Op. 65. Sechs Sonaten für die Orgel and related work

Title

Op. 65. Sechs Sonaten für die Orgel and related work

Shelfmark

MS. M. Deneke Mendelssohn c. 48

Summary

Comprises:

MS. M. Deneke Mendelssohn c. 48, fols. 1-24. Autograph corrected draft, with title page inscribed 'An Annette Preusser zu freundlicher Erinnerung an Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy. Leipzig d. 13 Januar 1846.' Not the final version as printed, and the first two movements of Sonata II and the whole of Sonata III are missing. Probably written out Spring 1845. Lines from fols. 3, 15 and 17 were reproduced in Musical Times, 1 Dec 1901, p. 797. 24 leaves. Oblong, 236 × 320 mm. Wove paper. 10 staves.

MS. M. Deneke Mendelssohn c. 48, fols. 25v-28. Sonata III. Written by copyist and corrected by F. Mendelssohn Bartholdy.

MS. M. Deneke Mendelssohn c. 48, fols. 29-32. Drafts of three pieces, the first, an Andante in D, is the start of a reworking of a piece, the first draft of which, dated 23 July [1844], is in vol. 39 of the Mendelssohn autographs now in Cracow (MS. Thematic Catalogue p. 57). The second, a Fugue in F minor, dated 10 Sept. [1844], is a complete reworking of a work originally composed 18 July 1839. In its reworked form it was evidently at first intended to form the opening movement of Sonata I. At the end the direction 'attacca no. 2' refers to a Chorale movement in A flat (so numbered in vol. 39 of the autographs). The third piece (labelled 'no. 3') is an early state of the third movement of Sonata I. At the end is the direction 'attacca no. 4' referring to the draft of the fourth movement of Sonata I in vol. 39 of the autographs. All three are listed in the MS. Thematic Catalogue on pp. 70-72.

MS. M. Deneke Mendelssohn c. 48, fols. 38-84. 'II (corrected to VI) Sonaten für Orgel von Mendelssohn'. The first three sonatas are considerably corrected by F. Mendelssohn Bartholdy 'No. 1' was printed as III; no. 2 is printed II; no. 3 was printed as I. Nos. IV-VI, which begin on fol. 59, show few corrections, and are on different paper (except fol. 66). Fol. 71v contains an Andante crossed out, formerly part of Sonata V. Copied by Francis Xaver Gleichauf.

MS. M. Deneke Mendelssohn c.48, fol. 85. Transcription for organ of the theme and Variation 4 (unfinished) from the Kaiserlied variations movement of Haydn's String Quartet, op. 76, no. 3. Not by Mendelssohn (?by Friedrich Schlimmer).

Date

1844-1846

Language

German

Physical extent

85 Leaves

Acquisition

Bequeathed by Helena Deneke, 1973.

Item 1. Bequeathed by Miss Preusser to Arthur O'Leary (see Musical Times, 1 Dec 1901, p. 798), whose daughter Katherine gave it to Dora Mendelssohn Bartholdy, née Wach, 7 Mar 1939.

Item 2. Probably given to Annette Preusser with item 1.

Item 4. Owned by Frierich (Fritz) Schlemmer. Given by his widow Cleophea to Marie Benecke, May 1892. Pencil annotations are by Hans Dreyer, who helped Cleophea Schlemmer to sort her husband's Nachlass. See letters, Cleophea Schlemmer and Cornelius Carl II Souchay to Marie Benecke, fols. 33, 35.