The song was considered one of the central genres of Romanticism. From his childhood until his untimely death at the age of 38, Felix Mendelssohn devoted himself to composing songs. At the age of ten, he created his first known work, "Zum Geburtstage meines guten Vaters" (For My Good Father's Birthday), in which he set anonymous texts to music for his father Abraham's birthday on December 11, 1819. This charming early work already hinted at Mendelssohn's later inclination towards strophic songs—simple, heartfelt, and direct, with a postlude in which the precocious child ventured into chromatic experimentation.
Not only Felix, but also Fanny honored her father through her affection for Jean-Pierre Claris de Florian, an author known for his involvement in republican activities in France. Florian wrote fables, novellas, and the unforgettable "Plaisir d'amour ne dure qu'un instant" (The Pleasure of Love Lasts Only a Moment). Mendelssohn, for example, set to music the lament "Pauvre Jeannette," about a girl who preferred a shepherd to a king.
In memory of the famous poet Goethe, Mendelssohn composed "Erster Verlust" (First Loss). The poetic words about first love were set to music with impressive skill, and he musically conveyed the mixture of disbelief and resignation.
Schiller's poignant words found their way into Mendelssohn's setting of "Des Mädchens Klage" (The Maiden's Lament) – a story between Max, the son of Wallenstein's confidant Piccolomini, and Wallenstein's daughter Thekla. Mendelssohn created a harmonically rich song, which was published posthumously as "The Maiden's Lament."
Mendelssohn also set poems by various authors, such as Friedrich von Matthisson and Joseph von Eichendorff, to music, uniting poetic content and musical allusions in his works.
Particularly noteworthy is the "Wanderlied" (Wanderer's Song), based on a poem by Joseph von Eichendorff. In this vivid setting, Mendelssohn experiments with chromatic passages and darker tones to illustrate the perils of travel.
Mendelssohn's songs were characterized by romantic moods, longing, and idyllic nature scenes. He arranged folk songs in an impressive manner, influenced by Scottish folklore and renowned poets such as Robert Burns.
Mendelssohn's talent also encompassed more dramatic compositions, such as the concert aria "Ch'io t'abbandono in periglio sì grande" – a demanding work full of passionate expression that challenges singers.
The collection concludes movingly with the folk song "Es ist bestimmt in Gottes Rat'" (It is determined in God's counsel), based on a poem by Ernst von Feuchtersleben about the transience of love. Mendelssohn transformed the melancholic verses into a hopeful farewell.