Felix Mendelssohn ： 6 Preludes and Fugue No.3 in h-moll MWV U Op.35-3

This work is marked by the profound shadows and tension of B minor, with an appealing contrast between its prelude and fugue. In the prelude, the expressive character of the piece is gradually shaped through careful attention to the breath of the melody and the changing harmonies. In the fugue that follows, the subject passes from voice to voice, and the interwoven lines propel the music powerfully forward. In performance, it is important to organize the volume and articulation of each voice and to make each entrance of the subject clearly audible. The pedal should be used with restraint so that the sonority remains clear; contrasting the expressive lyricism of the prelude with the fugue’s momentum brings the work’s structure into sharper relief. Throughout, performers should be mindful not only of its weight and gravity, but also of the suppleness within its flow.