6 Preludes and Fugues

Historical context

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy’s 6 Preludes and Fugues, Op. 35, came together over several years. According to the book, the Fugue No. 3 in B minor was composed in 1832. Later, in 1836, he composed Preludes No. 2 in D, No. 3 in B minor, and No. 5 in F minor in Leipzig, alongside Fugue No. 6 in B flat. The remaining pieces were completed in Leipzig in 1837, with Preludes No. 1 in E minor, No. 4 in A flat major, and No. 6 in B flat, as well as Fugue No. 2, all dating from that year.

By January 1837, the collection was ready for publication. Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy sent his six preludes and fugues to the printer, though he expressed a concern, “fearing they would not be much played.”

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.