More or less at the same time his first son Carl was born, Mendelssohn composed the String Quartet in E flat major (Opus 44:3) in the first months of 1838. Together with the other two quartets belonging to Opus 44, these are the highlights in quartet literature because of its ingenious structure; sometimes abundant and sometimes intimate. But is always has Mendelsson’s famous inventive touch.
His sister Fanny, four years older, (1805-1847) was also a gifted composer who left almost four hundred works, among which many songs and short piano works. In the 19th century, it was commonly thought that this ought to be the domain of female composers. For years, Fanny supported her brother by giving him her mild but acute advice on his compositions. In 1829, her String Quartet in E flat major was the prelude to a piano sonata and acquired its final quartet form in 1834.
Felix Mendelssohn – String Quartet in E flat major, Opus 44:3
1. Allegro vivace, 2. Scherzo: Assai leggiero vivace, 3. Adagio non troppo, 4. Molto allegro con fuoco
Performers: Emerson String Quartet
CD: Deutsche Grammophon
Fanny Hensel-Mendelssohn – String Qartet in E glat major
1. Adagio ma non troppo, 2. Allegretto, 3. Romanze, 4. Allegro molto vivace
Performers: Quatuor Ébène
CD: Erato
