{Felix Mendelssohn

By Maddie Hatton

Felix Mendelssohn was born on February 2, 1809 in Hamburg.

He grew up with a wealthy family but was raised protestant. His parents were Abraham Mendelssohn and Lea Salomon.

He grew up with three siblings but was closest to his older sister Fanny.

Childhood

He grew up with three siblings but was closest to his older sister Fanny.

Fanny was also a composer. She gave Felix piano lessons. Fanny had taken lessons from their mother.

It is said that he was a genius and one of the most gifted musicians in the world.

Biography

On March 28, 1837 he married Cécile Jeanrenaud who was ten years younger than he was. Felix and Cécile Mendelssohn had 5

children. Their names were Carl, Marie, Paul, Lilli, and Felix.

Marriage

Felix was popular in the early Romantic period. He played the violin and the piano He started taking lessons at age 4 from Fanny. By age 9, he was performing for people. Age 12 he had written a piano quartet When he was 14, he had his own private orchestra. At 16 he produced his first materpiece called octet

for strings. When he was 17, Felix produced his second masterpiece called A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This masterpiece featured a song that is still played today at several weddings; The Wedding March.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7_m1om82o4

Popular Work

Felix is heard by many people still today. We are just unfamiliar with his name.

Many, many brides walk down the aisle to the Wedding March.

The composers Bach and Mozart inspired Felix.

Unknown Composer

In 1847 Fanny grew ill after her tour. Felix had been suffering from strokes at

the same time. After Fanny died, Felix died from a

stroke 6 months later. It is said that Felix died from being

depressed due to Fanny’s death.

Death

http://www.felixmendelssohn.com/ http://composers.ardenasplace.com/fanny

.htm http://www.notablebiographies.com/Ma-

Mo/Mendelssohn-Felix.html http://www.felixmendelssohn.com/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=l7_m1om82o4

Sources