Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)

Nationality: German

Born: February 3, 1809, Hamburg Died: November 4, 1847, Leipzig (age 38)

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Andante and Variations in B-flat major, Op. 83a

(for piano four-hands)

Andante

Duration: 13 minutes (approximately)

Composed: 1844 (age 34-35)

Published: 1850, Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel

2 recordings, 2 videos

12:48

Vera Lejskova, Vlastimil Lejsek

11:26

Christian Ivaldi, Noël Lee

Related Composers

Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel (1805-1847)

sister

Nationality: German

Born: November 14, 1805, Hamburg Died: May 14, 1847, Berlin (age 41)

Woldemar Bargiel (1828-1897)

colleague

Nationality: German

Born: October 3, 1828, Berlin Died: February 23, 1897, Berlin (age 68)

Johann Hummel (1778-1837)

Teacher

Nationality: Austrian

Born: November 14, 1778, Pressburg (now Bratislava) Died: October 17, 1837, Weimar (age 58)

Heinrich Marschner (1795-1861)

Friend/Colleague

Nationality: German

Born: August 16, 1795, Zittau Died: December 14, 1861, Hanover (age 66)

Eduard Franck (1817-1893)

Student

Nationality: German

Born: October 5, 1817, Breslau Died: December 1, 1893, Berlin (age 76)

Ignaz Moscheles (1794-1870)

colleague/friend

Nationality: Bohemian

Born: May 23, 1794, Prague Died: March 10, 1870, Leipzig (age 75)

glossary

andante [I]—moderately slow tempo (e.g. walking). Faster than adagio but slower than allegretto
chamber music, Kammermusik [G], musique de chambre [F], musica da camera [I], musica cameralis [L]—"Classical Music" for a small ensemble, generally 8 or fewer players with a canonical emphasis on 3-6 players. explore
duo, duet, dueto [S], duetto [I], duett [G]—a work for two instruments; the ensemble itself
opus [L], opera[pl], Op., Opp, WoO, Op. posth—work, as in a work of art. For unique identification, publishers/composers often assign an "opus number", abbreviated as "Op." (e.g. Op. 1). A range of works by opus number, uses the plural "opp." (e.g. "Opp. 1-3"). A single opus number may refer to a collection of works (e.g. a set of quartets) giving rise to designations like "Op. 1, No. 4". For misc. works without opus numbers, "WoO" is often used (e.g."Without Opus"). Posthumously assigned numbers may use "Op. posth". Opus numbers may not precisely reflect chronology (publication vs. composition), can be erroneous, sparse or duplicative. Thus, the works of some historically important composers may use separate catalog numbers (e.g. Bach, Haydn, Schubert). See wiki
piano duet, piano four-hands, piano 4-hands—ensemble (work) for 2 players on one piano
tema con variazioni, con variazioni, Tema e variazioni, theme and variations, Thema mit Variationen [G], Thème varié [F]—a common movement form featuring an initial theme followed by a series of variations on that theme, each of which adjusts any number of parameters to achieve variety, e.g. tempo, rhythm, key, instrumentation, etc.A challenge to the composers ingenuity and a delight for the listener
variation, variazione, variatio, variato, variata—a modified re-iteration of a previous theme, reprise, couplet, etc. The music is varied, embellished or creatively transformed for variety while maintaining a unity relationship with the original. See "Theme and Variations."