Being Pro-Semitic: Felix Mendelssohn

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Jerry Brodsky is chair of FJMC’s Inclusion Initiative, president of the International Region and a member of KIO+ Region.

Felix Mendelssohn (February 3, 1809 – November 4, 1847) was born to Jewish parents in Hamburg, Germany, but as a child he was converted to Christianity, along with his siblings and his parents, as was somewhat popular in the area during the early 19th century as a way to emancipate from the Jewish ghetto community. While young, among his many musical compositions, he wrote 5 operas and 11 symphonies for string orchestras; his first public appearance being at age nine. He wrote Wedding March within his work of accompaniment for performances of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Very active musically throughout his life, Mendelssohn was 38 years old when he died from a series of strokes.

You deserve 3 minutes to relax – right now! Click on this link and enjoy the Berlin
Philharmonic performing German-Jewish composer Felix Mendelssohn’s Wedding
March, a piece from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer’s Night Dream. Yes, you’ve heard it many times because it’s the recessional music at weddings.

Sources: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Felix-Mendelssohn#ref4798 for content and YouTube for the audio file.

Photo is courtesy of Wikipedia Commons.