Felix Mendelssohn
String Symphony No. 4 in C minor (1821)
00:00 - Grave - Allegro
03:16 - Andante
06:00 - Allegro vivace
"Mendelssohn wrote his twelve String Symphonies between 1821 and 1823. The first seven were all composed in 1821, with the eighth a year later, dated 27th November 1822, and the ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth, completed in March, May, July and September 1823 respectively. A thirteenth symphony, started in December that year, was replaced by a fully orchestrated work, to become his Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 11. The string symphonies were written when Mendelssohn was a pupil of Zelter and reflect the inclinations of the teacher and Mendelssohn's own clear debt to earlier classical models, with an increasing interest in the contrapuntal practices of Bach and Handel.
... String Symphony No. 4 in C minor starts with a slow introduction, followed by a contrapuntal Allegro. There is a more lyrical major key Andante, breaking off to become a final Allegro vivace, in which again full use is made of counterpoint." - Keith Anderson
String Symphony No. 5 in B-flat major (1821)
00:00 - Allegro vivace
04:16 - Andante
07:16 - Presto
... String Symphony No. 5 in B flat major, completed ten days after String Symphony No. 4, on 15th September 1821, starts with impressive unanimity in a movement in which the opening descending bass motif has continuing importance. There is a tender second movement and an energetic final Presto." - Keith Anderson
String Symphony No. 6 in E-flat major (1821)
00:00 - Allegro
03:31 - Menuetto - Trio I - Menuetto - Trio II
07:38 - Prestissimo
... The String Symphony No. 6 in E flat major continues Mendelssohn's explorations of the possibilities of the classical form, with a central movement that consists of a Minuet and two Trios." - Keith Anderson
Performed by the Northern Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Nicholas Ward.
Nicholas Ward: Mendelssohn String Symphonies Complete, 1 to 3
Nicholas Ward: Mendelssohn String Symphonies Complete, 4 to 6
Nicholas Ward: Mendelssohn String Symphonies Complete, 7 to 9
Nicholas Ward: Mendelssohn String Symphonies Complete, 10 to 13
