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Fanny Cäcilie Mendelssohn Bartholdy (November 14,
1805–May 14, 1847), later Fanny Hensel, was
a Germany|German pianist and amateur composer. She
is perhaps best known as the sister of Felix
Mendelssohn, but her own achievements are being
increasingly recognised as significant in
themselves.

Born in Hamburg, Fanny benefited from the same
musical education and upbringing as her better
known brother. Like him, Fanny showed prodigious
musical ability as a child and began to write
music. However, she was limited by prevailing
attitudes of the time against women, attitudes
apparently shared by her father and brother, who
were tolerant, rather than supportive, of her
activities as composer.

In 1829, after a courtship of several years, she
married the painter Wilhelm Hensel who was a good
deal more supportive of her composing.
Subsequently, her works were often played
alongside her brother's at the family home in
Berlin in the very popular concerts which were
held there.

As a pianist, Fanny became a supporter of her
brother's compositions. Her public debut at the
piano came in 1838, when she played Felix's piano
concerto No. 1.

Her compositions include a piano trio and several
books of solo piano pieces and songs. A number of
her songs were originally published under Felix's
name in his opus 8 and 9 collections. Her piano
works are often in the manner of songs, and carry
the name Lieder ohne Worte (Songs without Words).
This style of piano work is commonly thought to
have been developed by Felix Mendelssohn, though
many scholars nowadays believe it was actually
Fanny who first worked in the genre.

Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel died in Berlin in 1847 of
complications of a stroke suffered while
rehearsing one of her brother's oratorios. In
recent years, her music has become a little more
prominent thanks to a number of Compact disc|CDs
being released on labels such as Hyperion
Records|Hyperion and CPO.