Page:A Dictionary of Music and Musicians vol 2.djvu/322

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MENDELSSOHN.
MENDELSSOHN SCHOLARSHIP.

(3) Devrient. 'Meine Erinnerungen an F.M.B.… von Eduard Devrient' (Leipzig 1869). Translated into English by Mrs. Macfarren (London 1869). Containing 32 letters and portions of letters. The work of an old and intimate friend, but written with all the impartiality of a stranger.

(4) Carl Mendelssohn Bartholdy. 'Goethe und Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy' (Leipzig 1871). By the composer's eldest son; an account of the three visits paid to Goethe, from journals, letters, etc., with a poor engraving from Begas's portrait. In English by Miss M. E. von Glehn—'Goethe and Mendelssohn, with additions and with letters of later date' (London 1872); 2nd ed. 'with additional letters,' 37 in all (1874).

(5) Ferdinand Hiller. 'Mendelssohn. Letters and Recollections,' etc., first published in Macmillan's Magazine (Jan.–May 1874) in English by Miss M. E. von Glehn. Then in a volume (London 1874); and then in German (Cologne 1874). Contains 20 letters not hefore printed. A thoroughly good book, genial, discriminating, and accurate; by one well able to judge.

(6) Polko. 'Erinnerungen an F. M. B. von Elise Polko' (Leipzi 1868). Contains 12 letters. English translation by Lady Wallace—'Reminiscences,' etc. (London 1869), with Appendix of 33 additional letters and fragments of letters. A poor gushing book, from which however some traits may be picked up. Chiefly valuable for the letters.

(7) Hensel. 'Die Familie Mendelssohn (1729–1847) … von S. Hensel, mit 8 Portraits' (3 vols., Berlin 1879). By the son or Fanny Hensel—the Sebastian of the Letters; compiled from journals and family papers, and containing 73 letters or portions of letters hitherto unpublished. The title of the book would perhaps be more appropriately 'Fanny Hensel and her family'; but it is a most valuable addition to our knowledge of Felix, and a good specimen of the copious information still remaining in the hands of his family: the notices and letters of Abraham Mendelssohn are especially new and valuable. Some of Felix's letters are first-rate. The portraits would be useful if one knew how far the likenesses could be trusted.

(8) Hogarth. 'The Philharmonic Society of London … by George Hogarth' (London 1862). Contains notices of Mendelssohn's connection with the Philharmonic, with 3 letters in the body of the work and 7 others in the appendix.

(9) Moscheles. 'Aus Moscheles Leben … von seiner Frau (2 vols., Leipzig 1872 and 1873). English translation by A. D. Coleridge (2 vols., Hurst & Blackett, 1873). Contains many valuable notices, and one or two letters.

(10) Schubring. 'Erinnerungen an F.M.B.' In the Magazine 'Daheim' (Leipzig) for 1866, No. 26. English translation in 'Musical World,' May 12 and 19, 1866. One of the most detailed, valuable, and interesting of all the notices. Every word that Schubring writes carries conviction with it.

(11) Horsley. 'Reminiscences of Mendelssohn, by Charles Edward Horsley.' First published in 'Dwight's Journal of Music' (Boston, U.S.A.), and reprinted in 'The Choir' (London) for Jan. 11, 25, Feb. 8, 15, 1873. By a gifted pupil and friend. Full of information, now and then a trifle exaggerated.

(12) Dorn. 'Recollections of F. M. and his friends.' An article in 'Temple Bar' for Feb. 1872; probably translated from a German original. Slight, but interesting, and apparently trustworthy.

(13) Chorley. 1. 'Modern German Music,' by Henry F. Chorley (2 vols., London 1854). Contains scattered notices of Mendelssohn. 2. 'Memoirs of H. F. Chorley, by H. G. Hewlett' (2 vols., Bentley 1873). Contains some information, and 6 letters before unpublished. 3. Notice prefixed to Lady Wallace's translation of the 'Reisebriefe.'

(14) Marx. 'Erinnerungen aus meinem Leben, von Adolf Bernhard Marx' (2 vols., Berlin 1865). Contains many recollections of the Mendelssohn house from 1824–1832, and personal anecdotes of Felix, with whom Marx was at one time extremely intimate. He was a person of strange temper and overweening opinion of himself: but he appears to be strictly honest, and in matters of fact may probably be trusted implicitly.

(15) Rellstab. 'Aus meinem Leben' (2 vols., Berlin 1861). This autobiography of the well-known Berlin critic contains (vol. ii, chap. 11) an account of Mendelssohn's playing at Goethe's house at Weimar in 1821.

(16) Lobe has reported some conversations with Mendelssohn in his 'Fliegende Blätter für musik' (Leipzig 1853). He has also described the evening at Goethe's mentioned just above, in the 'Gartenlaube' for 1867, No. 1.

[App. p.717 "(17). Eckardt, 'Ferdinand David und die Familie Mendelssohn-Bartholdy … von Julius Eckardt' (Leipzig, 1888), contains 30 letters by F.M.B.

(18). Felix Moscheles, 'Briefe von F. M. B. an Ignaz und Charlotte Moscheles … von Felix Moscheles,' Leipzig, 1888, contains many fresh letters by F.M.B."]




I take the opportunity of expressing my deep obligations for assistance received in the compilation of the foregoing article from the various members of the Mendelssohn family, Miss Jung and Dr. Klengel; Mme. Schumann, Dr. Hiller, Mrs. Moscheles, Mme. Frege, Dr. Hartel, Dr. Schleinitz, Mr. Joachim, Mrs. Klingemann, Herr Taubert, Mr. Otto Goldschmidt and Mme. Goldschmidt, Mr. Paul David, the Bishop of Limerick, the Duke of Meiningen, Lord Frederick Cavendish, the Dean of Westminster, Professor Munro, Mr. J. C. Horsley, R.A., and Miss Sophy Horsley, Mr. Chas. Halle, Signer Piatti, Mr. W. S. Rockstro, Mr. Kellow Pye, Prof. G. A. Macfarren, Mr. Sartoris, Mr. W. J. Freemantle, Mr. A. G. Kurtz, Mrs. Bartholomew and Miss Mounsey, Mr. Wiener, Mr. Rosenthal, Mr. Franklin Taylor. Also from the Sterndale Bennett family, Mr. Bruzaud (of Erard's), Mr. J. W. Davison, Mr. James C. Dibdin, Messrs. Glen, Mr. A. J. Hipkins (of Broadwood's) Mr. E. J. Hopkins, Mr. W. H. Holmes, Mr. W. H. Husk, Mr. E. J. Lincoln, Mr. H. Littleton (Novello's), Mr. Stanley Lucas, Mr. Julian Marshall, Mr. John Newman, Mr. Joseph Robinson, Mme. Sainton- Dolby, Mr. Speyer, Mr. Tom Taylor, Mr. J. T. Willy, and Mr. Turle.

[ G. ]

MENDELSSOHN SCHOLARSHIP. This is the most valuable musical prize in the United Kingdom. It originated in a movement among the friends of Mendelssohn at Leipzig, who, shortly after his death, resolved to found scholarships in his memory, to be competed for and held in that Conservatorium in the foundation of which, not long before, he had greatly assisted. They appealed for help in this undertaking to English admirers of the departed composer, and were met with ready sympathy and co-operation. A committee was formed in London, with Sir G. Smart as Chairman, Mr. Carl Klingemann, Mendelssohn's intimate friend, as Secretary, and Mr. E. Buxton, Treasurer.

The first effort towards raising money was made in the shape of a performance of the 'Elijah' on a large scale, to which Mlle. Jenny Lind gave her willing and inestimable services. This took place Dec. 15, 1848, under the direction of Sir Julius (then Mr.) Benedict, with a full band and chorus, the Sacred Harmonic Society and Mr. Hullah's Upper Schools contributing to the efficiency of the latter force. A large profit was derived from the performance; and this, with a few donations, was invested in the purchase of £1050, Bank 3 per cent annuities—the nucleus of the present Scholarship Fund.

The original plan of amalgamating the London and Leipzig projects fell through, and the money was allowed to accumulate till 1856, when the first scholar was elected—Arthur S. Sullivan, now Dr. Sullivan, head of the 'National Train-