Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-02-03

book of his Songs Without Words"
IN that city to the end he had an en-
thusiastic army of admirers, loved and
was beloved by the English public.
In all he made ten visits to England.
short time before his death he journeyed
to London to conduct series of
philharmonic concerts.
OF his work as conductor there
stand forth most prominently his dis
tinguished services while director of
the Gewandhaus, Leipzig In this city
of SaXony he was very much at home,
very happy, his work much appre-
ciated-as it was not always in his
home city of Berlin. In 1886 the Uni
versity of Leipzig created him doctor
of philosophy. From 1885 to 1871 he
resided in Leipzig; the latter year
yielded to the solicitations of the king
of Prussia to return to Berlin. Official
and court interference attended his eff
forts in Berlin, and he finally asked
for liberty to withdraw, and found his
way again to Leipzig. For brief sea
| son he served as musical director at
Dusseldorf conducted at the Lower
Rhine festivals; in England perform
ances of his oratorio Elijah" were
| given under his direction.
| MeHdelssohns compositions from
the first were marked by finish and
! neatness. He corrected and revised
with utmost fastidiousness. OF the
mass of work left behind by him only
the briefest mention can be given.
The Midsummer Nights Dream the
overture work of his youth, stands as
one of his best productions. His ora
+, torios, Elijah" and "St. Paul." are
| ranked as the most notable of his
works. Other notable vocal works
With orchestra are the symphony
| tata, 'Lobgesang," the "Gutenburg
| Cantata," the balIade Die Erst Wal
purgisnacht," music to the choruses
| Antigone," "Athalie" and "Aedipus in
Colonos" He was author of much inn
portant church music in addition
to that mentioned: his orchestral
works include four symphonies and
several concert overtures; the cham
| Der music includes seven string-quar
tets, a sonata for violin and piano, ar
octet for strings, and various Other
works. He wrote for the organ three
preludes and fugues, six sonatas, pre-
ludes in C minor; the piano compost
tions are numerous and distinguished
Fluency, grace and elegance are con
sidered the chief technical character
istics of his music.
Mendelssohn was deeply interested
in the establishing of a school o
music in Leipzig, and in 1S43 saw. thi.
cherished wish fulfilled, this the dat,
of the opening of the Leipzig conserva
tory. He labored unremittingly TO
the success of the school, brought t,
it not only his prestige, but practica
business ability of much value.
Mendelssohn married at the age o
2S. in his marriage good fortune still
faithful, young Cecile Jeanrenaud o
Frankfort. as amiable and interestin,
as she was beautiful. His domesti
life was idyllic, center of all Cecile. a
is shown in the letters. Five children
were born to the pair.
Overwork and sudden shocks ar
thought to have been the cause o
his death. The unexpected loss of hi
father was great blow; his mother
end occurred in the same way. sud
denly; and last came word that hi
sister Fanny. close friend and counse
: or, had been stricken while conductin
a rehearsal of her little choir. Fell
! never recovered from the shock g
Fanny's death, a few months late
: death coming to him. He was laid t
} rest in the Ate Dreifaltigkeits Kirche
J in Berlin, his resting place marked b
cross.
KATHERINE POPE