Felix Mendelssohn

Hello! My name is Felix Mendelssohn, and I want to tell you about my life filled with music. I was born in a city called Hamburg, Germany, on February 3rd, 1809. My family loved music, and our home was always full of beautiful sounds. My older sister, Fanny, and I were best friends. We spent hours together at the piano, making up our own songs and playing for our family. Our house was a happy place where notes danced in the air, and I knew from a very young age that music would be my life's great adventure. I loved learning and creating melodies with my sister by my side.

Even when I was a young boy, I was already writing my own music. People called me a child prodigy, which is a fancy way of saying I was very good at something at a young age! When I was 17 years old, in 1826, I read a wonderful play by a writer named William Shakespeare called 'A Midsummer Night's Dream.' It was so magical, full of fairies and forests, that it inspired me to write music about it. Years later, I added more songs to it, including one you might know. It’s called the 'Wedding March,' and many people play it at their weddings to celebrate. It makes me so happy to know my music is part of such a joyful day for so many people all over the world!

One of my favorite composers was Johann Sebastian Bach, who lived long before I did. In my time, many people had forgotten his wonderful music. I thought that was a shame because his songs were so clever and beautiful! So, in 1829, I gathered a big group of singers and musicians, and we put on a concert of his music. Everyone loved it! It felt amazing to help the world remember his beautiful songs. I also loved to travel and see new places. I once visited Scotland, and its beautiful, misty hills inspired me to write music that sounded just like the scenery. I wanted my music to paint pictures in the minds of everyone who listened.

My life was full of music and joy, but it was shorter than many. I lived to be 38 years old. Even though I am no longer here, my music lives on. It is played by orchestras in big concert halls and at happy celebrations all around the world. I hope that when you hear my music, it makes you feel something special and reminds you of the wonderful stories that music can tell.