The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-02-06

him honor. He was in the meridian of his
splendor. During this period he was con-
tinually preparing his great oratorio of
elijah" which he afterwards gave at Bir-
mingham in 1916. This o%ratorio is con-.
sidered in England as his greatest work. In
the month of May, l847, his sister Fannie
died. She had been his lifelong f%avorite,
beloved sister and congenial companion,
and co-workcr in the domain of music.
The news Of her demise gave Mendels-
sohn a blow from which he never recovered.
His health became impaired and for n brief
season he sought the bracing atmosphere
of Switzerland, hoping thereby he might
alleviate his pain and renovate his shattered
nervous organism. His s%ojourn in Switzer-
land brought but temporary relief, and af-
ter his return to Leipsiz arelapse took place
and on the evening of the 4th Of November,
1S47, he quietly sank to rest, and died as he
had lived, in the midst Of acrowd of sym
pathi2ing and loving friends and compan-
ions. His death in the prime of his man
hood, at the very zenith of his fame, caused
universal sorrow. His remains were view
ed by thousands of sorrowing citizens, who
came. to pay their last sad tribute to what
was left of the gifted Mendelssohn. His
funeral Obsequies were COnseCrated in the
most imposing md solemn manner. His
remains were carried to Berlin and deposit
ed in the family vault. Throughout Eng
lana and Germany solemn services were
held in honor OF his deceasc.
Thus lived and died one who stands high
up among the great musical composers
which the world has produced. As Henry
+. ChOrly says Of him q" For delicious.
spontaneous melody and for a Shaksperian
prOfusion of the c%learest, most beautiful
and nOhlcst thoughts, Mendelssohn cannot
he rated rs the equal of either Mozart or
Beethoven. All three were masters of ma
sical science aud orchestral combination.
yet the symphonies. ovcrturcs and quar-
tcttes of MendelSsohn can be played after
of Beethoven without loss of effect.
whereas those of Mozart cannot In adj
dition to these celebrated compositions
which | have already mentioned. Mcndcls-
sohn published a great many famous works,
among which are the "Antigonc OcllpUs
of SphOcles, ''Athalie, and a number Of
charming %sonataS, cOnCcrtOs. trius. etc.
In his Songs without words Men1rls-
sohn beautifully eXempliied the truth OF
the lines "MusiC resembles poetry in
each are nameless gracCs which no method
teach and which a m%aster-hand alone can
reich" In the o|rigination and production
of these musical poems Mcndel5sohn smOte
the rock Of his innermost nature with the
divine wand of inspiration and rich streams
of beauty and OF sublime s~entimentality
gushed forth. AS Benedict says, ".At that
period mechanical deXterity, Musical clap
traps skips from one part of the piano to
the other, endless shakes and a~rpcggios
were the order of the day. Men
dclssohns aim was to restore the
ill-trcatcd, painting piano forte to its dignity
and rank Mendclssohn cXccllcd as u
composer. yirtuoso and conductor and
would have been famous and renowned in
any one Of these gifts. His compositions |
have mentioned as v%irtuoso, his excellence
and proficiency consisted not in his cXccu-
ton and mechanical perfection alone. but
in the depth Of feeling which he exhibited
in his performances-thc throwing Of
his soul so to speak into his music. Lam
padius says ''Thc characteristic features
of his playing were Il very elastic touch, a
wonderful trill, elegance, %roundncss. firm
ness, perfect articulation. strength and ten
d%erncs7, each in its needed place AS Il
conductor he stands unriyallcd. He com
binod Il wonderful aGriCular aCutenesS with
a sharp vision and instant conception of
what was necessary to the conception Of a
piece while in the hands of the orchestra.
In regard to his personal appearance Lam
padius tells us '.lIe was Il mar rather I'M
der the ordinary stature ahd size, some
what ncglectful Of his personal appearance,
yet graceful in his walk and hearing. His
head was covered with glossy, black hair.
His forehead, as hefittcd the head which
tecmcd with such a burden of thought and
feeling, vas high and arched. His features
sharply cut but noble. His eyes were TN
|speakably expressive; when they glow
ed with indignation on looked at Won with
arrangement too much to bear, but in his
general. friendly mood indcscribably charm
ing. His nose noble and inclined to the
Roman type. His mouth firm, fine, in his
serious moods more than dignified, authori-
tativc, | might say, yet capable of the sweet
est smile, and the most winning EXPIRES
sion Chorley in speaking of him, says
81 thought then, as | do now, his face one
of the most beautiful which has ever been
seen, No portrait eXtant does ii justice.
Bayard Taylor, in his recollections of Men
delssOhn states, that his highest measure Of
vencration was given to Beethoven, but of
living composers non impressed him more
profoundly than Mendclssohn. After de-
scribing n visit to the latter, Mr.. Taylor
says Il sat thus face to face with him,
and again looked into those dark, lustrOus,
unbelievable eyes. They were black.
but without the usual OpaQueneSs If black
eyes. Shining not with a surface light,
but with n pure, serene planetary flame,
his brow white and unwrinllled, was
high and nobly arched, with great breadth
at the temples, strongly resembling
that of Poe. His nose had the Jewish
prominence without its usual coarseness.
| remember particularly that the nostrils
were as finely cut and flexible as an Arabs.
His lips were thin and rather long, hut
with an expression of Undesirable sweet.
ness in their delicate curves. His face was
long, oval in form and the complexion pale,
but not pallid."
Richard Storrs Willis in his sketch OF
Mendelssohn says, she possessed a peculiar
ity which has been ascribed to the eye OF
Sir Walter Scotia ray of light seemed
often to proceed from its pupil to youl
own, as from a star"
In conclusion | will now mention the
great and browning characteristic in tho
life Of Mendelssohn, which was his purity
of soul, his earnest piety and consequent
strict adherence to Biblical doctrines, and
the principles of christianity. Born in the
lap of luxury, his nature had never beer
hardened and rendered Callous by rOugl
contact with the world, and by the strug
giles and trials, and difficulties that are gen.
orally Accomplishments of those ambitious
for glory and distinction. From his ear
liest childhood he had been allowed to de
vote himself to his music, and to feed the
fires of his divine genius, and right nobll
did he labor in his chosen calling! Thu
great object of his life seemed to be to ac
complish something which would rcnde
the world better for his having lived in it
A -
obiec IsP and " desires st Oh: S Men SIgrseI u You You
pure, exemplary life, and your many deed
of charity cry out in proof Of this asscr
ton, The rich fruits of your labors gar
nered up and treasured in the bosoms o
your admirers throughout the world, cry on
in proof of it. And hence you have no
lived in vain your labors will not be fol
gotten, but will live forever and futur
ages will unite with the nineteent