Mendelssohn's early men's choirs were inspired by Carl Friedrich Zelter's ideal of simple men's singing, featuring short, mostly strophic choral movements.
Historical Context
The men's choir movement, which Mendelssohn's works belong to, began in 1809 with the founding of the Berliner Liedertafel by Carl Friedrich Zelter.
Composer Biography
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy's first and last pieces for four vocal voices were both men's choruses, composed when he was eleven and seven weeks before his death.
Performer Biography
Frieder Bernius, the conductor on this album, has documented his artistic work on 120 sound recordings and received over 50 international record awards.
Historical Context
Liedertafeln were groups of men who met regularly to eat, drink, converse, and compose and sing songs, often requiring musically accessible contributions from composers.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Mendelssohn had an ambivalent relationship with men's choral singing, complaining in 1839 that the 'philistine' nature was inherent in the four male voices.
Composition History
Despite having composed over twenty men's choir pieces by February 1838, Mendelssohn declined a request for such a work, stating he had not yet attempted the genre.
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