Overture for Band (Mendelssohn)

Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy

Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (adapt. Greissle)

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General Info

Year:1839 / 1948
Duration: c. 9:30
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Schirmer
Cost: Score and Parts - Out of print.

For availability information, see Discussion area, above.

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
D-flat Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
E-flat Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
Cornets I-II
B-flat Trumpet I-II
Flugehorn I-II
E-flat Horn or Alto I-II-III-IV
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium (Bass Clef & Treble Clef)
Tuba
String Bass
Piano
Percussion

(percussion detail needed)

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

The Mendelssohn family enjoyed summer holidays in various locations around Europe, where Felix formed professional connections with eminent historical figures, including Goethe and Spohr. During the summer of 1824, Mendelssohn vacationed with his father at the northern German community of Bad Doberan. This resort was known for its spas, many of which employed small Harmonie ensembles to perform daily concerts. While in Bad Doberan, Mendelssohn composed his Notturno for eleven instruments – pairs of oboes, clarinets, horns, and bassoons, plus additional parts for flute, trumpet, and English basshorn – and the work received its premiere on July 24, 1824.

In 1838, the composer rescored the work for large German wind band and re-titled it Overture, Op. 24. At this time, Mendelssohn sought to have the work published in three versions: the original for 11 instruments, the expanded version, and a setting for piano four-hands. Simrock accepted the works, but did not publish them until 1852, five years after the composer’s death.

The work is in sonata form with a slow, highly melodic introduction. Its balanced phrase structures and restrained expressive sensibility are characteristic of Mendelssohn’s style. The Allegro presents a succession of short motives, with the second theme serving as the only melody of any length. The development explores the young composer’s sense of classical counterpoint through the use of polyphonic imitation. Originally composed when Mendelssohn was only 15 years old, the Overture, Op. 24, illustrates his maturing compositional voice.

- Program Note from Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music

Commercial Discography

None discovered thus far.

State Ratings

• Arkansas: V
• Iowa: V
• Indiana: ISSMA SENIOR BAND GROUP I
• Louisiana: IV
• Maryland: V
• Minnesota: I
• North Carolina: VI
• Oklahoma: V-A
• South Carolina: VI
• Tennessee: VI

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

• Parkland College (Champaign, Ill.) Wind Ensemble (Larry Stoner, conductor) - 10 December 2015
• Maplewood (N.J.) Community Concert Band (Steve Kimmons, conductor) - 11 April 2015
• Shoreline (Wash.) Concert Band (Ken Noreen, conductor) 13 March 2012
• San Luis Obispo (Calif.) Wind Orchestra (William V. Johnson, conductor) - 20 March 2010

Works for Winds by this Composer

• Concertpiece No 2 (arr. Gee) (1831 / 1964)
• Fingal's Cave Overture (tr. Winterbottom) (1832/1910)
• Fingal's Cave Overture (tr. Seredy) (1832/1946)
• Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (arr. Holcombe) (1840/1997)
• Notturno (arr. Hautvast) (1842/2005)
• March, Opus 108 (arr. Stalter) (1841/2011)
• Midsummer Night's Dream (ed. Laurendeau) (1826/1904/1909)
• Nottorno. See: Ouvertüre in C für Harmoniemusik
• Ouvertüre in C für Harmoniemusik (ed. Hogwood) (1824/1838/2005)
• Overture for Band, Opus 24 (tr. Fred) (1824/1981)
• Overture for Band (Mendelssohn) (adapt. Greissle) (1839/1948)
• Overture for Band (ed. Garofalo) (1824/1838/1998)
• Overture for Winds (Mendelssohn) (adapt. Boyd) (1824/1981)
• Ruy Blas Overture (tr. Moses-Tobani) (1839/1900)
• Scherzo from "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (arr. Blair) (1842)
• Selections from "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (arr. Tarkmann) (1842/1997)
• Spring Song (arr. Laurendeau) (1844/1898)
• War March of the Priests (2013) (ar. Stalter)

References

• Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music. "Military Overture in C." Accessed 11 April 2015.
• Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, F.; Greissle, F. (1948). Overture for Band [score]. G. Schirmer: New York.