Those of you who came to the Hanover Square Quartet’s Fanny Mendelssohn concert back in May will remember that film maker Sheila Hayman, Fanny’s great, great, great granddaughter, told us about the documentary she had just completed n her illustrious forbear, Fanny: the other Mendelssohn. And… on 27th of this month, it will premiere.
As a member of an upper middle class German family in the early 19th century, Fanny was expected to confine her musical activities to playing light songs on a keyboard. Composition was deemed to be quite unsuitable for a woman in her position – indeed women were not thought be capable of composing more than light ditties. Even her much loved brother Felix who consulted her about all of his own compositions, passed off a number of her compositons as his own claiming that “publishing her music would only disturb her in her primary duties of managing her house”. How impressive then that despite these constraints she should compose over 400 works, not only for keyboard but, with no actual experience of any instrument beyond a keyboard, for strings and larger ensembles. It was only finally in her forties and encouraged by her husband, the artist William Hensel, that she finally summoned the courage to approach a music publisher with some of her work.
Fanny: the other Mendelssohn brings this extraordinary story to life. And the film includes Isata Kanneh-Mason, another pioneering woman artist, playing Fanny’s Easter Sonata, discovered in 1970 signed F. Mendelssohn and therefore initally attributed Felix – but revealed within the last ten years to have been Fanny’s work.
The premiere of the film will take place at the
Fulham Road (London SW6) Picture House at 19.30 on October 27th
and will be followed by a live Q & A with Sheila and Isata.
Go here to book a ticket for the 27th.
However, if you cannot make the 27th, the film will also be showing in a selection of other Picture Houses on November 1st – check in here for specific locations and to book.
Salon Music Upcoming Concerts
22nd October – Highgate Society Sunday Lunchtime concerts.
The Ladies of the Salons Accompanied by Matt Redman, Patricia Hammond sings parlour songs from the 1830s to the 1930s.
For more information and to buy tickets
4th November – The baroque Spinet
Leading harpsichord player, Nathaniel Mander will be giving his new baroque spinet its very first London outing with us on November 4th.
For more information and to buy tickets
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