Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy’s “Lieder ohne Worte” (Songs Without Words) for piano have been admired by amateurs and celebrated concert pianists alike for almost 200 years. These concise piano pieces, characterised by a clear three-part, song-like structure and singable melodic lines, were composed between 1829 and 1845. Lyrics are deliberately omitted because, according to Mendelssohn, ‘true music fills the soul a thousand times better than words’.

Five movements of different characters have ...