Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1867-04-18
Ghoife Atisfeltanu.
Translated from the German for Every Saturday
"REMINISCENCES OF MENDELssHoN

Translated from the German for Every Saturday
REMINIsCENCEs OF MENDELssHON.
IT was the beginning of November, in
the year 1921, when three members Of the
Weimer Court Band, one of them the
writer of these lines, in obedience to
summons from His Excellency the Privy-
Counsellor Won Goethe, were ushered by
the servant into the well-known room,
in the front of his house, opening upon
the FrduenpJdn.
Three desks stood ready for us at the
side of the opened piano. Upon the lat
ter lay a bundle of manuscript music
notes. Curious as | always was and still
am, in all matters connected with music,
l turned over the leaves of the different
pieces, and read: "Studies in double
Counterpoint on another sheet Flu
came "Quartette for the piano, with ac-
compartment of violin, bass-viol, and
violincello." On all the pieces was the
name, "FeliX Mendelsshon-Barthol
The notes were written in firm, neat
hand, and, so far as could tell by a rapid,
cursory examination, the composition
showed an expert, educated artist. The
name Mendelsshon was unknown to us
as that of musician.
We had taken our instruments from
their cases, and were busy tuning them
into accord with the piano by way Of pre-
liminary, when there entered a tau man,
who, on account OF his stiff military car
riage, might well have been taken for an
old-fashioned cavalry sergeant. He was
not, however, a stranger to mel had
visited him the year before in Berlin,-it
was Professor Ielter, the wellknown di-
rector of the Berlin Musical Academy,
Goethe's intimate friend and companion.
He greeted usall courteously, myself as
an cold acquaintance"
81 have come first, gentlemen" he
continued, sin order to make a request OF
you in anticipation. You will presently
become acquainted with lad, of only
twelve years, my pupil, Felix Mendels-
er upon the piano, and still more his tai
ent for composition, will probably arouse
in you some enthusiasm. The boy is,
however, of a peculiar disposition. The
loud applause of an audience of amateurs
produces no impression upon him, out he
is eagerly on the watch for the judgment
of real musicians, and accepts every such
criticism as genuine coin; for his childish
nature is still too inexperienced to be able
to distinguish between good-natured en-
enlargement and well-merited apprOba-
Ill. v
possibly be excited to the height of song
of praise,-what at the same time equal
ly hope for and dread Il beg you to pitch
| it in a moderate key, with not too loud an
accompaniment, in fine in & sharp, the
most natural note in the scale. Thus far
/ have been able to guard him from van
ity and too high an estimate of his tai
ents,-those eXecrable enemies of all ar
tistic progress"
Before we could make any reply to this
somewhat singular address, the lad Felix
came springing into the room,-a hand
some, brilliant boy, with a decidedly jew
ish cast of features, slender, and active.
Rich, waving black hair fell upon his
shoulders, genius and animation sparkled
| i'm his eyes. He looked at us a moment
inquisitively, then came to us, and gave
| hishand to each with friendly confidence,
as if we were old acquaintances.
With Felix had also entered Goethe,
who returned our respectful bow with a
friendly greeting.
"My friend, " said he, waving his hand
toward Zelter, "has brought with him a
little gentleman from Berlin, who has
already given us to-day great surprise
as musician. Now we shall also make
! his acquaintance as composer, and In this
/ must ask your cooperation. Let us
| y
head has produced, lie continued, gently
stroking the d's-long, glossy locks. ~
The latter ran Immediately 10 his notes,
placed our parts before us on the music
stands, opened the principal part upon
the desk of the piano-tolte, and took his
place quickly oil the stool before the IN
strument. Zelter stationed himself be-
hind Felix, to be ready toturn the leaves
of his notes. Goethe some PAGES to one
side, with his hand behind his back. The
little composer glanced toward us with
sparkling eyes, we laid the bows upon the
| strings of our instruments, an inclination
of his dark locks, and the performance
began.
Goethe listened to every note with the
keenest attention, but without remark,
except perhaps at the end of piece an
occasional "Good" or Bravo,n which
he accompanied by kindly nod of ap-
prevail Mindful of Zelter's warning, we
also only by our gratifed looks mani
tested our approval to the child, whose
countenance glowed with an ever-deepenr
ing flush, as the performance progressed.
| When the last composition came to an
end, Felix sprang from hisseat and turn
ed toeach insuccession with questioning
look. He seemed to wish to hear some
expression of opinion as to his perform
ance. Goethe, however, probably insti-
gated by Zelter, took up the conversation,
and said to Felix a tsfil'aj rrt7lIr
| "Bravo, my son! The copntenances of
these gentlemen,n y motioning toward us,
express, plainly enough, that your COM
positions have pleased them well. Go,
now, into the garden, where they are
awaiting you, and refresh and cool your
self, for your face Is flaning!n
Without reply, the boy darted from
4 tire room.
AS we looked inquisftively toward
Goethe, to see whether we were to be dis
missed, he said,-
I" Remain few moments longer, geTf-
tlemen. My friend and wish 70 hear
your opinion Of this lads composition. /"
A conversation Of some length then