Elegante Romantik: Mendelssohns Stellung in der Geschichte des 19. Jahrhunderts
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- Subject according curriculum
- Music Analysis
- Teachers
- Prof. Fredrik Schwenk
- Scope
- Tuesday, 4:00–5:30 p.m.; first session: October 27, 2026.
- Room
- BP 11
- Duration
- 1.5 Semesterwochenstunden
- Description
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy is widely regarded today as one of the most important composers of the 19th century. However, this was not always the case. Although Mendelssohn was among the most respected composers of his time during his lifetime, he was increasingly marginalized by later generations of critics and music historians as intellectual and aesthetic ideas evolved over the course of the 19th century. Under the Nazi regime, performances of his works were eventually banned, before his music was gradually rehabilitated after 1945.
In this module, we will explore Mendelssohn’s life and his most important works—from the extraordinary compositions of his childhood and youth, which already drew comparisons to Mozart, to the symphonies, concertos, chamber music, piano works, and oratorios of his mature period. After first developing our own perspective on Mendelssohn’s music, we will examine music reviews from his lifetime and from the decades following his death to better understand the relationship between his works and the history of their reception—a history shaped by this exuberant, melancholic, and elegant composer.
- Literature
Mercer-Taylor, P. (2000) The Life of Mendelssohn. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Todd, R. L. (ed.) (1991) Mendelssohn and His World. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
Rosenthal, M. (2024) Reception, Reflection, and Dialogue in the Dedications to Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy. Würzburg: Königshausen & Neumann.- Credits
- 2 Creditpoints
- Comments
Instructors: Dominic Wills and Prof. Fredrik Schwenk.
The seminar is open to bachelor's and master's students from all departments.
Please register at fredrik.schwenk@hfmt-hamburg.de or dominic.wills@hfmt-hamburg.de. Maximum number of participants: 15.
Course requirements: Presentation on a topic agreed upon with the seminar instructors (approx. 20–30 minutes)
Credit points: 2 for BA; 3 for MA- Modules
- Musiktheoretisches/Musikwissenschaftliches Wahlmodul Instrumental, Promotionsmodul, Wahlmodul freie Wahl (alle Studiengänge)