New-York tribune., 1909-01-24

1saa-1s4s, was q personal acquaintance of the COM
poser to whom. doubt. he was presented oy
Spohr. Now, Spohr was Hills teacher and Men
delssohn's friend, and II is easy to imagine on
whose suggestion the two great men were elected
TO honorary membership in the Philharmonic So
ciety in 1876. 1t is interesting. but also little
singular that Mendelssohn and Spohr were the hrst
composers to whom the distinction was offered
The constitution of the Philharmonic Society de-
fines honorary members eminent artists III
music who shall have received the unanimous vote
of the society at a regular meeting after having
beenspreviously proposed by the board of directors
In the early days of the society, and for several
decades, indeed, the privilege of appearing at the
concerts the society esteemed so highly that
the directors were sometimes embarrassed by the
number of artists who offered their services gratu-
itously In the case of artists Of great reputation
it came TO be the custom to reward them with
diploma of honorary membership. This crcum-
stance explains the fact that names like that of
Joseph Burke (who was known seventy-lve years
ago as the Irish Roscius,'' and who at eleven
years Of age would act the principal part IN a
drama. then play a violin solo and afterward direct
the orchestral are found among those of the great
est composers of the last three generations. The
election of Spohr Mendelssohn Schneider. Liszt.
Wagner, Raft, Rubinstein and Dvorak was, of
course, a tribute their genius creative musi-
clans but before the first OF these was elected the
same honor had been conferred Vieuxtemps.
who certainly deserved IT: ole Bull. Leopold de
Meyer and Joseph Burke In connection with the
last # is interesting that, though he was
elected a year before Mendelssohn died, he lived
until about six years 1t was to him the honor
fell Of being the first to play the solo part Of
the Violin Concerto with the Philharmonic Society.
Investigation made by the writer three years ago
discovered the interesting fact that Meudelssohns
eyes had been turned pleasantly, even longiusly,
toward New York, nearly two years before he be-
came by courtesy, citizen of its artistic com
munity. Some time in 1914 HILL being then presi-
dent Of the Philharmonic Society, as well leader
of one more choirs, conceived the idea of music
festival which like the English festivals should be
conducted by or the other of the two great
German composers and conductors of the time
Mendelssohn and Spohr He first to have
applied to the latter, with whom he had more in
innate acquaintance but to have sent invitation
the same time (through Spohr, perhaps), to
Mendelssohn. The replies of both men, which were
made public for the first time by The Tribune. in
1905 are in the autograph collection of Jacob
Teschner, NJ D., of this city. who bought them
from the widow of I. c. HILL Mendelssohn's
reads as follows:
Frankfort, January % 1885.
@ Pear fo Reg 10 te my ndeed 9e ana os SIN
felt truly proud in receiving so kind and so highly
fattering invitation. and the>pffer itself as well
always continue q source OF pride and true graft
fcation for which l shall feel sincerely indebted 10
But it is not in my power to accept that invita-
] g to a e if could nave done se mS S
health has seriously suffered during the last year.
would have been most happy undertake some
three or four years ago, is at present beyond my
make to England the south of Germany have
become too faagqng 70 q me. ana It VIII require gu
undertake the direction of musical festival
ch regret reg to find it utterly Impossible 10 come
and fPiendship which Your letter Contains
Accept then my written thanks, which are Ger
the committee know with how great qualification
and how thankfully ! heard of their kind inten-
be able TO avail myself Of 50 much kindness:
again hope you will not forget me. and give me
ar opportunity Of renewing your ACQUAINTANCE AMI
of expressing to you once more how deeply feel
Indebted TO YOU 1 shall always remain, dear sir,
FELIX Observation-Disclosures
Hills festival enterprise, let it be remarked in
passing, realized in February 1s47 (only little
less than year before death OF the composer),
In Mendessohn Festival. in Castle Garden at
which the Philharmonic Society and two singing
societies Lederkranz and Concordia. took part
Mendelssohn's acceptance OF honorary membership
in the Philharmonic declared IN a letter to
HILL the date Of which falls about midway between
the above and his death. Unfortunately It has dis
appeared from the archives of the society but It
is preserved in hthographic fac siniie, of which
copies were in existence sixteen years ago. Like
the letter of 1885, it is written in almost mpeccable
English:
Dear Sir: 1 write these lines TO express my
best and most sincere thanks for the honor which
the Philharmonic Society of New York has con-
ferred upon me by electing an honorary
ber, and may truly say that feel proud in
being thus associated with a society which has
done so much for the progress of art in that
part of the world PraE express my feelings of
true gratitude 10 the members of this society, and
inform them that know how to appreciate the
honor they have done me and the kindness tc
which ! indebted for il. Believe that
sincerely wish TO be able to visit some dsy your
country and thank You and your countrynen I'm
person instead of writing letters; but 1 fear my
health viii not allow TO think of long
Journey. and SO [ hope for time when you may
again be induced to visit our part of the world
and that may then have an opportunity of re-
peating TO YOU how thankful I feel TO you and
the Philharmonic Society. and that these feelings
viii continue so long as live. l am, dear sir
your obedient servant,
FELIX MENDELSSOHN-BART
Leipsic. August H. 1886.