The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-02-06
Celebration of mendcIssohn,s
Birthday.

NNtNt avn Nv hhAAANNiENAN VI ~ hlill vi
the great composer, Felix Meadclssohn
Bartholdy, last evening, at the Congrcga-
tional Chapel. The audience which filled
the spacious hall was made up of our best
citizens who seemed entertained and much
pleased with the programme of the even
ing rs executed. The Mendelssohn So
ciety was formed this present season by
Prot. George A. Mietzke who is its leader
and instructor, and to whom the public is
indebted for the entertainment given last
evening. 1t is composed of some seventy
five members, including nearly all the
amateur singers of our village who thus
take advantage of so good an opportunity
to perfect themselves in chorus singing.
The programme was opened 10y a March
from "Capricio" op. %, which was COM
posed by Mcndelssohn in 1885. which was
executed upon the piano by Prof. Mictzkc
and Mrs. Henry F.. Field, in a faultlcss
manner.
Mr.. Henry +. Field then introduced to
the audience L. W. R%edington, ESQ, who
delivered the following essay written by
him expressly for this occasion.
ESSAY BY l.. ". R%EDINurON.
We have assembled here this evening to
commemorate the birthday Of one in
whom were combined the qualities of a
great musical composer and artist, Il ripe.
cultured scholar, and an exemplary chris
tian gentleman. Yes. Felix Mendclssohn
Bartholdy was rs renowned for the purity
AID lovclincss Of his character. rs hc was
for his musical capabilities and productions.
As Julius Benedict. an intimate friend of
his, has said "Thc fame of this illustrious
musician may, and probably will, reach
into future ages but Il knowledge of the
qualities that distinguished lin AS a man
can never be adequately communicated to
posterity.' Hence it is fitting and appro-
pirate that we should assemble here this
evening to deposit our laurel wrcaths at
the feet Of Mendclssohn, and 10 90 honor
TO his genius aud many sterling qualities.
HIS family had its first lustre and dis
tinction from his grandfather, Moses Men
delSsOhn, who was n celebrated German
scholar and philosopher. From this indi-
vidual were descended II number of distin-
guished persons, chief among whom was
the subject of this sketch, who was born
in Hamburg, February 3, 1899. He was
the second of four children, Fannie, the
oldest, and then Felix, Paul and lebccc0.
His father, Abraham Mcudelssohn Barthol-
dy, was II well known banker. and pos
sessed Of considerable wealth he had the
name of Barlholdy added to his own out
of regard for his wife who was a descend
ant of that most excellent family, and who
was a noble, gifted woman.
At an early age Felix displayed a most
remarkable aptitude for music and its prin-
Ciples, and the development of a most pre-
cOcious and wonderful appreciation of
wei! written and well executed musical
compositions. At the aye of eight. he
was n fine performer on the piano, and also
exhibited a remarkable productivity for his
years. lie gave such evident signs of ge-
Mus, that his father mt once resolved to put
him under the care of the best masters. and
to spare neither trouble or expense in cul-
tivating his musical talents. His intellect
ual faculties were also carefully trained
and disciplined. He received his first in
structiOns in composition and in piano forte
! pay III ilOill LClltl. wv NtttlNi III illolCdl
science, and Ludwig Berger. the master in
musical art, and afterwards he was the pu-
pill OF Moschcles.
Through Zelter he gained the warm SYM
pathy and friendship OF Goethe. Associa-
ton with the great soul and rich, warm,
scholastic nature Of Goethe, materially as
sisted in developing the noble, generous
parts of his character. During
these early years, he gave a number of con-
Certs in Berlin, Paris, and other places, and
busted himself in the production of a great
many fine compositions. Among Others
the two great Ovcrturcs to "a calm at sea
and "'The Midsummer Nights Dream.
The latter he played for the first time in
the fall of 1926 in n duett with his sister
Fannie, who was also in the possession of
rare musical faculties and of Il splendid
cultivation in the fine arts. This piece at
once gained for Mendelssohn a position and
reputation in the musical world and eX.
hibited the results of genius joined to In
firing industry and profound study. In 1897
he entered the University of Berlin, where
he remained for two years, a|ssiduously
cultivating himself in all of those sciences
and studies which he adored and which
were especially suited to the delicate ant
noble cast of his mind. And thus ended
what we will call the first era of his life
The second era consisted of his travels. He
started upon the latter in 1929. He frs
visited London where he gave his Overtur,
to the midsummer Nights Dream" at thu
Philharmonic Concert amidst great enthu
siasm and applause. | can merely toucl
upon his travels and will briefly state tina
he visited Scotland where "Fingals Cave
or the "Hehrides' was suggested and in
spired. lie then visited Bavaria and theI
he journeyed southwark to Italy. We fin,
him at Rome composing the music I
Goethe's "First Walpurgis Night" whicl
he finished at a later period. He next tray
eled through Switzerland, after which w
find him in Paris and London, respectively
where he was received with great enthus.
asm and cordially. He was much benC
fitted, physically, unsteady and mental,
by his travels and well prepared to ente
upon the third epoch in his life, whic
was the assumption by invitation of tn
leadership of the annual musical festive
at Dusseldorf. As a consequence he wa
appointed municipal musical director Il
that city and entered at once upon his nc'
duties. lie remained in Dusseldorf unit
5 1885, in which time he had given severe
very fine concerts, and in conjunction wit
the poet Immermann had endeavored I
elevate the German lyrical drama by estal
, fishing a series of choice musical and dr.
matte entertainments. The latter wei
a failure and of short duration
However they detracted in no respe'
. from the reputation of Mendelssohn, wi
{ was continually adding fresh lustre to h
fame. During this time he was earnest
engaged on the composition of that gre
and enduring testimonial to his genius, Il
o|ratorio Of ''St. Paul" He also at tn
period presented the world with several
his beautiful "songs without words" Il
three Capriccios Cop. 33), and with "A nun
Is Der of other elegant and chaste compos
- tions. In 1885 he received and accepts
, an invitation from Leipzig, to take char
of the Leipzig Gewandhaus concerts, ne
that city, and now he entered upon Il
g fourth epoch in his ~life--an epoch render,
famous and memorable to the people