One of my favorite things to do when traveling is to visit the grave sites of famous composers--Bach, Handel, Haydn, and of course, Mendelssohn. Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy is buried with his wife and children alongside his famous sister Fanny and her family in a historic Jewish cemetery in central Berlin. A photo of their gravesite hangs in a special place in my office.
Of course, we rarely have an opportunity to visit special grave sites, but we do have Mendelssohn's legacy of great music for organ, piano, orchestra, and chorus. I am including some of his magnificent piano music to enrich our Sunday morning services. Mendelssohn entitled these pieces "Songs Without Words." You do not have to worry about understanding the words! Simply enjoy the simple music that creates a special moment in our services.
If you have a chance to visit Berlin, consider a visit to see the simple small white cross marking the final resting place of this incredible composer and family.
--Jack