New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-04-20
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
LIFE OF MENDELSSOHN.

The pure md Deautitni character OF teiiN Mel,
Aessohn presents O no less enticng charm than the
classical finish and elevated feeling Of his musical
compositions. AS man, we'll az an nrtist, he
affords of the most attractive examples OF gen
Bne excellence in modern biography. Tho present.
work is OF too fragmeutary q nature to eNnbi'
complete view of the personal traits Of the great
composer, but his leading aims and purposes II HE
ere faithfully described, together with such irel-
dental notices OF his more private career as TO-
swakon the sympathy of every reader. II consists
Of the memoir Of his life by Ian padGs, when
appeared not long after the death Of Mendcssohn :
and which is devoted chiefly TO m account Of Els.
musical services but the editor has jrdic'ousyt
sddcd variety Of information from other sources
Including skctches bv Julius Benedict, Bayard lay,
tor. Chorley. Richard Storrs Willis, and John >
Dwight. The early Development; OF NcndelsSohns
musical genius is described IN the following pas.
sage:
Fell. Mendclssohn Tartholdy son Of Abraham Men.
Sel,sohp a well know banker. and llmseA maa "t
very refined tastes and grandson of Noses IenasiSoo
TIE emirent philosopher brst saw ihe hshl ~ t,rm'
hnrg the "a OF F,hrrtrt lsD The house N which 10
WIS barn was the irge one stu stahoing JUST "hh V
g.. Michac's Church: a1d IN tne same f l%lsr' ~ /"
happy c,iHc dcrce, his warm reDd ara lenoWrull'',
FeT5ilaud Davit was BON just year la'eI, ne -
tae scOnd ioar chiidTen-iaEny lie OLDEST; tLeh
"a 4. g.
gasa very ge1 won and watc"od orcrt he rlosftsS
Of tie boz with 0ey oted love, which wG tcqmird by ie
utmost siccton The fer too was ~ns!s iSs' , utu
Nah trent Tenderness By Felix. When the chld was
Stree four wears old, thp family removed - Je'ih
Under he fasoring star which held hin back from hs
ti,l nom AL contact with nat coma On aud VII,
gar Lis wondered talents opened and lipened early.
Egei in lis ci ,htk year, 10 played TIE piano W "a
remark bic facility and al tie same carly age be dii
co.cG hat aaikabl weroi criticism that lynx eye
&c Zcer teruc H. which enab'ed tim IT, detect tlS
consecutive f'ths IN piece OF SeboSuip Bach "hien
~, t-.,v Ito &
SIN, 81 mTHCuOui hneless OF car. when N the re-
power .u oichestra or in al Immense cAIns dc'eelsu
tho l'ast error OI single Instrument or "i 'oe''
lie slowed toe uncJImon productivity Tor bs years
Zclter the In npscd science, ana uu"le Der
ger the master IN musical were his ~ tescEers
IN compOs ition md n iano'pr1c paying Attr cfco
S..r.s suln his lest scholar ~ the GreOi t'eve;
and MS l,lsTs ~ Go the ere eyoeIces OF Ais warm
interts: in tie lal although tina. Interest was often
d. ised bv q rough sddrtss vi h dCuLtless did souc
Sljuy TO the Ccat!3 spirit OF y0nhG Fehx Inc Dest
fu " TINS correspondence was The intimate Ieion N
which after t.s be always stood 10 Goethe his near
AID ease o. approach IA natuie ~ grand ara rch
sGoothes lely srca. sdys tege TO Mend lssohl
sna tended IN encourage III thlt Wa irfr geierOus,
IrG noble 10 him and 10 foiess AL that vas siai, cl
tracicd end 81 ally. II Would be erat treat to the
elng'v ~le - he = IN lilsd TO oos into o e.rIe
encugh 10 Il iron Zeters and Gnethcs letters
pe proertss Of this awa! slncrcnsna 'nnmacy Iei-
teI speaks OF elk IL expressions TX" thee: paws
tie tiayicLord Ike yoaug dcyi." or " Felix is lssys
liz first" And ia the Autu1i; o. ls2l he Whites 70
Gce.be regarding visit winch he Vas about to inake
npon yonr lace tegoie che" In November 81 that
year brought tor ther his aged friend and his cved
pupil. Aftelwdrd Gvethe wrote 10 IecT, Il iis c.
ant isared way Say a good VOID TO Felix too. rad
bis p,Ients. Sncs he wen. afa., N! PE,O AHs Deeh
BE- Useless after that Bot this cisai! interest was.
6cstiHed 20 he yet deepened. Ietar wrote norc fHT
rcgardins his boy wonderful talents ard great indos
Try AID Gocthes Friendship grew rner toward bin.
o. the sfh February. ls2i Ielter wrote "fester
day evening Felix's foafth opera Yves brought 2; here
In ite oircli Of US. with tho dialogue There .se
hre, ncf7
two hours and hglf The work was received with
much appliance j can hardly ster my own wO1dcr
progress. I've ywiers you md wat is rev. benutilt
experienced hni d. tue orchestra interesting. nos
oppressive. rot vearisome.nOt more accompaniment.
The performers Ike 20 play II; yet IL Is very eay
s,nned sI a" n Welcome. api lust IA Is oppnriaie
p1ace,fe JOY without impatient haste. tcnterne's
grace. love- passion. lnDOocnco Tho otertur j. won,
6eTfll thing. You seem to see painter rubbing o.
Gngy color with brush and finger on The canvas an at
AZ n to YroT oSfe ara You axe cs ma. ySa
be 50 because it Is tue
Passing over the details Of his brilliant musical
career, which will be Ierrsed with the deepest IL.
terest BY the amateur We select few parag faphs
Illustrative Of the personal character Of the greet
artist.
The works OF Mendelssobn are certain TO gain for
hn an unceasing intee1 IL is impossible therefore
e. give ay adequate sketch Of lis life without oncb
more OF itre iLit us ptIhcHh
hisprcsenee so 70 speak. lie was MAJ rather under
the ordinary stature ind size. soinoHha. neelectfn OF
bis persona Appearance yet graceful IN bis walk AID
bsaring His head covered ith plosy black hair
curling locks. has iJTehe adj as bc1ied The head
which taemed with such burden Of thought and feel
ing Was high ard srched his features sharply cut
but noble. His eyes unSpeakaby espressvei
when they glowud with iDhgnatOD OF looked nj You
with enlargement. too much 10 bear. but, In his
general friendly mood iglesGribabiy charming lis
nose. nobls aud Inclined 70 the Roman type; his
mouth frm, fine IN kis SeTlOs moods more tran Dag
si6e1. authoritative might say, yet capable OF tho
sweetest smile and the most Winning expression In
this graceful finely mold d form hidden not only a.
ROYAL spirit ut q most kindly heaIt To speak out in
single word what the Incst salient feature OF his
character lie was q Christian n the fullest sonse. He
knew and he los cd the Bible few do 10 time; Oat
OF bis familiarity with 1t lis mistaken filth. aud
that profound spir nal raindedaess withor. which
would have been impossible Tor him 70 produce those
despfelt sacred compositions; asd beside this the 4
other priDcpe Of Tire genuine ca! life love xas
powerful IN bin. God had blessed him with large
Sneasnreof tns worlds goods; bt no made noble
Of them. lie led the biblical INJUNCTION into effect
10 visit the widow and fatheress In their actiou;
andbe knew that 10 feed the hungry and clothe the
naked is fact acceptable 10 tho LoId Ills threshold
was besieged by the 9eedy Of all sorts hut hs
kiudnefs knew bounds: and taa deiicacy and con-
sideraffvn with which te treated the recipients of hs
bounty largely increased the wOrh vi his gins, valuable
they we're even in merely material seDss. sinoo
he die, deed upon deed haS come 70 light which
liberty here 60 relate. out OF courtesy ~ the
receiver oct ~ confederation 10 the gveT WHICH onlyg
shows how literally Ne fufhled the SaviOrs Injunction
DOT lei the left hand know what the right haOd doelh
But what is to be Tcckoned largely 10 his credit s
thai with his worldly adrant ges he cherished such
love Of works THAT he man of srcb restless sctiy,
ty. Many ssul wooefs 81 Le German Muse bave
been the children u poverty and without the stimulus
OF necessity, would have always been unknown: IN
many man OF geRius the sad experience has been
smiled hiS hal