Sinfonia No. 4: String Symphony in C minor

This is the fourth among thirteen string symphonies written between 1821 and 1823, when Mendelssohn was twelve to fourteen years old. Like the other twelve, it was written as a tribute to early Classical symphonies by composers such as Haydn, J.C. Bach, C.P.E. Bach, and Mozart, a feature much more obvious in the first six as they were more imitative. The second grouping, starting with Sinfonia No. 7, show more of the composer’s emerging personal style. Mendelssohn composed most of the thirteen works in three movements, and his fourth string symphony is no exception. The set includes a string count of 8-8-5-5-5.