Das Jahr by Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel includes allusions to other works, such as quotations from Bach's St. John Passion and St. Matthew Passion, and references to Bach's Orgelbüchlein.
Composition History
The genesis of Das Jahr, a piano cycle by Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel, dates from her trip to Italy in 1839-40, where she recorded many artistic and visual impressions.
Composer Biography
Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel, the composer, was compelled by her brother Felix and societal expectations to suppress her musical career for 'womanly' duties.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel's Das Jahr unites notes, images, and words, with the autograph score featuring drawings by her husband, Wilhelm Hensel, for each piece.
Composition History
Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel composed Das Jahr, a cycle of 12 character pieces for each month, 35 years before Tchaikovsky wrote his celebrated piano cycle The Seasons.
Performer Biography
Gaia Sokoli, the pianist on this album, has won over 50 first prizes in national and international competitions, including her debut at Carnegie Hall in New York.
Critical Reception
Despite diligent care in its creation, Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel's Das Jahr was not published during her lifetime, with the complete first version only appearing in print in 1989.
You might also enjoy...
Brahms: Transcriptions for Piano
The Welte Mignon Mystery, Vol. 2: Felix Mottl
J.S. Bach: Pastorale und Choräle (In Klaviertranskriptionen 1986)
J.S. Bach: Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, Cantata BWV 147: Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring (Arr. Hess for Piano)
Andante favori, WoO 57
Handel: Suite in B-Flat Major, HWV 434: IV. Minuet (Arr. Kempff for Piano)
Suite for String Orchestra No. 3 in D Major, BWV 1068: Air (Arr. for piano by A. Siloti)
Keyboard Works, Vol. II: No. 10, Toccata and Fugue in A Minor: I. Grave
Fanny Mendelssohn: Abschied von Rom, H-U. 352
J.S. Bach: Cantata, BWV 21: Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis (Arr. Ólafsson for Piano)
