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Arnold Ludwig Mendelssohn

アーノルド・ルートヴィヒ・メンデルスゾーン

Anorudo Rūtovigu Mendelssohn

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1855-12-26 （Ratibor (Racibórz), Province of Silesia, Kingdom of Prussia）
Died
1933-02-18 （Darmstadt, Germany） age 77
Nationality
German
Languages
German
Religion
Judaism
Residence History
Ratibor (Racibórz) (birthplace) → Darmstadt (active; died)

Career

Occupations
composer, music educator, church music director
Active Years
1880-1933
Influenced
Paul Hindemith

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Elsi, die seltsame Magd

1896 Opera (2 acts)

A two-act opera with a libretto by Hermann Wette; premiered in Cologne in 1896.

folkloric elementshuman relationships

Der Bärenhäuter

1900 Opera (3 acts)

A three-act opera with a libretto by Hermann Wette; premiered in Berlin (Theater des Westens) in 1900.

folk talefantasy

Die Minneburg

1909 Opera (one act)

A one-act opera with a libretto by G. von Koch; premiered in Mannheim in 1909.

love and legend

Moderne Suite for Piano Op.79

1918 Piano music

A piano suite from 1918 combining late-Romantic language with some modern elements.

late Romanticismpiano expression

Sonata for Piano in E minor Op.66

1917 Piano sonata

A 1917 piano sonata combining virtuosity and introspection.

introspectioncontrapuntal elements

String Quartet No.2 in D major Op.67

1915 Chamber music (string quartet)

A 1915 string quartet showing traditional forms and personal expression.

formal beautydialogic motifs

Bibliography

  • Elsi, die seltsame Magd Op.8 (opera, 1896)
  • Der Bärenhäuter Op.11 (opera, 1900)
  • Die Minneburg (opera, 1909)
  • Sonata for Piano in E minor Op.66 (1917)
  • Moderne Suite for Piano Op.79 (1918)
  • String Quartet No.2 in D major Op.67 (1915)
  • Sonata for Violoncello and Piano in F-sharp minor Op.70 (1917)
  • Sonata for Violin and Piano in C major Op.71 (1917)
  • Trio for 2 Violins & Piano in A minor Op.76 (1918)
  • Suite for Woodwinds, Brass and Percussion Op.62 (1916)
  • Deutsche Messe Op.89 (sacred music)
  • Geistliche Chormusik Op.90 (sacred choral music)

Adaptations

  • Recording of Deutsche Messe Op.89 (SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart / Frieder Bernius)
  • Recording of Geistliche Chormusik Op.90 (Berliner Vokalensemble / Bernd Stegmann)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
late-Romantic harmonic idiomemphasis on sacred and choral textures
Recurring Motifs
chorale (hymn) motifsfolk-legend motifsreligious/spiritual themes

Legacy

Arnold Mendelssohn was known as a composer and teacher (one of his pupils was Paul Hindemith). His works were suppressed under the Nazi regime due to his Jewish heritage; in recent decades recordings and scholarship have contributed to a modest reassessment of his output.

Museums

  • Berlin State Library (holds resources on Arnold Mendelssohn) Berlin, Germany

Archives

  • Collections and resources on Arnold Ludwig Mendelssohn at the Berlin State Library

Trivia

  • He worked as a lawyer initially before studying music.
  • Paul Hindemith was among his students.
  • Because of his Jewish background, his works were banned in Nazi Germany.