Mendelssohn - Songs without Words Op. 19 No. 1 (Gortler)
Songs without Words Op. 19b No. 1, from Lieder ohne Worte (Songs without Words) Book I.
Daniel Gortler, piano
Songs without Words (Lieder ohne Worte) is a series of short, lyrical piano pieces by the Romantic composer Felix Mendelssohn. The eight volumes of Songs without Words, each consisting of six "songs", were written at various points throughout Mendelssohn's life, and all were published separately; two were published posthumously. The piano became increasingly popular in Europe during this era, where it became the focal point of many middle-class households. The pieces are within the grasp of pianists of various abilities and this undoubtedly contributed to their popularity. This great popularity has caused many critics to under-rate their musical value.
Quoted from Larry Todd's "Mendelssohn: A Life in Music"
Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847)