RomanticFanny Mendelssohn
Fanny Mendelssohn was born in Hamburg, Germany.
Fanny Mendelssohn’s life
The big moments of this life, and what was happening in the world at the same time.
A life at a glance
- 1805👶 Birth
Born in Hamburg on 14 November, Felix’s elder sister
- 1816🌍 Meanwhile
Maelzel patents the metronome (1815–16)
- 1818📚 Trainingage 13
Studies composition with Carl Friedrich Zelter
- 1820❤️ Private lifeage 15
Her father writes that music can only be an ‘ornament’ for her
- 1822🌍 Meanwhile
Champollion deciphers hieroglyphs
- 1827🎼 Workage 22
Three of her songs published under Felix’s name
- 1831🎩 Careerage 26
Runs the famous Sunday concerts (Sonntagsmusiken) in Berlin
- 1839🧳 Journeyage 34
Trip to Italy: a happy stay in Rome
- 1839🌍 Meanwhile
Photography is invented (daguerreotype)
- 1840🌍 Meanwhile
Adolphe Sax invents the saxophone (c. 1840)
- 1841🎼 Workage 36
Das Jahr, a 12-piece piano cycle
- 1842🏛️ Landmarkage 37
Queen Victoria sings her song ‘Italien’, believing it to be by Felix
- 1846🎼 Workage 41
At last publishes under her own name (Op. 1)
- 1847🕯️ Deathage 42
Dies in Berlin on 14 May during a rehearsal
Listen to the music
Press the big button to listen. Close your eyes: how does it make you feel?
Fanny Mendelssohn’s music is in the public domain, but Wikimedia Commons does not yet offer a freely licensed recording of these works. The links below lead to scores and searches on Commons; as soon as a free recording is published, it can be added here.
Once upon a time…
Fanny Mendelssohn was born in Hamburg, Germany. She was the big sister of Felix Mendelssohn, also a composer. The two children were inseparable and loved music.
At thirteen Fanny played twenty-four Bach preludes from memory! But her dad told her that for a girl music must stay a hobby. Some of her songs were even published under her brother’s name.
Her husband, a painter, encouraged her: every morning he put a blank sheet on her piano so she would compose. She held big concerts at home on Sundays.
One day the Queen of England sang a song she thought was by Felix… but Fanny had written it!
Fanny Mendelssohn’s instruments
Tap an instrument to hear it!
Cards to flip
Are you an expert on Fanny Mendelssohn?
Answer the questions and win stars!
Same era · Romantic
1803 – 1869RomanticHector Berlioz
Hector Berlioz was born in the Isère, in the French Alps.
1804 – 1875RomanticLouise Farrenc
Louise Farrenc was born in Paris into a family of sculptors.
1809 – 1847RomanticFelix Mendelssohn
Felix Mendelssohn was born in Hamburg, Germany, into a rich and cultured family.
1810 – 1849RomanticFrédéric Chopin
Frédéric Chopin was born in Poland.
1810 – 1856RomanticRobert Schumann
Robert Schumann was born in Germany.
1811 – 1886RomanticFranz Liszt
Franz Liszt was born in Hungary.