Mendelssohn Songs without words

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Record and Artist Details

Composer or Director: Felix Mendelssohn

Magazine Review Date: 5/1988

Media Format: Cassette

Media Runtime: 0

Mastering:

DDD

Catalogue Number: 421 119-4DH

Tracks:

Composition	Artist Credit
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 4, Presto in C, 'Spinnerlied: The Bee's Wedding'	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 6, Allegro non troppo in E	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 6, Allegretto con moto in B flat	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 3, Presto in C	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 5, Allegro vivace in A minor, 'Kinderstück'	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 1, Andante con moto in E	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 2, Andante espressivo in A minor	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 4, Moderato in A	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 5, Agitato in F sharp minor	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 6, Andante sostenuto in G minor, 'Venetian Gondola Song' (1830)	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 3, Andante sostenuto in E	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 4, Agitato e con fuoco in B minor	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 5, Andante grazioso in D	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 6, Allegretto in F sharp minor, 'Venetian Gond	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 1, Con moto in E flat	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 2, Allegro non troppo in C minor	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 6, Andante con moto in A flat, 'Duetto'	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 1, Andante con moto in A flat	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 2, Allegro non troppo in E flat	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 3, Presto agitato in G minor	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 1, Andante espressivo in G	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 6, Andante grazioso in A	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer

Composer or Director: Felix Mendelssohn

Magazine Review Date: 5/1988

Media Format: Vinyl

Media Runtime: 0

Mastering:

DDD

Catalogue Number: 421 119-1DH

Tracks:

Composition	Artist Credit
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 4, Presto in C, 'Spinnerlied: The Bee's Wedding'	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 6, Allegro non troppo in E	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 6, Allegretto con moto in B flat	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 3, Presto in C	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 5, Allegro vivace in A minor, 'Kinderstück'	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 1, Andante con moto in E	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 2, Andante espressivo in A minor	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 4, Moderato in A	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 5, Agitato in F sharp minor	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 6, Andante sostenuto in G minor, 'Venetian Gondola Song' (1830)	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 3, Andante sostenuto in E	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 4, Agitato e con fuoco in B minor	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 5, Andante grazioso in D	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 6, Allegretto in F sharp minor, 'Venetian Gond	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 1, Con moto in E flat	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 2, Allegro non troppo in C minor	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 6, Andante con moto in A flat, 'Duetto'	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 1, Andante con moto in A flat	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 2, Allegro non troppo in E flat	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 3, Presto agitato in G minor	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 1, Andante espressivo in G	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 6, Andante grazioso in A	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer

Composer or Director: Felix Mendelssohn

Magazine Review Date: 5/1988

Media Format: CD or Download

Media Runtime: 57

Mastering:

DDD

Catalogue Number: 421 119-2DH

Tracks:

Composition	Artist Credit
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 4, Presto in C, 'Spinnerlied: The Bee's Wedding'	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 6, Allegro non troppo in E	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 6, Allegretto con moto in B flat	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 3, Presto in C	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 5, Allegro vivace in A minor, 'Kinderstück'	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 1, Andante con moto in E	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 2, Andante espressivo in A minor	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 4, Moderato in A	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 5, Agitato in F sharp minor	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 6, Andante sostenuto in G minor, 'Venetian Gondola Song' (1830)	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 3, Andante sostenuto in E	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 4, Agitato e con fuoco in B minor	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 5, Andante grazioso in D	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 6, Allegretto in F sharp minor, 'Venetian Gond	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 1, Con moto in E flat	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 2, Allegro non troppo in C minor	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 6, Andante con moto in A flat, 'Duetto'	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 1, Andante con moto in A flat	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 2, Allegro non troppo in E flat	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 3, Presto agitato in G minor	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 1, Andante espressivo in G	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 6, Andante grazioso in A	Felix Mendelssohn, Composer András Schiff, Piano Felix Mendelssohn, Composer

Author: Joan Chissell

After the many delights of Mendelssohn's two piano concertos from this outstanding young pianist (Decca SXDL7623, 10/83, (CD) 414 672-2DH, 5/86), his random dip into the Songs without words (22 of the standard '48') slightly disappointed me. True, he keeps his rhythm under firmer control than in the concertos, and plays with a straightforward seriousness of purpose as if trying to prove that these pieces are no mere morceaux de salon. But this music surely needs a little more charm—of phrasing no less than tone.
Quite often he chooses a slower than usual tempo. The G minor ''Gondollied'', Op. 19 No. 6 (nearly a minute slower than from Barenboim in his complete 1974 LP version on DG 419 105-1GX2, 8/86—to come shortly on CD; or Livia Rev for Hyperion on A66221/2; (CD) CDA66221/2, 12/87) suggests a funeral procession on the lagoons. The Andante grazioso in D, Op. 30 No. 5 is one of several instances where melody is in danger of plodding rather than flowing because so held back, just as for the same reason the Presto agitato in F sharp minor, Op. 19 No. 5 emerges insufficiently disturbed, and lighter numbers such as the Presto in C, Op. 102 No. 3 and the Allegro vivace in A, Op. 102 No. 5, are robbed of some of their happy sparkle. It goes without saying that from an artist of this calibre there is still much, very much, to enjoy. But in close comparison I found his characterization less potent than that of the mercurial (though sometimes, as in the so-called 'Spring Song', over capricious) Barenboim, with his liquid melodic flow, or the more assuagingly mellow, middle-of-the-road Rev.
Schiff's full-bodied reproduction has more in common with Rev's close, ripe sound than the transparency and light of Barenboim's release. We're told that Schiff was in fact recorded in the Vienna Konzerthaus, a venue whose resonance I would have thought called for rather more discreet use of the sustaining pedal than we get here. This music surely needs clearer accompanying texture, more limpid melody—without that touch of clanginess that I don't recall having heard on any disc from this artist before.'

Mendelssohn Songs without words

(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 4, Presto in C, 'Spinnerlied: The Bee's Wedding'

(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 6, Allegro non troppo in E

(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 6, Allegretto con moto in B flat

(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 3, Presto in C

(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 5, Allegro vivace in A minor, 'Kinderstück'

(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 1, Andante con moto in E

(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 2, Andante espressivo in A minor

(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 4, Moderato in A

(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 5, Agitato in F sharp minor

(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 6, Andante sostenuto in G minor, 'Venetian Gondola Song' (1830)

(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 3, Andante sostenuto in E

(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 4, Agitato e con fuoco in B minor

(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 5, Andante grazioso in D

(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 6, Allegretto in F sharp minor, 'Venetian Gond

(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 1, Con moto in E flat

(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 2, Allegro non troppo in C minor

(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 6, Andante con moto in A flat, 'Duetto'

(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 1, Andante con moto in A flat

(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 2, Allegro non troppo in E flat

(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 3, Presto agitato in G minor

(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 1, Andante espressivo in G

(48) Songs without Words, Movement: No. 6, Andante grazioso in A