The Soul of the Journey: The Mendelssohns in Scotland and Italy

Description

Combining letters and sketches with an accompanying narrative describing their journeys, this is a wonderful celebration of the two Mendelssohns and a portrait of Scotland and Italy of the time as seen through the eyes of two of the Romantic movement's most acclaimed composers. Brother and sister Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn enjoyed a rare bond: they were intimate companions and theirs was one of the most significant musical relationships of the 19th century. They shared and commented on each other's compositions, each highly appreciative of the other but also offering frank, critical advice. Their travels produced some great music - Felix's best loved works, the Hebrides Overture and the Scottish Symphony, were inspired by his 1829 visit to Scotland, whilst Fanny's innovative piano cycle Das Jahr was a musical response to the tour of Italy she made in 1839-40. Combining letters and sketches with an accompanying narrative describing their journeys, this is a wonderful celebration of the two Mendelssohns and a portrait of Scotland and Italy of the time as seen through the eyes of two of the Romantic movement's most acclaimed composers.

Diana Ambache has written for numerous publications, including The Independent, Classical Music magazine, BBC Music magazine, Classic FM magazine and Musical Opinion. As a pianist she has given concerts in more than 30 countries and has made 16 CD recordings, many featuring the music of women composers. She was shortlisted for the prestigious European Women of Achievement in 2002 for her work pioneering the revival and promotion of music by female composers (www.womenofnote.co.uk). Her book about Grazyna Bacewicz is published by Cambridge University Press (Elements Women in Music).

'. . . engagingly written and handsomely illustrated. The Soul of the Journey reminds us that two of the seminal German composers of the 1830s and 1840s were "serious" tourists, who brought back from their travels in Scotland and Italy not only visual reminiscences but inspiration for several of their most significant composition' -- Professor R. Larry Todd, Duke University, author of Mendelssohn: A Life in Music and Fanny Hensel: The Other Mendelssohn 'A beautifully produced book, lavishly illustrated, carefully researched and written: a perfect gift for music lovers' * Blackwell's Bookshop Edinburgh * 'This account of Felix and Fanny Mendelssoh's travels around Europe sheds fascinating new light on some of their greatest works' -- Scotland on Sunday * Stuart Kelly * 'Ambache's writing is clear and well honed... beautifully produced and lavishly illustrated' -- Jessica Duchen * BBC Music Magazine *