Mendelssohn - Song without Words, op.19 no. 6Ā āVenetian Boat Songā
Probably my favorite song without words from Mendelssohnās collection. I donāt know, the melody sucks me in, itās so somber, so simple, but at the same time hits a really deep chord with meā¦as if I were in Venice as the city is, not the Romanticized version of it, I mean a day where itās grey and you notice the decaying churches and art along the walls, you become more pessimistic at the thought of decay, of how momentary everything seems to be. And yes Iāll say it: I just had some good pizza at an Italian pizza place and I couldnāt help but think of thisĀ āItalianā melody while I ate, and thatās probably a bi-product of my recent blue moodsā¦whatever the source is, Mendelssohnās Songs without Words are a great staple of Romantic piano music. Music that is lyrical, freeform, and something to use to experiment with small ideas, and the small and intimate is something that I think we all seek. In an age of mass production, of gluttony, we want something that feels personal, legitimate.
Will do another post on these tomorrow, but one of my Thanksgiving rituals is, after Iāve finished eating and have had some wine, I take my dog for a walk and listen to all of theĀ āVenetian Gondolier Songsā throughout Mendelssohnās songs without words. Thereās only three of them, and theyāre all short, slightly melancholic, and have the rocking waves underscoring the melody. A chance to take a moment away from my hectic family [I love them but Iām an introvert to a borderline unhealthy degree]. I donāt know what attracts me to these specific pieces, the suggestion of a gondola rowing through Venice. Iāve never been in one of those. But Venice fascinates me for how much of its traditions are themselves a marketing fabrication to promote tourism. Strange how some things never change.
