Scherzo in E minor, Op.16 No.2

Description

The Scherzo in E minor, second of Mendelssohn's Three Fantasies (or Caprices), Op.16. In a set of three pieces of differing character, this second one is a scherzo, music that darts lightly about.

In E minor and 4/4, it has a light, fairy-dance momentum and a fantastical atmosphere that looks ahead to his later music for A Midsummer Night's Dream. Though in a minor key, lightness rather than weight comes to the fore, which is what makes it a characteristically Mendelssohnian scherzo.

It is rated advanced. In the recording on this site it runs over seven minutes, with a high count of 2,097 notes, demanding agile, advanced technique. The key is to dash through fast passages while keeping a light touch; pressing too hard loses the character of the piece. The range is E1 to B6. The reliable approach is to slow the playback, secure the finger work in short sections with the A-B loop, and raise the tempo little by little.

Works in scherzo form, known for its playful character, including Chopin's four scherzos that blend wit with dramatic power.