The preludes contained in Felix Mendelssohn's
collection of Preludes and Fugues, Op. 35, show a
wonderfully non-affinity with one another: each is
unique in tone, gesture, and to some degree basic
style. Were one playing the six Preludes and Fugues in
order (something that perhaps was never intended), one
would have to make a tricky shift of gears between the
gentle, stream-like prelude and aristocratic, academic
fugue of Op. 35, No. 4, in A flat major and the prelude
of Op. 35, No. 5, in F mino...(+)
The preludes contained in Felix Mendelssohn's
collection of Preludes and Fugues, Op. 35, show a
wonderfully non-affinity with one another: each is
unique in tone, gesture, and to some degree basic
style. Were one playing the six Preludes and Fugues in
order (something that perhaps was never intended), one
would have to make a tricky shift of gears between the
gentle, stream-like prelude and aristocratic, academic
fugue of Op. 35, No. 4, in A flat major and the prelude
of Op. 35, No. 5, in F minor. For this Andante lento is
of a steady, serious stock not yet heard in Opus 35.
Its melody would perhaps be light and lyric enough in
another context, but sitting as it does atop the
quietly throbbing chords of the left hand, it is like
the raspy, passionate breath of a man plowing headlong
to a fate he knows is dire but which he nevertheless is
powerless to prevent. Mendelssohn uses the minor mode
elsewhere in Opus 35 (No. 1 in E minor, No. 3 in B
minor), but not with such demanding presence of grim
purpose -- and the F minor Prelude is grim even though
it is mostly quiet (mostly, mind you: there is volume
to spare at the crashing central climax!) and despite a
glowing change to the major mode in the last bars.
The style of Vivaldi is invoked as the subject for the
fugue (Allegro con fuoco) is announced by the treble
voice. In this quick-footed essay that most unusual of
musical effects is applied: good cheer and vitality in
a minor mode context (and Mendelssohn does not even
bother with a Picardy third at the end).
Source: Wikipedia
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felix_Mendelssohn).
Although originally created for Piano, I created this
Interpretation of the Fugue in F Minor (Op. 35 No. 4)
for Viola Quartet
PARTITION