Mendelssohn: Six Christmas Pieces, Opus 72 Cover Image

Mendelssohn: Six Christmas Pieces, Opus 72: Piano Book

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Mendelssohn: Six Christmas Pieces, Opus 72 Cover Image
Mendelssohn: Six Christmas Pieces, Opus 72: Piano Book

Mendelssohn: Six Christmas Pieces, Opus 72: Piano Book

By Felix Mendelssohn / ed. Willard A. Palmer

Level: Early Advanced / Advanced

Item: 00-1958
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Description
These pieces are delightfully challenging for intermediate pianists and their musical messages are invariably interesting and clear. Editor Willard A. Palmer has maintained the music in its orginal form to achieve a performance as intended by the composer.

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Additional Details
Series: Alfred Masterwork Edition
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 16
ISBN10: 0-7390-0590-1
ISBN13: 978-0-7390-0590-3
UPC: 038081019192
SKU: 00-1958

More about this title

About the Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) composed across all major genres with a gift for melody and structural clarity that influenced generations of musicians. A virtuoso pianist and conductor as well as composer, Mendelssohn brought Romantic warmth to Classical forms, earning respect from contemporaries like Schumann and Chopin.

His sacred music reveals a deep engagement with faith and tradition. The Six Christmas Pieces come from late in his life, a period when he increasingly turned toward works with spiritual depth. These miniatures showcase his ability to say something profound without rhetorical excess.

Why we love this

Mendelssohn's Christmas pieces deliver genuine musical substance in compact form. They avoid sentimentality while maintaining warmth, making them ideal for programs that need sophisticated holiday music beyond the expected repertoire. Each piece stands alone musically, so you can program one or several depending on concert length and context.

What to expect

These pieces carry the contemplative spirit of the season without false gaiety. Mendelssohn's melodies sing with natural grace while underlying harmonies create gentle harmonic motion, evoking a quiet, reflective holiday moment rather than festive celebration.

Who it's for

Early advanced and advanced pianists ready to explore substantive Romantic repertoire beyond the standard teaching canon. Students who have mastered technical foundations and can handle moderate hand spans and coordination demands will find these pieces rewarding both to learn and to perform.

How to get the most out of it

  • Honor the composer's original notation by respecting dynamic markings and articulation; Palmer's editing preserves Mendelssohn's intent, so trust the score's details to shape phrasing rather than imposing interpretive choices.
  • Balance textural clarity with sustained lyricism. These pieces often layer melody against accompaniment patterns, so practice hands separately to hear each line's independence before blending them.
  • Pay attention to harmonic rhythm and voice leading. Mendelssohn's Romantic harmony moves thoughtfully, and allowing slight rubato to follow harmonic arrival points creates naturalness without losing structural integrity.
  • Approach ornaments and running passages with controlled energy. At this level, technical display serves musical expression rather than the reverse.

How to use it

Feature individual pieces in seasonal recitals, or program several together as a thematic set within a larger concert. They work well in holiday community events or student recital showcases where you want genuinely artistic material that respects both audience and performer.

Skills your students will build

  • Voice leading in multi-layered textures
  • Romantic-era harmonic language and harmonic rhythm
  • Interpretive choices using rubato and rubato recovery
  • Pedal control for sustained harmonic color
  • Balance between accompaniment patterns and sustained melody

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