Celebrating Fanny Mendelssohn on her birthday

 

Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel (November 14, 1805- May 14, 1847)

Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel (1805-1847) - Sechs Lieder, op.1 (arreglo para oboe y piano) 

No. 1 Schwanenlied (1840) 

Sarah Roper, oboe Ignacio Torner, piano

Recorded on May 31, 2021 at Estudios Mercurygalilea

Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel, older sister of the well-known composer Felix Mendelssohn, composed more than 450 works, most of them limited to works for piano and lieders (songs). Many of her works were published under the name of her brother Felix or were never published in her lifetime. Due to expectations from society and from her own family, she was prevented from being able to dedicate herself professionally to music.

Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel, hermana mayor del conocido compositor Félix Mendelssohn, compuso más de 450 obras, la mayoría de ellas limitadas a obras para piano y lieders (canciones). Muchas de sus obras nunca fueron publicadas en vida, o bien fueron publicadas bajo el nombre de su hermano Félix. El convencionalismo y la limitación social hacia el sexo femenino de la época, y en especial de su propia familia, impidieron que pudiera dedicarse profesionalmente a la música.

Schwanenlied - Heinrich Heine Es fällt ein Stern herunter Aus seiner funkelnden Höh, Das ist der Stern der Liebe, Den ich dort fallen seh. Es fallen vom Apfelbaume, Der weissen Blätter so viel, Es kommen die neckenden Lüfte, Und treiben damit ihr Spiel. Es singt der Schwan im Weiher, Und rudert auf und ab, Und immer leiser singend, Taucht er ins Flutengrab. Es ist so still und dunkel, Verweht ist Blatt und Blüt’, Der Stern ist knisternd zerstoben, Verklungen das Schwanenlied. Swansong English Translation ©️ Richard Stokes

A star falls to earth From its glittering height, That is the star of love I see falling there. The apple tree sheds A host of white leaves, Cajoling breezes come along And play with them. A swan sings on the lake, Gliding to and fro, And singing ever more softly Dives into its watery grave. It is so silent and dark, Blossom and leaf have dispersed, The star has guttered and gone out, The song of the swan has faded away