Leipzig edition of the works of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy

The Leipzig Edition of the Works of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (LMA) aims to make all available compositions, letters, diaries, drawings, watercolours and other documents by Mendelssohn accessible to the public. As a historical-critical edition, it serves both research and musical practice.

The research centre in Leipzig, which has been in existence since 1992, has what is probably the most comprehensive library of Mendelssohniana in the world and has become the central point of contact for all questions relating to the composer.

Approximately 90 music volumes including critical commentaries, a (primarily digital) edition of the letters, writings, diaries and documents (including visual art), and a comprehensive catalogue of works are planned. Since 1997, more than 50 music volumes and a study edition of the „Thematic-Systematic Catalogue of the Musical Works“ (MWV) have been published.

Since 2022, the edition has been supported by an editorial advisory board consisting of Martin Holmes (Oxford), Prof. Dr. Sebastian Klotz (Berlin), Nick Pfefferkorn (Wiesbaden/Leipzig), Dr. Martina Rebmann (Berlin), Dr. Benedict Taylor (Edinburgh) and, as an honorary member, Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Friedhelm Krummacher.

The edition has already been awarded the prestigious German Music Edition Prize BEST EDITION three times: in 2006 for the three-volume edition of all organ works, in 2010 for the Mendelssohn catalogue of works and in 2023 for the five-volume edition of the oratorio ‘Elias’.

This research project is part of German Academies' Programme which is the largest long- term research Programme in the humanities and cultural studies in the Federal Republic of Germany.
It is co-financed by tax revenue based on the budget approved by the Saxon State Parliament.

More information

Please note that more information about the structure and current status of the edition is available on the German project page.