Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, the musical idol of his day and now
correspondingly neglected, contributed to the romantic movement his
"Songs Without Words," short pieces for the pianoforte and aptly named
because their sustained melody clearly defined against a purposely
subordinated accompaniment gives them the character of songs, in the
popular meaning of the word. Mendelssohn was a fluent, gentlemanly
composer, whose music was readily understood and therefore attained
immediate popularity. But the very qualities that made it popular--its
smoothness and polish and its rather commonplace harmlessness--have
caused it to lose caste. The "Songs Without Words," however, still
occupy a place in the music master's curriculum, forming a graceful
and easily crossed bridge from classical to romantic music. I can
remember still, when, as a lad, I received from my music teacher my
first Mendelssohn "Song Without Words," the G minor barcarolle, how it
seemed to open up a new world of music to me. Many of these
compositions, which are unique in their way, still will be found to
possess much merit. That they are polished little pieces and poetic in
feeling almost goes without saying. The "Spring Song" may be one of
the most hackneyed of pianoforte pieces and the same may be true of
the "Spinning Song," but it is equally true that the former is as
graceful and charming as the latter is brilliant and showy. A tender
and expressive little lyric is the one in F major (No. 22), which
Joseffy frequently used as an encore and played with exquisite effect.
A group of Mendelssohn's "Songs Without Words" is never out of place
on a pianist's program. At least half a dozen of them, I think, are
apt to survive the vicissitudes of many years to come. Mendelssohn
wrote three sonatas, a "Sonata Ecossaies" (Scotch), several capriccios
and other pieces for the pianoforte, besides two pianoforte concertos,
of which the one in G minor is the stock selection of conservatory
pupils at their graduation exercises and later at their debut. With it
they shoot the musical chutes.
V