New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-29

maze late in 1874 and early in 1876 to give fes
uNai on european lines and to emulate Birming-
man, Dusseld6rf and other festival countries by
engaging the greatest of living composers to direct
the music Is proved by the next two letters New
horR musical historians have overlooked the fact
ana SO have the biographers of MendeIssohn. But
.hefe IS record in the continuation Of Spohr's
autobiography in these words:
init the end of the year $50 spohr received
Yorthe first from that side Of the OCEAN at N S
iI eted on OF which he had been unanimously
and directors Of music There were to be two
and above an his oratoso The Fail Of Babg I5rf
the new world-was to take precedence Aihougb
sue such s proposal might have had great attractions
love of travel. and although in New York he Would
Emily who wth her OF hussana s and chd
,s elrisIated there some years before yet he
OF the few weeks only which the duties OF his place
would nave perhaps permitted would scarcely have
compensated for the fatigues Of a long voyage
What is meant by the Society of Music Is not
altogether plain 1t may have been Music
society which. under Mr.. Hills direction. gave
Handlers Messiah in 1881 and Mendelssohn's st
Paul in 1888. union of this society with the
Musical Institute which was then a new organiza-
ton. under the leadership of H c. Tfmm
IV-sPoHR To HILL
Cassel, January 4, 1876.
Agniy Respected Sir; As honorable to me as your
tval Is my duties are unfortunately of character
the ee years
ences of the same character. Only short time ago
on ID ohs from Ban 2 fran H S
lon. was given for the first time, a third for the
only lucky enough, to secure weeks furiough to
Of msaS wa Also 1s as
America should have to have a furlough of at
Therefore forego the honor which You had planned
for me- and make haste to inform you Of the fact
time and did not reach my hands until the last
should nevertheless still have mind to perform my
oratorio The Fall of Babylon you get the
fish text from Professor Taylor Red Lion court
iished by BreitRopf una Ha"tel in Lepsc. has only
German words
If, If now you want to turn to Mendelssohn. know
cred his competitions with Berlin and will not be
cause of inability to get leave of absence. Have
most heartily, and say to her that my new opera
was received with enthusiasm wholly unheard
peated within few days, We shall soon write
TO her and pa o cur Of % aon ns ID @ 5Re
all is we'll Greatly did we rejoice at the intelli-
Europe and that we may hope to see you here.
devoted LOUIS sPoHR
Spohrs new opera, which had been produced at
Cassel a few days before die Kreutzfahrer"
C'The Crusaders'D, based on Kotzebue's play OF
the same Mendelssohn had but recently
gone to live at Frankfort having wearied Of the
life in Berlin In the middle of November, 1874,
he had asked the King of Prussia for his dennis
sion The King granted his request, but permitted
him to retain the title of general musical director
and part of his salary, which says Iampadius.
Memberships bographer, 1.-THE King forced
upon him. with the condition that from
time to time he should to Berlin and bring
out something there" Spohrs reference to the
refusal Of his prince the Elector of Hesse-Cassei'
to grant him leave of absence in lS42 to direct the
Norwich festival recalls the story of the restraint
under which he Iabored in Casse There was,
doubtless large degree OF personal and polltlcal
prejudice at the bottom of it Spohr was gooo
deal of a. radical and resented the petty tyranny
ia which he was subjected He had arranged for
a festival at Cassel at about the time or HITS
return to New-York, for the purpose OF giving a
hearing Mendessohn's "St- Paul. and his own
"I,ast Judgment" but the conditions Imposed by
the Elector compelled him to abandon the project
At another time the Elector neglected to sign the
papers granting a furlough to which Spohr was
entitled under the terms OF his contract opohr
went off on his vacation without waiting tor the
formality and became involved in a lawsuit with
the electoral government which lasted four years
and ended in his defeat technicalfty- In the
case of the second invitation to Norwich, to which
the letter refers the Eector withheld ms consent
Notwithstanding Lord Aberdeen, head of the British
government made appeal through the British EN-
bassy and a monster petition was sent to Cassei
from England doubtless due to the ire
.ondous nonularity of Spohr in England and Hill
admiration for his old that the great vio-
Iinst and composer set over Mendelssohn III
+be letter of invitation is evidenced by the
words quoted in the autobiography Hill PROB |
sbIv sent a private line along with the ofilclaI
Invitation intimating that Mendelssohn was sec
ond choice This would account for Spohrs con-
Guiding paragraph. The invitation must have peeh
can't IN MendeIssohn with great promptitude, for |
the answer is dated only sixteen days later indeed
1t must have been placed in somebody's hands IN
Fprone to be forwarded to the composers address
Immediately on unofficial receipt of Spohrs declina-
.,or Unlike the other letters given herewith, |
which are all in German, Mendelssohns letter is |
in English a language which he handled per- |
fectly:
Frankfort January 20, 1915.
Daor Sir. 7 beg to return my best and most sin |
cere thanks for YOUR letter. Indeed, may say tnat
truly proud In receiving SO kna ate SO 9ei
as the friendly words in which you coucned IT, Wai
cation for which 1 shall feel sincerely indebted TO
you. +, 49,, ousr +o accent that invita-
But it is not IN am my s p@ it Would have been the
greatest treat to me If could nave gone SO eag
and a Journey like that TO your country. which l
would have been most happy to undeT hs, some
reach. Even the shorter trips WHICH l used oi to
make to England or the South Of Germany iI any,, nav
4sGoIe 700 rfect rest before shall again be able
undertake. the direction of 0eea not e you how
much regret to find it utterly Impossible TO come
and to thank you 1o IN Per eter
Accent. then. my written thanks which are Ger
tsny less an and hove great
thankfully heard or felp rst it not to be
6ns tow saal mys elf Of so much Kindness Should
you ever visit Europe ana my Suui,sis "nnor
tmhfty Of renewing your acquaintance and of e1-
pressing to you once moag fu avs remain dear sir
YOURS most truly, =, pr1,o, wv /