Mats Norrman ([log in to unmask]) wrote:

>Bob Draper <[log in to unmask]>:
>
>>But there is massive evidence of influence in a lot of his music
>>particularly the string symphonies.  The influence is largely Haydn and
>>Beethoven but one finds Mozart there as well.
>
>A klotje of Beethoven & C/O yes, but I feel more Muzio Clementi in the
>string symphonies.

Matts, without wishing to be offensive, is "klotje" simply a typo, or
a piece of Swedish vernacular we'd all love to become acquainted with?

>But from the "Mittsommernachtstraumouverture" his style
>is highly original, and some works even before that (particulary that
>"Swiss" 9th String symphony).  But more influences were to come.  The old
>guys,Palestrina, Orlando di Lassus, and later on, yes J.S.Bach!  He was
>really a child genious!

I defy anyone to come up with a greater work composed by a 16-year-old than
the Octet.  (Just to help, Mozart's Koechel numbers for his 17th year range
from 124 to 162, no masterpieces there I submit).  The year before MSND
BTW, and surely one of the most sublime works in the chamber literature.
Magical is the only word for the music and its teenage creator.

I therefore propose Felix Mendelssohn as the compositional prodigy of all
time.

Deryk Barker
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