Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-31
Music and Musical Notes

I cantata and a comedy, as well as move
Nents Of sonatas and trios. In the year
.S2l the great composer, Carl Maria Won
Weber, was in Berlin for the production
Of his famous opera, Der Freischuetz,"
and the 12-year-old boy had the honor of
hts acquaintance, which awakened the en-.
thusiasm for Weber and his work that re-
.mained with him always, At this early
age he also was so fortunate as to spend
sixteen days at the home of the great
German poet, philosopher and dramatist,
Goethe.
This budding musical genius was GER
tainly arriving early into good society and
the fact that he accomplished anything
at all is really marvellous when one con-
siders that he was surrounded by the add
vantages Of wealth. position and culture.
In his fourteenth year he went with the
family to Switzerland on a merry tour,
meeting Spohr, another of the great Ger
man musicians, and Schelble, the former
at Cassel and the latter at Frankfort.
Schelble was conductor of the famous
Caecillien-verein (Cecilian society. This
tour closed with another visit to Goethe.
He had been learning to improvise since
his twelfth year, and now at the age Of
10 l. Is recorded that his ability in this
work was so remarkable that when
Goethe asked him one day to play q GER
tain Bach fugue, which he could not re-
member in its entirety, he daringly de-
veloped 1t himself at great length. which
the recorder says he would probably nave
hesitated to do later in life.
ga ~ Nx-.sa.. a.-..Na Il. a.
well planned life Of the Mendelssohn
household was the Sunday Morning Must
Gale, as 1t would be called nowadays. 1t
was the custom to have these musical at-
fairs on alternate Sunday mornings. in the
large dining room. where the small orehes-
ira was conducted by Master Felix, whose
stature was temporarily increased by the
assistance of a stool on which he could
stand and be seen. Musical events were
constantly occurring at the Mendelssohr
household. clever and distinguished peo'
pie were constant guests and few promi,
nent musicians failed to visit that home,
About the sixteenth year Of his life
he was confirmed" and we are told
that his confirmation deepened the relig
ious feeling which was his by nature ant
which later found expression in his won.
derful sacred works. About this time an,
other event took place which was Of
great Importance to him; he beheld tina.
marvel of nature. the sea. What poet car
do justice to that wonderful first Elimps,
OF the sea TO an imaginative youth? Her,
is the foundation laid for mis- celebrated
overture, "Meeresstille." known 10 us a.
Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage
The next great artist to cross the patti
OF the youth was Moscheles. who was &C
knowledged as one Of the foremost plan
!sts. This man not only paid daily visit
to the Mendelssohns for many weeks, bu
he gave the young Felix lessons. which les
sons Mendelssohn. mature and famous, II
later years referred to as having fame,
the fire and kindled enthusiasm. Spoh
was the next visitor Din 1880. when he cam
to oversee the production OF his 'Jes
sonda."
Mendelssohn now began 90 show the in
fluence Of Handel on his composition; h
likewise developed = great passion for IN,