| When was Mendelssohn born? | 1809 |
| When did Mendelssohn die? | 1847 |
| Where was Mendelssohn from? | Germany |
| In what musical period did Mendelssohn compose? | Romantic |
| What was Mendelssohn’s family background? | A loving, well-to-do family. His sister, Fanny, was also a talented composer and she was friends with Charles Gounod and inspired his compositions. |
| What is Mendelssohn credited with doing? | Bringing the music of Bach back to popularity after it had been somewhat forgotten |
| What did Mendelssohn die of? | a stroke at age 38. |
| Why did Mendelssohn compose A Midsummer Night’s Dream? | to accompany Shakespeare’s play by the same name |
| What is A Midsummer Night’s Dream? | A play written by William Shakespeare in 1596. |
| What is the play A Midsummer Night’s Dream about? | It tells the story of a human couple who run off to an enchanted forest where they encounter fairies, goblins and magic. Oberon, King of the Fairies, and Puck, a mischievous hobgoblin, play tricks on them, giving them love potions and even the head of a donkey, with hilarious results. |
| When did Mendelssohn write this piece? | He wrote the overture in 1826 (at age 17) and he wrote the incidental music, including Dance of the Clowns in 1842. |
| What kind of group performs this piece? | A symphony orchestra |
| incidental music | music to accompany a play or story |
| time signature | the number of beats in each group, and what type of note gets one beat |
| accent | a stress or strong emphasis on a note |
| half note | a note lasting for two beats |
| paired eighth notes | a pair of notes having two sounds on a beat |
| quarter note | a note lasting for one beat |
| repeat sign | a sign meaning to repeat the music again |
Mendelssohn and A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Dance of the Clowns
August 6, 2019