Felix Mendelssohn

Watercolor painting of a sailboat on the ocean with distant land in the background.

Sailing off Gloucester (ca. 1880) by Winslow Homer

Violin Sonata in F minor, Op. 4

The Violin Sonata No. 2 in F minor, Op. 4, MWV Q 12 for violin and piano was composed by Felix Mendelssohn in 1823 and is the only one to carry an opus number. Mendelssohn composed two other violin sonatas, both in F major, that were not published in his lifetime. This was published with a dedication to his friend and violin teacher, Eduard Rietz, who was also dedicatee of the composer's Octet in E-flat major, Op. 20.

Movements

The work has three movements:

  1. Adagio – Allegro moderato

  2. Poco adagio

  3. Allegro agitato

A typical performance lasts about 22 minutes.

Unlike his more famous violin work, the Violin Concerto in E minor, this sonata lacks dramatic exposition. It does contain a calm beauty that is typical of the composer's chamber music, and it demonstrates the brilliance of his early compositions.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violin_Sonata_in_F_minor_(Mendelssohn) / License: CC BY-SA 4.0

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Mendelssohn - Violin Sonata in F minor, Op. 4 - MWV Q12

  • Mendelssohn - Violin Sonata in F minor, Op. 4 - MWV Q12 - Complete
    • Recorded, produced and published by: Gregor Quendel
    The arrangement is based on the notes by: H. Fesefeldt
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