Andante sostenuto (Sonata 6, mvt. 2)
from Sonata 6 (Op. 65) by Felix Mendelssohn
Background
"Mendelssohn was one of the finest organists of his day. The Three Preludes and Fugues op.37, dedicated to Mozart's pupil Thomas Attwood, form a pendant to op.35. The Six Organ Sonatas op.65 (1845), teeming with artful fugues and chorales, summarize and epitomize Mendelssohn's rediscovery of Bach, and may have inspired Schumann's six fugues on B–A–C–H op.60." - Grove Music Online: "Mendelssohn, Felix, §10: Keyboard music" [1]
Visit the Wikipedia page on the Organ Works of Felix Mendelssohn for additional information - [2]
Registration and Organs
Mendelssohn gives registration instructions in his preface to Op. 65. In this movement, pp, p, mp and mf dynamics are indicated. Where the PEDALS are indicated my idea is, even in the PIANISSIMO, that the 8-foot and 16-foot stops should be combined, excepting only where the contrary is especially prescribed (see the sixth Sonata).
FORTISSIMO = full organ (grand jeu)
FORTE = full organ without the admixture of any of the fullest stops
PIANO = a combination of several 8-foot stops
PIANISSIMO = a soft 8-foot stop by itself
See the footnote in the "Notes" section at the bottom of the page. [1]
Fingering and Pedaling
Both the Peters and Dupre Editions of Mendelssohn's Organ Works contain fingering suggestions. Refer to both to see what fingerings/pedalings work for you. The Novello contains no fingering or pedaling.
Articulation and Phrasing
Different editions contain different phrasing marks in the score. The Novello edition has a system that shows which phrase marks are used in what editions. Refer to that edition to compare phrasing as you make your own musical decisions.
Ornamentation
There is no ornamentation in this movement.
Tempo and Meter
Andante sostenuto
M.M. quarter note = 63
Common Time
At the double barline, the meter switches to 12/8 and M.M. dotted quarter = 63. The meter and time signature return to the original at the next double barline.
Scores and Editions
Refer to general Mendelssohn page for info on scores and editions[3]
Recordings
Refer to general Mendelssohn page[4] for info on recordings
Free Online
Refer to general Mendelssohn page[5] for info on free recordings
Pay to Listen
Refer to general Mendelssohn page[6] for info on recordings available for a fee
Other Resources
Mendelssohn and the Organ by Wm. A. Little (New York: Oxford University Press, 2010)
An Analysis of Mendelssohn's Organ Works; A Study of their Structural Features. For the use of students ([1898]) - [7]
p.69-78 contains a musical summary of what is happening in Sonata 6.
Notes
- ↑ This footnote was entered in the "Registration and Organs" article.
This space is for automatic insertion of footnotes. To enter a footnote from anywhere in the article, start by typing the tag <ref> and then enter the text, and type the tag </ref> to end the footnote. The footnote will then appear in this "Notes" section automatically.
