MENDELSSOHN, FELIX

born Feb. 3, 1809, Hamburg died Nov. 4, 1847, Leipzig in full Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn-bartholdy German composer, pianist, musical conductor, and teacher, one of the most celebrated figures of the early Romantic period. In his music Mendelssohn largely observed Classical models and practices while initiating key aspects of Romanticismthe artistic movement that exalted feeling and the imagination above rigid forms and traditions. Among his most famous works are Overture to A Midsummer Night's Dream (1826), Italian Symphony (1833), a violin concerto (1844), two piano concerti (1831, 1837), the oratorio Elijah (1846), and several pieces of chamber music. He was a grandson of the philosopher Moses Mendelssohn. Additional reading Biographical and critical studies may be found in Eric Werner, Mendelssohn: A New Image of the Composer and His Age (1963, reprinted 1978); Heinrich E. Jacob, Felix Mendelssohn and His Times (1959, reissued 1973); George R. Marek, Gentle Genius (1972), focusing more on the man and little on his music; Michael Hurd, Mendelssohn (1970); and Philip Radcliffe, Mendelssohn, rev. ed. (1976).