Fanny Mendelssohn

1805-1847

The work of one “F Mendelssohn”, Felix is well known around the world and a staple of the repertoire. The work of another “F Mendelssohn” is less well known. That F being Felix’s sister Fanny. A talented composer in her own right she might have been better known if she hadn’t been born a girl.

However there are now some suggestions of misattribution. That scores signed “F Mendelssohn” and naturally attributed to Felix may actually be the work of Fanny. I mean heaven forefend that a composition of merit could be by a woman?

When the Easter Sonata was discovered by accident in a French bookshop in 1970, it was naturally assume to be by Felix. Only very recently was it demonstrated that it had been written by Fanny.

One can only wonder how many misattributions out there they might be.

Meanwhile here is a piece that is indisputably the work of Fanny: