6 Organ Sonatas

Historical context

The 6 Organ Sonatas, Op. 65, were composed over several years in Frankfort. Sonata No. 2 in C minor was composed in 1839, as noted in the book from that year. Later, in 1844, Sonatas No. 1 in F minor, No. 2 in C minor, No. 3 in A major, and No. 6 in D minor were composed, according to the book from that year. The composition of Sonatas No. 4 in B flat and No. 6 in D minor followed in 1845, as recorded in the book from that year.

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy himself revealed his deep engagement with the organ and its repertoire. In 1837, he mentioned to his mother his intention of playing Bach’s organ prelude in E flat major and the fugue at the end of the same book in Birmingham, believing the prelude would be “particularly acceptable to the English.” In 1844, Mendelssohn also asked his sister Fanny to find an organ piece in A major he had composed for her wedding and written out in Wales, as he was rewriting its middle part and wanted to compare it with the original.

Drawn from Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Felix, 1809-1847; Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Paul, 1812-1874; Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Karl, 1838-1897; Rietz, Julius, 1812-1877, Letters of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy from 1833 to 1847 (1863) — public domain, archive.org.