Felix Mendelssohn: Songs Without Words (Selection) – Naxos CD

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• UPC: 636943405529
• Product Type: Music CD
• Brand Name: Naxos
• MPN: 8.554055
• Genre: Classical
• Style: Romantic / Piano Solo
• Composer: Felix Mendelssohn (1809–1847)
• Artist: Péter Nagy (Piano)
• Release Year: 1997 (Recording from 1989/1990)

Product Features

• Format: Audio CD (DDD)
• Playing Time: 65:50
• Label: Naxos
• Recording Venue: Italian Institute, Budapest, Hungary (1989-1990)
• Technical Spec: Full Digital Recording (DDD)

Overview

Discover the poetic heart of the Romantic era with Felix Mendelssohn’s Songs Without Words (Lieder ohne Worte). This Naxos release features a masterful selection of Mendelssohn's most beloved short piano pieces, which sought to express emotions too deep for literal lyrics. From the delicate, rippling textures of the "Gondolier’s Song" to the playful energy of the "Spinning Song" and the bucolic charm of the "Spring Song," these miniatures represent the pinnacle of 19th-century salon music.

Performed by the distinguished Hungarian pianist Péter Nagy, this collection highlights Mendelssohn's gift for pure, song-like melody and transparent textures. Whether you are looking for a serene backdrop for reflection or a deep dive into Romantic lyricism, this CD captures the "vocal" essence of the piano with clarity and warmth.

Interesting Facts

• Music Beyond Speech: Mendelssohn famously believed that music was more definite in meaning than words. He once said that the emotions expressed in these "songs" were not too vague for words, but rather too precise.
• The "Spinner" and the "Spring": While many titles (like "Spring Song" and "Spinning Song") were added later by publishers rather than Mendelssohn himself, they have become inseparable from the music's legacy.
• A Cultural Staple: In the 19th century, nearly every household with a piano in Europe or America owned a volume of these pieces. They were the most popular piano works of their time.
• The Artist: Péter Nagy is a world-renowned pedagogue and performer, known for his refined touch and deep understanding of the Austro-German Romantic tradition.
• The Cover Art: The booklet features the famous painting The Poor Poet by Carl Spitzweg, an iconic image of the Biedermeier period that perfectly captures the introspective and domestic spirit of Mendelssohn's music.

Track Listing

1. No. 1 in E Major (2:58)
2. No. 3, "Huntsman's Song" (2:34)
3. No. 6, "Gondolier's Song" (2:10)
4. No. 25, "May Breezes" (3:20)
5. No. 30, "Spring Song" (2:21)
6. No. 34, "Spinning Song" (1:54)
7. No. 36, "Lullaby" (1:07)
8. No. 49, "Horseman's Song" (1:48) (Total of 25 selected tracks from across Op. 19 through Op. 102)

Publishers

Published by HNH International Ltd. (℗ 1989 & 91, © 1997). Producer: György Jólesz. Music Notes: Keith Anderson. Cover Painting: The Poor Poet by Carl Spitzweg.

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