before 1848. * Leon Botstein, President of Bard College, Music Director of the American Symphony Orchestra and the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra *
Table of ContentsList of Illustrations ; Acknowledgments ; Note On the Website ; Genealogical Tree of the Itzig and Mendelssohn Families ; Preface ; I. Fugal Fingers (1805-1818) ; II. Musical Ornaments (1819-1821) ; III. Sibling Rivalry and Separation (1822-1824) ; IV. Leipzigerstrasse No. 3 (1825-1828) ; V. Becoming Frau Hensel (1828-1830) ; VI. Secret Aspirations (1830-1833) ; VII. Youthful Decrepitude (1834-1835) ; VIII. Demonic Influences (1836-1839) ; IX. Italian Intermezzo (1839-1840) ; X. Domestic Tranquility (1840-1842) ; XI. The Joys of Dilettantism (1843-1845) ; XII. Engraver's Ink and Heavenly Songs (1846-1847) ; Epilogue ; Abbreviations ; Notes ; Bibliography ; Index of Fanny Hensel's Compositions ; General Index
