Bach FAQ 65
Who Was Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy?..
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy was, like Johann Sebastian Bach, one of the greatest German composers. He admired Bach, and it is not an opinion but a fact that Bach’s music would not have survived without him. It was he who, after more than eighty years, reintroduced the world to the uniqueness of the Thuringian composer’s work..
You can learn more about Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy here. Among other things, you'll find links to the most interesting websites about him..
But to make a long story short: With the death of Johann Sebastian Bach, the musical taste of that era changed dramatically. And Bach’s work fell into oblivion. Although it was never actually lost, no one was interested in listening to it anymore. Of course, this did not apply to the musicians of subsequent generations … they were all very familiar with Bach. And with the quality of his music as well. But the general public simply had no interest in it anymore..
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy was so enthusiastic about Bach’s work in general – and the St. Matthew Passion in particular – that he arranged a heavily condensed version. Shorter than Bach’s original, which lasted well over three hours. He did this because he believed he could not expect his audience to sit through the longer original version. He performed his “concert version” again exactly 100 years after its premiere. It lasted between one and a half and two hours..
This was what was thought. Later research by Bach scholars revealed, however, that the St. Matthew Passion had actually been premiered two years earlier than had previously been assumed. As a result, the date of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy’s premiere had to be set 102 years later. The audience was thrilled, and Bach’s popularity and fame today can clearly be traced back to this special event and evening. Just as 102 years earlier, it was exactly the same day of the year: Good Friday. It was the day that marked the beginning of the so-called Bach Renaissance..
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