Essential Hensel
So much regarding the true nature of Fanny Hensel (née Mendelssohn)'s talent and achievements – and potential – is difficult to gauge fully. Much of her work remains unpublished, available only in manuscript form in private collections. Her younger brother Felix, though he encouraged her musical activities, discouraged her from publishing any of her compositions. She died suddenly from a stroke on 14 May 1847 aged just 41, a day after composing the bustling, lively "Bergeslust".
Read more…- Hensel • Lieder für das Pianoforte (Songs for the Pianoforte) op. 6 • 4. Il saltarello romano (Tarantella). Allegro moltoLieder für das Pianoforte (Songs for the Pianoforte) op. 6
4. Il saltarello romano (Tarantella). Allegro moltoMatthias Kirschnereit (Piano)℗ 2016 - Hensel • Mélodies pour le Piano, II. Livre op. 5 • 4. Lento appassionato
- Hensel • Lieder für das Pianoforte (Songs for the Pianoforte) op. 2 • 1. AndanteLieder für das Pianoforte (Songs for the Pianoforte) op. 2
1. AndanteSophie Pacini (Piano)℗ 2018 - Hensel • Notturno for Piano in G minor • AndantinoNotturno for Piano in G minor
AndantinoHeather Schmidt (Piano)November 2007, Toronto, Glenn Gould Studio - Hensel • Allegro molto for Piano in C minor • Allegro moltoAllegro molto for Piano in C minor
Allegro moltoHeather Schmidt (Piano)November 2007, Toronto, Glenn Gould Studio - Hensel • Das Jahr: Zwölf Charakterstücke für Klavier (The Year: Twelve Character Pieces for Piano) • 1. Januar: Ein Traum. Adagio, quasi una Fantasia
- Hensel • Das Jahr: Zwölf Charakterstücke für Klavier (The Year: Twelve Character Pieces for Piano) • 2. Februar: Scherzo. Presto
- Hensel • Das Jahr: Zwölf Charakterstücke für Klavier (The Year: Twelve Character Pieces for Piano) • 3. März. Agitato
- Hensel • Das Jahr: Zwölf Charakterstücke für Klavier (The Year: Twelve Character Pieces for Piano) • 4. April: Capriccioso. Allegretto
- Hensel • Das Jahr: Zwölf Charakterstücke für Klavier (The Year: Twelve Character Pieces for Piano) • 5. Mai: Frühlingslied. Allegro vivace e gioioso
- Hensel • Lieder für das Pianoforte (Songs for the Pianoforte) op. 6 • 2. Allegro vivaceLieder für das Pianoforte (Songs for the Pianoforte) op. 6
2. Allegro vivacePhilippe Cassard (Piano)℗ 2017 - Hensel • Gondelfahrt (Serenata) for Piano in G minorGondelfahrt (Serenata) for Piano in G minorSoobin Kim (Piano)2015, Vienna, Joseph Haydn-Hall
- Hensel • Lieder für das Pianoforte (Songs for the Pianoforte) op. 6 • 3. Andante cantabile (O Traum der Jugend, o goldner Stern)
- Hensel • Mélodies pour le Piano, II. Livre op. 5 • 6. Andante soaveMélodies pour le Piano, II. Livre op. 5
6. Andante soaveBéatrice Rauchs (Piano)1996, Sion, Studio Tibor Varga, Sion - Hensel • Ariel • Gab die liebende Natur
- Hensel • Mélodies pour le Piano, I. Livre op. 4 • 2. Allegretto
- Hensel • Piano Piece in D flat major • Andante cantabilePiano Piece in D flat major
Andante cantabileEls Biesemans (Fortepiano)October 2011, Zürich, Radiostudio Zürich - Hensel • Italien / Zwischen Gaeta und Capua • Schöner und schöner schmückt sich der PlanItalien / Zwischen Gaeta und Capua
Schöner und schöner schmückt sich der PlanChristina Högman (Soprano), Roland Pöntinen (Piano)May 1995, Stockholm, Kungliga Musikaliska Akademien, Stockholm - Hensel • Sehnsucht nach Italien • Kennst du das Land, wo die Zitronen blühenSehnsucht nach Italien
Kennst du das Land, wo die Zitronen blühenKobie van Rensburg (Tenor), Kelvin Grout (Piano)℗ 2012 - Hensel • Sonata for Piano in G minor • I. Allegro molto agitatoSonata for Piano in G minor
I. Allegro molto agitatoLiana Serbescu (Piano)May 1987, Frankfurt, Festeburgkirche Frankfurt - Hensel • Sonata for Piano in G minor • II. ScherzoSonata for Piano in G minor
II. ScherzoLiana Serbescu (Piano)May 1987, Frankfurt, Festeburgkirche Frankfurt - Hensel • Sonata for Piano in G minor • III. AdagioSonata for Piano in G minor
III. AdagioLiana Serbescu (Piano)May 1987, Frankfurt, Festeburgkirche Frankfurt - Hensel • Sonata for Piano in G minor • IV. Finale. Presto - Allegro moderato e con espressioneSonata for Piano in G minor
IV. Finale. Presto - Allegro moderato e con espressioneLiana Serbescu (Piano)May 1987, Frankfurt, Festeburgkirche Frankfurt - Hensel • Lieder für das Pianoforte (Songs for the Pianoforte) op. 8 • 2. Andante con espressioneLieder für das Pianoforte (Songs for the Pianoforte) op. 8
2. Andante con espressioneTobias Koch (Fortepiano)℗ 2009 - Hensel • Lieder für das Pianoforte (Songs for the Pianoforte) op. 6 • 1. Andante espressivoLieder für das Pianoforte (Songs for the Pianoforte) op. 6
1. Andante espressivoMatthias Kirschnereit (Piano)℗ 2015 - Hensel • Piano Trio in D minor op. 11 • I. Allegro molto vivacePiano Trio in D minor op. 11
I. Allegro molto vivaceAtlantis Trio
Jaap Schröder (Violin), Enid Sutherland (Violoncello), Penelope Crawford (Fortepiano)March 2001, Northville, Chapel of Our Lady of Providence Cente, Northville - Hensel • Piano Trio in D minor op. 11 • III. Lied. AllegrettoPiano Trio in D minor op. 11
III. Lied. AllegrettoAtlantis Trio
Jaap Schröder (Violin), Enid Sutherland (Violoncello), Penelope Crawford (Fortepiano)March 2001, Northville, Chapel of Our Lady of Providence Cente, Northville - Hensel • Lieder für das Pianoforte (Songs for the Pianoforte) op. 8 • 3. Lied (Lenau). LarghettoLieder für das Pianoforte (Songs for the Pianoforte) op. 8
3. Lied (Lenau). LarghettoTobias Koch (Fortepiano)℗ 2009 - Hensel • Lieder (Songs) op. 10 • 1. Nach SüdenLieder (Songs) op. 10
1. Nach SüdenDiana Damrau (Soprano), Helmut Deutsch (Piano)September 2006, Schwarzenberg, Angelika-Kauffmann-Saal - Hensel • Lieder (Songs) op. 10 • 5. BergeslustLieder (Songs) op. 10
5. BergeslustDiana Damrau (Soprano), Helmut Deutsch (Piano)September 2006, Schwarzenberg, Angelika-Kauffmann-Saal
Throughout their lives – Felix himself died only shortly after his sister – the two brilliant siblings had inspired and challenged one another, but it was a relationship coloured by expectations of the time: that a male composer should be in the public domain and female composer should remain in the domestic sphere. It wasn't until Fanny married in 1829 (the painter Wilhelm Hensel) that she began to publish herself – encouraged to do so by her husband. Her compositions are estimated to total more than 500, though, encompassing large-scale genres as well as music on a domestic scale: oratorios (many as yet unrecorded) sit beside songs and solo piano works. Her taste and influences, meanwhile, reflect an admiration for composers – including Bach – that were out of fashion at the time. All these influences, as well as her own impressively wide learning lead to music full of invention, innovation and imposing character.