Felix Mendelssohn - String Octet in E flat major, Op. 20

[@schrodingerskitten7206]

at 9:50 I love how Mendelssohn just went "FEEL THE POWER OF FOUR OCTAVES AT ONCE" and it's absolutely wonderful

[@schwei56]

Tchaik 4 produces the same effect numerous times.

[@emilianoturazzi]

@@schwei56 "Tchaik 4" is really something one can't read. Is it so difficult to write the full name? and the piece? (4 is for quartet? and which one? or for 4th Symphony? what is it for?)

[@AC-xh3pn]

@@emilianoturazzi Is it so difficult not to criticize someone for using an abbreviation that is understandable by many musicians?

[@emilianoturazzi]

@@AC-xh3pn yes it is very difficult for several good reasons partly of which I exposed in my post. by the way: 1) I don't know any musician using such a silly abbreviation. I'm a profesional musician so you can imagine that I know hundreds of musicians...I made a google search and I've found only five occurences of it... - I wouldn't call it a wide spread expression among musicians - infact, quite the opposite, it's really amateurish maybe used only in anglosaxon countries - it is so unprofessional and unclear that I wasn't sure what it referred to... I had to check Tchaikovsky's catalogue for being sure he wasn't talking about a string quartet or a serenade or a string composition (since here we are talking about a string octet) 2) even if it was "understandable by many musicans" not all readers are musicians... so it is simply unclear. 3) infact it is used just to show (more or less consciously) a supposed uncommon knowldege or familiarity, the belonging to a supposed "inner circle" of "initiated people"...

[@happypiano4810]

How do 8 INSTRUMENTS keep in time during that? I’m assuming there is a conductor.

[@rachelissuchahardworker6198]

was just about to shower but now i want to sit in my chair for another half hour

[@doofenshmirtz-official]

This is the Ultimate Mood and I am disappointed it has so few likes

[@SuperGalaxys]

I always found it astonishing how the exposition has the feel of a small sonata form in itself. "Main theme": 0:05 "Transition": 0:21 "Second theme": 0:41 "Development:" 1:08 "Recapitulation": 1:41 "Coda:" 2:41 It feels like we've heard an entire piece - and in fact we're only beginning! This fractal-like structure always impressed me.

[@edwardmontoya50]

Thanks for sharing your analysis and for the book marks.

[@serena9662]

❤😊

[@AvoJoJoNotes]

An octet played this at my school. Ever since, I've gotten so interested in Mendelssohn. Like, man; he's a masterful musician.

[@olla-vogala4090]

+NotPhillip - Vietnamese Avocado Yes Mendelssohn is great! If you like this, check out Enescu's String Octet too.

[@alexbarton6003]

That's got to be a really good octet!

[@pierrette581]

yo bro

[@ikmarchini]

Mendelssohn is a master yet not appreciated for how great a master he is. Like Mozart, he makes it look easy. He is in the Pantheon.

[@paulybarr]

@@ikmarchini Oh, I think we all know how great a master he was.

[@andrewjessop3140]

Me: My god the Presto is clean Me: *checks description* Yep,, Heifetz on violin

[@pollux_id2557]

😂😂😂

[@cinchonine]

Also William Primrose viola!

[@greenday61892]

It's insane too cuz I know it's marked presto but this is still the fastest I think I've ever heard the finale... and yet it's also the cleanest?!? Heifetz was on a whole different plane from anyone else

[@evankajikawa1277]

the heifetz piatgorsky chanber music recordings are mindblowing

[@Arcenmh7718]

The last movement is so fast But every single notes is still clear omg Heifetz you’re the legend

[@EmZevSS]

This has got to be one of the best pieces of classical music I've ever heard.

[@Tokkemon]

25:14 And He shall reign forever and ever!

[@OrlandoAponte]

I thought the same thing

[@harrylee3898]

omg I thought I was the only one

[@harrylee3898]

I just read about the piece and it actually says he quoted that specific part of that piece.

[@abbey9428]

HAHAHAHHA

[@enriquesanchez2001]

HEARD this piece so many times and NEVER noticed! What a buffoon, I've been!

[@delroyroberts9244]

He was the greatest teenage composer. This work is so perfect, that it could not be bettered by any other.

[@DanielFahimi]

No he is not

[@edwardmontoya50]

He was rivaled by his equally if not more talented sister Franny. I am so envious of this musical family.

[@Barnstable11]

(cough) Mozart (cough)

[@generalgonzales8139]

Mendelssohn>mozart

[@Barnstable11]

@@generalgonzales8139 Mendelssohn only comes first alphabetically.

[@oscarguzman39]

I have no words to express my thoughts about that geniality and the power of human intelligence. Its marvellous and overwhelming.

[@pollux_id2557]

sometimes.

[@rainerhiyoku6275]

Jascha Heifetz on Violin, William Primrose on Viola and so on... absolutely best performers ever

[@yuanxinliu1000]

He wrote this when he was 17. What am I doing with my life?

[@olla-vogala4090]

+Yuanxin Liu Please don't feel sad, musical geniuses like this in history can be counted on perhaps 2 hands. Also, in the end it's not so much the early age at which a piece is written that determines its worth (though it is impressive of course), but the inherent musical quality that solidifies a composition as a masterwork through the ages.

[@mcrettable]

+Yuanxin Liu Ha.. I know right. I'm trying composing and it's a bitch

[@mcrettable]

+olla-vogala i adore your channel

[@mcrettable]

ClassicMusicVids Hey want to share compositions?

[@mcrettable]

ClassicMusicVids Well I wish you luck!

[@savelieffarnaud3170]

Since the day i have heard it for the very first time, this piece has never ceased to amaze me. It is still one of my top favorite chamber music pieces, all formations included. And for having listened to numerous interpretations, this one is unbeatable imho.

[@vishnuhalikere2151]

That whole part after 7:59 is also just breathtaking

[@jorgefraile218]

OH MY LORD THAT ENDING IS GLORIOUS!

[@peterkleinman3526]

Bravissimo, young Felix! You still live.

[@lyricsronen]

This is upsettingly skillful for that age. And 2 years after that the 2nd string quartet! What were they feeding him

[@cminor3016]

It was during an era when the true life of the mind was truly free and couldn't be roped and chained for mere lucretive, societal or political ambitions

[@lincolny2220]

A lot of music from dead composers for sure

[@StevenOBrien]

He was the grandson of Moses Mendelssohn, a very famous and influential eighteenth century philosopher. His family was very wealthy and influential, and had been patrons of JS Bach's sons. His first piano teacher at the age of six, Marie Bigot, was praised by both Beethoven and Haydn as being able to play their works better than they could. His first composition teacher, Zelter, was steeped in the same tradition that produced JS Bach, and he passed this influence onto Mendelssohn. Mendelssohn was also introduced to, and became friends with Goethe at the age of 11.

[@milton3204]

@@cminor3016 ah yes, 19th century Europe the land of the free. The same land that prohibited Felix's own sister from pursuing a career in composition because she was a woman...

[@stefanhempel2354]

Mendelsohn ist sehr angenehm zu hören ,was aber nicht leicht zu spielen ,viele unterschätzen seine Musik ,es ist eine gewisse Hoffnung der Romantik oder Frieden mit sich selbst nach dem höchsten zu streben des Perfektionismus

[@OrlandoAponte]

10:29 Guess he really liked that melodic figure, it makes a comeback in the violin concerto

[@bryanstarkweather]

There's a few other spots in here that are in the violin concerto as well.

[@mavow_]

5:30 as well

[@vishnuhalikere2151]

24:57 is sooo clean. King Heifetz Edit: This is about the 100th time ive come back to this recording but I know I just love the harmonies Mendelssohn uses at the 20:54

[@pizzasteve5825]

Ikr I could never in a million years rapid fire that on a violin and make it sound good. piano? maybe. Violin? No way in hell.

[@jeffersonfsoares]

1st mv 00:00 2st mv 12:50 3st mv 18:23 4st mv 22:42

[@MikeWiggins1235711]

21:43 The legato/staccato part of the third movement caught my ear the very first time I heard the Octet. While I now enjoy the full Octet with its many musical gems within, I still find this part of it my favorite.

[@anthonyames4596]

Few things make me happier than the first movement.

[@finleycampbell2756]

11:18 coming back is so refreshing. Such a great moment. Mendelssohn is awesome

[@katherinewyatt9585]

Sublime - I am speechless. I remember my mother playing this. Beautiful.

[@enricoluccarini3626]

She played a string octet?

[@SachinShukla]

Jeez, they really called in all the heavyweights for this one.

[@amarmarouf]

I too appreciate age of mythology!

[@tinymanz443]

Makes for an unreal recording. And you're not kidding.

[@klop4228]

Years of listening to this - probably going on a decade - and I didn't even realise Primrose was one of the violists! I'm still a bit behind on my knowledge of the big string players from the day, but even so, it's obvious they were all amazing instrumentalists, given the half hour of irrefutable evidence we have here.

[@TheSimLord]

The Andante has some of the most beautiful and delicate interplay between different instruments I've seen in a chamber work. The way the rising and falling 8th notes superimpose the melody.... what a work lads!

[@franzitaduz]

Its that warnth in the sound of the instruments that is so missing today with diigital sound painting.... Air always did a wonderful job for centuries.

[@sandokanfirst2]

All sound is still propagated through air, whether its source is digital or not. So I don't understand what you're saying really.

[@ninjaaron]

@@sandokanfirst2 especially in this case, where the music is being distributed digitally. 🤔

[@klop4228]

This is probably in my top five pieces of music at all.

[@lordemsworth1194]

And what are the others?

[@klop4228]

@@lordemsworth1194 Not entirely sure, coming back a couple years later. Schoenberg's First Quartet and Beethoven's Grosse Fuge are definitely up there (they're probably top three, at the moment - maybe with the rest of the 13th quartet added to the 1st quartet). As for the rest? Beethoven 7, maybe? Midsummer Night's Dream Overture, perhaps. Mahler 6? I dunno, to be honest. It's a bit variable. Unsure whether this one would fit entirely in the top five anymore, though it certainly could.

[@fedegwagwa]

Lol its impossible to tell my mental top ten changes like every week...but there are a few pieces like this one that always stand up there

[@川口健太郎-l1b]

Mendelssohnはドイツ最大のMeister octetは名品 何回聴いても飽きない

[@vishnuhalikere6213]

26:54 is literally amazing

[@uttonio]

I have gone to 3 symphony orchestra events and 2 of them play this. Loved it since the first time hearing it.

[@phill3066]

The defining performance of a masterpiece'; the cohesive excitement and energy generated by this incomparable ensemble has never been matched.

[@kateralton365]

I love being able to read the music as I listen… absolutely glorious, thank you! ♥️

[@gamingmusicandjokesandabit1240]

0:05 Pure instrumentation layout heaven.

[@meganstevens2211]

Dang an actually good viola part 😭

[@snail_enthusiast]

theres a first time for everything ig 😭💀

[@Token_Nerd]

Holberg suite is alright. Brandenburg 3 isn't bad either but everyone hates Brandenburg 3.

[@rogernichols1124]

This ranks among the greatest compositions ever and to think it was written by an adolescent leaves you staggered. The energy, élan and passion here are truly breathtaking.

[@JessyCastellon-xl9jc]

Hi Roger ❤

[@edwardmontoya50]

I have LOVED this piece for decades. It's one of my favorite works by Felix. I adore the D minor trio his sister wrote but he gets credit for.

[@viviennelester9939]

1st movement was my favorite music when I was an active musician (cello) in my teens, and I am not so sure it still isn't my favorite. Listen at 12:20 when the 2nd 1st violin comes in to double the 1st 1st an octave below. Sublime. Still rocks me 50 years later.

[@larchmontmark1]

Thanks for pointing out that spot!!!

[@franciscofragoeiro5229]

I absolutely love those octaves! Stupidly ear-wormish!

[@chelseadalotta97]

KZbin literally recommend this after twosetviolin update their community tab!

[@paolo6219]

Same

[@jorgefraile218]

Same here!

[@marichristian1072]

What an amazing recording! So many musical superstars gathered together. This octet is surely the most perfect of Mendlessohns's string works.

[@olla-vogala4090]

+Mari Christian Yes I agree, it's such a great work, and the cast... it just doesn't get any better! Thank you for all your comments by the way Mari :)

[@marichristian1072]

Thank you for your remarkable recordings, olla-vogala.

[@mcrettable]

+Mari Christian have you heard his 6th string quartet :D

[@marichristian1072]

Yes, I've heard them all. Do you have a favorite recording?

[@mcrettable]

Mari Christian the video on youtube of the schumann quartet performance

[@annas.7151]

Bellissimo. Mendelsohn era un GRANDE. Peccato che si conosce poco

[@ikmarchini]

Hai ragione. Non e sconosciuto ma lui e uno dei grandi maestri, ala Mozart e Beethoven.

[@ismaelruiz2412]

JESUS! this is simply amazing! i want to play this, is so sad the fact that i cant. terrific melody, i love this so much, thx a lot for sharing ! this is an excellent work!

[@nicolasadams2204]

Why is the first movement perfection? 😭😭😭 ❤️

[@chessiepique9532]

Thanks so much for posting this with background information, and best of all, the score! Wow. THIS is how to KZbin. :-)

[@aymericd.6126]

Without adds, would have been perfection.

[@bobsteiner9209]

This recording is from 1961. I'm not sure this famous octet has ever been performed better. And the sound quality, the clarity and balance among the instruments, is still outstanding.

[@stephenmorrisguitar]

I look forward to seeing this performed for the first time tomorrow.

[@flossingjonah9066]

Bass: Am I a joke to you?

[@brendanmcmahon2745]

I think of Mendelssohn in two ways, first as the late spring and summer composer as much of his music (like the octet) reminds me of the lush green late springs and summers we have here in New England. The second way is as a king of the joyous romantic opening. While other composers know how to open a piece (Ludwig) if you look at his A Midsummer Night's Dream, Trio, Violin Concerto and the octet openings. Each throws the listener into it and gets them hooked in the best way possible.

[@vishnuhalikere2151]

Don't know why but I just love how good the measure at 4:49 sounds.

[@evanmcguire5787]

If you'd like, I could tell you the two chords Mendelssohn uses in that measure

[@arthurfranca5516]

Ray Brown omg he plays that too doent he!??

[@franciscofragoeiro5229]

It's the magic of the C flat! That flat 6th gives us that beautiful chord :) it's one of my favourite chords ever

[@franciscofragoeiro5229]

It's the magic of the C flat! That flat 6th gives us that beautiful chord :) it's one of my favourite chords ever

[@sammjashley5776]

7:38, 16:14, 20:14, 22:23, 22:43 - 23:21 are all my favourite parts

[@hazelgriffin4336]

nothing will ever top this melody

[@cloudwards2225]

24:54 i rlly love how he put a violin solo just to bring back the beginning of the 4th movement

[@moafighting1597]

I love listening to classical pieces because it's fun to interpret the way everything sounds as different emotions. Like how 3:10 sounds kind of playful to me-

[@2ears1mouth786]

A masterpiece! Wouldn't mind being a musical genius myself, but hey ho...

[@nicolorossi624]

I felt a little sad when it ended... MAGNIFICENT!!!!

[@joveyosagie2179]

I loved Heifetz, I'm sure he got first chair, I also like Piatigorsky. SO many greats in a masterpiece of chamber music, I love it

[@Whatismusic1234]

The counterpoint in Mendelssohn is great! Also his music always have great form!

[@rebeccamorgan6244]

Beautiful! And fun.

[@shnimmuc]

A very great work. This along with the Midsummer Nights music is probably his greatest. All written be for he was 20. Even in maturity he never surpassed these works.

[@walexwetchina487]

you are missing out my friend.......

[@shnimmuc]

walex wetchina Meaning?

[@walexwetchina487]

The works of Mendelssohn's later years are just as exceptional.

[@shnimmuc]

walex wetchina Other then the D minor trio and the violin concerto, what works are comparable in quality. Certainly not the retrograde symphonies nor the c class "Handel" oratorios.

[@walexwetchina487]

Quartets 3-6 for starters. It all depends on how you approach it. What you call retrograde symphonies and secound rate handel oratorios I find to be excellent works. You cant honestly think that of Elijah, can you? Think of the opening fugue. It is perfection in my opinion. An extremely powerful work on the whole.

[@enriquesanchez2001]

♥♥♥♥ Unsurpassable performance!

[@coasterdragon155]

how he wrote this when he was 16 is beyond me. this is spectacular

[@ruthcarter7317]

Heard this at Lewes Chamber music Festival last week - blown away.

[@wobblyorbee279]

12:34 love that downward leap to a b flat actually sounds like the higher octave because of the overtones, it's so trippy, i could hear the downward leap and actually the higher octave (a step up from the a flat)

[@marinuki667]

So true! It's the first time I check the score (never played this) and I had no idea it was a low B! Mendelssohn is just pure gold

[@wobblyorbee279]

yes i was surprised it was a low Bb when i saw it too@@marinuki667

[@georgwagner9]

the first repetition is breathtaking !!

[@GreenBoy9000]

Octets are awesome.

[@mavow_]

5:30 That's also in his violin concerto !

[@Cayres18]

Great recording, for 1961.

[@sedawin]

20:27 Dolby Surround Sound😃🎶 in the 19th century!!

[@dhu2056]

2:08 that violist

[@franciscofragoeiro5229]

Ouch ahahah

[@-Muzikalite-]

So, no one was an impostor.

[@sebastian9445]

lmaooo

[@dayanaread2929]

2nd movement: 12:50 3rd movement: 18:23 4th movement: 22:42

[@efun1234]

My chamber music camp sight read this, I was a 1st violin(there were multiple people per part) and it was fun! Even though I didnt hear it before, i managed to pull through with the help of other 1st violin 😊😊😊😊

[@michelevolz7769]

Just fantastic!

[@mattd3826]

Thank you for the excellent description

[@cminor3016]

Embrace this now; who knows how long this will last before it is abruptly taken from us by those who profit from the oversimplification of our lives♥️

[@memedreams8558]

Mendelssohn is so underrated

[@oluchiibe98]

Amanda HE IS?????? Most people consider him as the "landscape artist" of music or the composer that clearly makes a story with his music.

[@memedreams8558]

AverageGirl Yeah but you don't really hear a lot of people talk about him.

[@delroyroberts9244]

The reason is, that most people don't realise that these masterpieces were written in his teens. His first symphony was written at the age of 15: a seldom heard master-work.that can be compared with the 'Italian'. He also wrote wonderful concertos at the age of 14 -17.

[@brianbernstein3826]

the notorious antisemite Wagner famously remarked that Mendelssohn never reached the fame of Bach, Mozart, or Beethoven because of his Jewish faith

[@MatthieuStepec]

@@brianbernstein3826 even though he was raised in christianity and didn't actually have said jewish faith.

[@RadioDash26]

Is no one seriously gonna talk about how good 7:37 to 8:28 is?

[@davidr7819]

Playing this on Sunday. Suspect I’ll get to try both cello parts. Shout out for violin 4- some lovely moments, and viola 2, especially the end of the slow movt 😊❤

[@vivaldifromjapan5853]

ⅰ 00:06 Allegro moderato ma con… ⅱ 12:50 Andante ⅲ 18:25 Scherzo ⅳ 22:44 Presto

[@winstonelston5743]

He always had another trick up his sleeve. Notice around 8:50 it sounds like he's out of steam, but at 9:20 the vamp begins leading into the series of frenzied scales, those leading into a restatement of the first theme, and also his masterful restraint in use of false cadences. Beethoven could have benefitted from lessons from this child prodigy!

[@lvbandmore]

I think you point out some nice moments but please don't try to demean Beethoven like that. It only makes you look uninformed and I'm sure Felix would have agreed.

[@chai8941]

@@lvbandmore Nah Mendy is better than Ludwig. Beethoven is good, no doubt, but I prefer Felix.

[@MaestroTJS]

@@chai8941 lol, no.

[@thatsEforEveryone]

@@MaestroTJS I mean it is their opinion-

[@jeremyleow]

The g was correct, it sounds normal... I wonder why Jason decided to vote hyuna out that round... Although she actually wasn't meant to play that g

[@NH-zv1kb]

22:42

[@autodidact2499]

Mendelssohn (3 February 1809 - 4 November 1847) was 16 when he completed this octet on October 15, 1825.

[@StuartSimon]

What I find interesting about the Octet is that there are actually two different versions. I have heard the original, and as expected, I heard the climbing struggle that is here subsumed under the first ending of the repeat in the first movement, and it was followed by the repeat of the exposition. However, I was shocked to hear it again when we came to the end of the repeat. I was relieved to know that the figure would not originally have been left out if the performers elected not to take the repeat. This and similar cases of substantial material under the first ending fascinate me.

[@Allan-mf1he]

amazing

[@Eggveryumai]

I’m addicted to 4th movement.

[@川口健太郎-l1b]

フランス近代音楽好きの私が、大好きなドイツ・ロマン派作品

[@zzimp1]

The ending of the 1st movement features an incredible climax that comes close to some Beethoven chamber music works like climax of the 1st movement of the op. 74 string quartet

[@whatplanetweonidontknow3037]

Libras... his friend born day after myself. Finished the day before my birthday. Wow

[@person8987]

what do you mean

[@qalaphyll]

what do you mean

[@oluchiibe98]

I love how everyone is coming here after Twoset's video, while I remember coming here after looking up "sad violin tunes" a few years ago

[@jasonk1976]

This is off the hook!!! Ultimate high brow badassery.

[@notanidiot401]

Thus, no one is the imposter.

[@nobody__cares]

7:00 fav part

[@mkl62]

Happy New Year.

[@LandOfDeez]

Here before twoset takeover

[@TK-tv5un]

Mendelssohn's unpolished works of his youth are in many respects better than the polished works of his mature period. They just have this spontaneity and unexpectedness that makes them stand out. I think Mendelssohn was an obsessive perfectionist and this actually harmed the quality of his work in the end.

[@ketanfernandes4094]

Oca 2074 interesting. I always considered his early period (prior to Symphony 1) as a tribute to his Classical era predecessors. In many ways you can hear influences of the first Viennese school of composers (and of course Bach, whom Mendelssohn idolised).

[@pegasusboots3594]

Primrose is my idol

[@happypiano4810]

How. I must figure out how to write an octet.

[@kjs3563]

l love Mendelssohn