Fanny Hensel came from the famous Jewish Mendelssohn family. She received the same musical education as her younger brother Felix and was completely equal to him in terms of her musical talent. In their Berlin home the family regularly hosted the semi-public “Sunday Music“ concerts that also granted a podium for Fanny’s compositions. 

However, both father and brother had forbidden her to work professionally as a composer and to publish her works. She was fortunate enough to marry the painter Wilhelm Hensel who encouraged her to compose and appreciated her artistic work. 

Here a sound sample:

Kyra Steckeweh plays the Scherzo from Sonata in G-minor of Fanny Hensel (from the CD »Vita brevis ars longa«)