Andante

This third movement is written in an operatic aria style, with the first violins singing the opening lyrical melody over a pulsating accompaniment. Mendelssohn's compositional style belongs to the Romantic period with its more emotional, expressive qualities. The Andante increasingly engages each string section, expanding the interplay of parts and infusing more rhythmic drama before ending in calm serenity. This is an excellent composition for students to develop tone quality, learn the functions of foreground and background in balancing parts, and experience the emotional shifts of a Romantic composition. (3:20)