MENDELSSOHN Chamber Music - Octet E flat Op.20

When people think of chamber music they usually think of string quartets and four instruments but some of the most beautiful chamber music was written for five instruments (quintet), six (sextet), seven (septet), and eight as we have here. Mendelssohn wrote this outstanding piece of chamber music and probably the finest octet ever written when he was 16. How Mendelssohn came to write such great music at an early age is covered here in another Mendelssohn entry.

The Melos Ensemble recorded this in the late 60's and their performance was released on different CD's over the years.  Whether you prefer one recording over another often depends on your individual ears and sound system so if you like the piece but want a different recording altogether try this "playable link" to an EMI recording of the Octet by Hausmusik The Melos Octet tracks below were taken from EMI's two CD set but there is also another EMI one CD version of this recording but I don't think it's as good, but this may be my imagination. If you collect records, Melos released their US records on the Angel label and they are all above average. Mendelssohn's biography is here. If you like this piece you will probably  enjoy Schubert's String Quartet, Death and the Maiden. Also on the playlist below is Beethoven's Septet  and track 5 (fifth movement) is nice. Mendelssohn's Octet starts at track 7.