Mendelssohn was the first to incorporate ideas from Beethoven's late works into his own compositions. For example, his Piano Sonata in E major, Piano Fantasia in F sharp Minor, and String Quartet in A Minor (1826-1833) make use of Beethoven's last piano sonatas and string quartets. Yet these pieces of Mendelssohn involve a high degree of novelty. For instance, a recitative in the Piano Sonata in E Major, which resembles the third movement of Beethoven's Piano Sonata Op. 101, is used as a fugue subject. Mendelssohn's borrowing from Beethoven may also be construed as a unique reinterpretation of their less accessible models for the Biedermeier age.

Works: Mendelssohn: Piano Sonata in E Major, Op. 6 (272-77), Fantasie for Piano in F sharp Minor, Op. 28 (272, 277-78), Fantasia for Piano in E Major, Op. 15 (272, 279-80), String Quartet in A Minor, Op. 13 (280-84).

Sources: Beethoven: Piano Sonata in A Major, Op. 101 (272, 275), Piano Sonata in B flat Major, Op. 106 (276-77), Piano Sonata in E Major, Op. 109 (276, 278-79), Piano Sonata in E flat Major, Op. 81a (278), Piano Sonata in D Minor, Op. 31, No. 2 (278), String Quartet in A Minor, Op. 132 (280-84), String Quartet in B flat Major, Op. 130 (282-83).

Index Classifications: 1800s

Contributed by: Tamara Balter