The Life of Mendelssohn

The Life of Mendelssohn by Peter Mercer-Taylor

Famous for a handful of compositions that continue to sparkle with originality, Mendelssohn, as conductor and scholar, was also one of the principal architects of the musical canon that has underpinned concert life to this day. Mendelssohn was one of music's greatest child prodigies. This book roots his early years firmly in the cultural and familial histories that shaped his childhood: the rise of his grandfather, Moses, from obscure poverty to international renown as a philosopher; his aunts' leading role in turn-of-the-century salon culture; his father's career as one of Berlin's most successful bankers. At the same time, this book confronts head-on the myth that Mendelssohn's was a happy, untroubled existence. The composer's last decade was marked by ceaseless psychological turmoil, torn between a staggering performance schedule and a yearning to dedicate his life exclusively to the wife and children he adored, and to the compositional drive that was too often neglected.

"A fine volume in Cambridge's highly regarded "Musical Lives" series, this biography..concisely, charmingly, and intelligently presents the composer and his music...Recommended as a core collection item for public and academic libraries." Library Journal
"...elegantly presented and visually appealing. Mercer-Taylor writes clearly and engagingly." Journal of Musicological Research

Mercer-Taylor, Peter: - Peter Mercer-Taylor is Associate Professor of Musicology at the University of Minnesota School of Music. He is the author of The Life of Mendelssohn (Cambridge, 2000) and has published in a number of journals including The Journal of Musicology and Popular Music and Society.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780521639729
ISBN 10	0521639727
Title	The Life of Mendelssohn
Author	Peter Mercer-Taylor
Series	Musical Lives
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Cambridge University Press
Year published	2000-09-28
Number of pages	248
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
Note	Unavailable