Sinfonia No. 7: String Symphony in D minor

This is the seventh 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, but his seventh is an exception to the rule, with four movements instead. A count of 8-8-5-5-5 strings are included in this set.