Mendelssohn –Symphony No.4 in A major ‘Italian’ (1833)

As with Symphony No.3 in A minor ‘Scottish’, this work was composed as a result of his tour of Europe from 1829 to 1831. He said of Italy:

“This is Italy! And now has begun what I have always thought … to be the supreme joy in life. And I am loving it. Today was so rich that now, in the evening, I must collect myself a little”

He completed the Symphony in Berlin in March 1833, and conducted the premiere in London the following May.

It is scored for double woodwind, two horns, two trumpets, timpani and strings. It is in the standard four movements, but unusually it moves from tonic major to tonic minor.

1. Allegro vivace (A major)
2. Andante con moto (D minor)
3. [Minuet & Trio] Con moto moderato (A major) 
4. Saltarello – Presto & Finale (A minor)