The “Romance sans paroles dédiée à Mlle. Lise Christiani” – thus described in the surviving autograph – was only published as op. 109 from the composer’s estate in 1868. The French cellist Lise Christiani gave several concerts in Leipzig in October 1845, where she met with Mendelssohn and presumably commissioned him to write this charming work. It is the only “Song without words” that Mendelssohn wrote for two instruments, not piano solo. It was previously only available as part of a collection of works for this instrumentation (HN 669). However, the “Romance sans paroles”, a favourite with cellists, is now also available as a single Henle Urtext edition.
Content/Details
- Song without Words op. 109
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Preface
The Lieder ohne Worte (Songs without Words) for piano, published in eight books of six pieces each, represent a particular focal point within the creative output of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809 – 47). Book 1 came out in 1832, and book 6, the last collection to be assembled by the short-lived composer himself, in 1845. Books 7 and 8 were published in 1851 and 1868 … more
About the composer

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy
A German composer, conductor, pianist, and organist who already numbered among the most important composers in Europe during his lifetime. While still young he found a unique tonal language. Reflected in his oeuvre, which spans all genres, are the contradictory tendencies of the age – Classicism and Romanticism. His endeavors over the course his life to perform the works of Johann Sebastian Bach led to a “rediscovery” of that composer which continues unabated. His intensive engagement with Bach and his counterpoint influenced his own compositional technique.
1809 | Born into a wealthy banker’s family in Hamburg on February 3. Escape to Berlin with his parents in 1811. First musical instruction from his mother. |
1819 | He becomes a pupil of Carl Friedrich Zelter. |
1820 | Joins the Sing-Akademie in Berlin. |
1821–23 | Twelve sinfonias for strings. |
1825 | String Octet in E-flat major, Op. 20. |
1826 | Overture to “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Op. 21 |
1827 | Begins studies at the University of Berlin. |
1829 | Revival of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion in Berlin on March 11 and 21. Travels to England and Scotland. |
1829–30 | “Reformation” Symphony in D minor, [Op. 107], with inclusion of the choral “Ein feste Burg“ (A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.) |
1830–32 | Extended travels, including to Italy and France. Piano Concerto in G minor, Op. 25; Overture in B minor, Op. 26, “The Hebrides, or Fingal’s Cave” (1829–30). |
1833 | Music director in Düsseldorf. “Italian” Symphony in A major, Op. 90 (1830–33). |
1835 | Director of the Gewandhaus concerts in Leipzig. |
1836 | Premiere in Düsseldorf of his oratorio “St. Paul: Oratorio on Words of the Holy Bible,” Op. 36. |
1838-44 | Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64. |
1840 | Composition of “Hymn of Praise, a Symphony-Cantata on Words of the Holy Bible,” Op. 52. |
1841 | Berlin, in the service of the Prussian king. “Variations sérieuses” in D minor, Op. 54, for piano. |
1842 | Completion of Symphony No. 3 (“Scottish”) in A minor, Op. 56, with a songlike opening. |
1843 | Incidental music to Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Op. 61. Director of the newly founded Leipzig Conservatory. |
1846 | Premiere of his oratorio “Elijah,” Op. 70, in Birmingham. |
1847 | String Quartet in F minor, [Op. 80]. Death in Leipzig on November 4. |
About the authors
Free of earlier interventions by German and English first editions, cellists can rest easy with Ernst-Gunter Heinemann's meticulous editing in Henle's urtext printing. A supplementary cello part marked by Claus Kanngiesser adds further value.