ABSTRACT
A critical task in Hensel scholarship has been assessing the full scope of her oeuvre, a task for which works-lists and thematic catalogs are ideally suited. Although Hellwig-Unruh’s thematic catalog has in many ways become a standard reference, new works continue to come to light; thus, the task of comprehensively gauging her musical output cannot be said to have been completed.
190. Hellwig-Unruh, Renate. Fanny Hensel, geb. Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Thematisches Verzeichnis der Kompositionen. Adliswil: Kunzelmann, 2000. 452 pp. ISBN: 3-9521049-3-0
Hellwig-Unruh’s catalog is the most comprehensive catalog of Hensel’s compositions currently in publication and a standard reference in Hensel scholarship; Hensel’s works, especially those without opus numbers, are often referred to by their H-U numbers. The bulk of this catalog covers 466 of Hensel’s works, organized by date of completion. Incipits, information about the manuscripts, contextual remarks, and citations to relevant secondary literature are also included.
191. Kaegli, Gabriela. “Ein paar Häppchen reichen nicht: Ausgewählte Diskographie Fanny Hensel-Mendelssohn.” clingKong: Musikszene Frau 41 (Summer 1997): 18–23.
192. Koch, Paul-August. Fanny Hensel geb. Mendelssohn (1805–1847): Kompositionen—Eine Zusammenstellung der Werke, Literatur und Schallplatten. Frankfurt am Main: Zimmermann, 1993. 48 pp. ISBN: 3-921-729-57-2
Koch’s pamphlet includes an incomplete list of Hensel’s works, about 324 in total, since at that time many manuscripts were still in private hands. The works-list is organized first by Hensel’s opus numbers, then opus numbers for works published under Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy’s name, then a chronological list of works in manuscript (with WoO numbers, which pre-date the now commonly used H-U numbers [see no. 190]), and a final list of works for which the date cannot be determined. Some entries include incipits, performance and recording information, and contextual commentary; many entries, however, are very brief. Koch also includes a brief bibliography and discography, which are by now both significantly out of date.
193. Maurer, Annette. Thematisches Verzeichnis der Klavierbegleiteten Sololieder Fanny Hensels. Kassel: Furore, 1997. 230 pp. ISBN: 9783927327405
Although in some ways now superseded by the Hellwig-Unruh catalog (no. 190), Maurer’s thematic index of the solo lieder remains a useful resource, particularly for singers and scholars who focus on Hensel’s choice of texts. This catalog is organized alphabetically by title or (in the absence of a title) text incipit. (n.b. that in accordance with typical German-language practices, grammatical articles are not omitted in the alphabetizing scheme; thus “Die Schwalbe” is found under the letter D.) Incipits, source, and publication information are included. Reviewed by Gisela Müller, Die Musikforschung 53, no. 3 (Juli–September 2001): 341–342.
194. Sirota, Victoria Ressmeyer. “The Life and Works of Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel.” DMA thesis, Boston University School for the Arts, 1981. 333 pp.
See no. 33.
195. “Werkverzeichnis.” In Komponistinnen in Berlin, edited by Bettina Brand et al., 65–72. Berlin: Musikfrauen e.V., 1987.
This preliminary works-list is organized by genre, including: oratorios and cantatas; orchestral works; chamber music; solo piano works; works for piano four-hands; organ works; lieder (solo and duet); trios; a capella choral music; and accompanied choral music. Many of the entries are for a group of manuscripts rather than individual works, rendering it difficult to determine how many individual works are referenced or how much duplication there may be. Now largely superseded by more recent thematic catalogs.
