Born in Hamburg, 14 Nov 1805
Died in Berlin, 14 May 1847
Baptized Fanny Cäcilie Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
Regarding how to refer to the composer: “Fanny Mendelssohn,” “Fanny Hensel,” and “Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel” are all used. In her published works, the composer had her name printed as “Fanny Hensel, née Mendelssohn-Bartholdy”, or “Fanny Cäcilia Hensel, geb. (“geboren,” i.e. “born”) Mendelssohn-Bartholdy.”
- Hensel received a thorough training in piano and counterpoint as a child, along with her brother Felix Mendelssohn. At age 13, she was able to play the entirety of Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier from memory.
- In addition to composing, Hensel was a salon hostess whose private concert series was one of the most sought-after musical events in Berlin.
- Hensel’s status as an upper-class lady made professional work socially taboo for her. Despite objections from her father (and some from her brother Felix) she finally decided to publish compositions at the age of 41, the year before her sudden death from a stroke.1
Illustrated Biography from the Mendelssohn-Gesellschaft
Catalogue
- Hensel’s works that were published during her lifetime were assigned opus numbers when published. Works that were not published during Hensel’s lifetime may be identified by their assigned number in R. Hellwig-Unruh’s catalogue of Hensel’s works (abbreviated H or H-U).2
Sources
- Angela Mace Christian, “Hensel [née Mendelssohn (-Bartholdy)], Fanny Cäcilie,” Grove Music Online (November 28, 2018), accessed June 3, 2021, https://ww.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-3000000159.
- Ibid.