About this edition
Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64, completed in 1844 after a six-year gestation in close collaboration with violinist Ferdinand David, stands as one of the most beloved and structurally innovative concertos in the repertoire. Its seamless linking of all three movements, the soloist's startling entrance in the second bar, and the placement of the cadenza before rather than after the recapitulation were genuine departures from Classical convention — innovations that influenced concerto writing for generations. Lyrical, virtuosic, and impeccably crafted, it remains a cornerstone of every violinist's repertoire and a masterwork of the Romantic era.
This score reproduces the text published by Breitkopf & Härtel of Leipzig in 1877 as part of the monumental Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdys Werke (Serie 4), the first comprehensive critical collected edition of the composer's output. Edited by Julius Rietz (1812–1877) — a conductor and composer who knew Mendelssohn personally, served as music director at the Leipzig Gewandhaus, and devoted his later years to overseeing this landmark edition — the volume bears plate number M.B. 18 and reflects a level of editorial care informed by direct familiarity with Mendelssohn's musical world. It has long been regarded as a foundational source for performers, conductors, and scholars studying the work.
About this edition:
- Full orchestral score (conductor's score with solo violin and full orchestra)
- Page size: 8.5 x 11 inches
- Reproduced from a public domain historical source
- Edited by Julius Rietz; original plate M.B. 18, Breitkopf & Härtel, 1877
- Published by Purple 4R Publishing
This edition makes a historically significant public domain score available in a clean, practical format for study, rehearsal, and performance — bringing one of the great Romantic concertos into the hands of conductors, soloists, students, and music lovers who want to engage with it directly from a trusted nineteenth-century source.
