The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-05-27

life His mother was z musician and
his first lessons on the piano were re-
ceived from her
Mendelssohn was not alone q mus
zeal genius He was highly intellectual
as we'll. He learned Greek and Latin,
made himself SO familiar with Italian
that he could translate the most diff
fcult poems from Italian into German.
and in the use of his mother tongue
he was well night faultless. He also
understood English sufficiently to
write letters in il correctly.
In his university course he attended
and manifested great interest in He
gels lectures on philosophy and Relter
on geography, but like many persons
Of artistic temperament he could new
er comprehend the science OF mathe-
MATES.
His pictorial talent was also very
remarkable. many OF his free hand
sketches and water color landscape
paintings being gems. He had an alb
sorbing love for the beautiful in all its
phases. The sight of q running brook
brilliant hued flower or the song OF
a bird would awaken all his poetic
soul: he would sketch with pencil and
then translate his feelings into real
istic music. His Spring Song" the
q
Prosperous Voyage" the "Hebride's
Overture" and many other works be-
long 10 this catalogue.
He began his musical career at a re-
markedly early age: when only nine
years old he appeared in a concert Civ
en- by Joseph Gugel and at eleven
years he began systematic work as a
composer, writing within the next ten
years many symphonies, concertos,
fuges, operettas, sonatas and songs.
During this period he began the ia
nous Sunday morning musicals in the
Mendelssohn home, Felix himself di-
recting, his sister playing the piano,
his younger brother, Paul. the cello.
and his sister, Rebecca, singing. At
eighteen he entered the University OF
Berlin, where the beauties Of Shaks-
pere were unfolded TO him and there
he wrote the exquisite composition.
The Midsummer Nights Dream"
He visited England where he was
adored many times and was offered the
professorship of music in the univer-
sity. This honor he declined. wishing
to devote his time to composing. play
ing and conducting the "Gewandhan's
Concerts" at Leipsic. This was con-
sidered the highest position in the
| musical work of Germany.
An important production just here
| was his musical setting to Goethe's
"Walpurgis Night"
The death of his father occurred in
] this year, 1885, and for the first time
| the horizon of his life was clouded
and his radiant disposition forsook
| him. 1t was during this period Of sad
ness that he wrote his two oratorios.
| St. Paul and Elijah, the latter being by
| far his deepest. most dramatic and
| soulful composition.
| Taking the story of the Great
Prophet as told in the Old Testament,
| LIST Kings, he opens with the famine
/ scene. reaching the dramatic climax in
| the contest on Carmel, and closes with
magnificent outburst Of thanksgiv-
| ing and praise in the final chorus and
| There Shall be Light
| The first performance of Elijah was
given in Exeter Hall, London. before
Queen Victoria and the Prince Con-
| sort. About this time he formed a
| friendship with Madam Jean Renaud,
| to whose daughter, Cecile, he became
devotedly attached and to whom he
| was afterwards married.
| Without question the most popular
| production of Mendelssohn was his
celebrated wedding March," Since
its creation about eighty years ago it
| has beeen the one composition par sx-
| cellence, used at all weddings where
| music had any part in the ceremony
| and at how many thousands Of wed
dings it has been heard 1t would be
impossible to guess. In stately city
churches and simple village chapels, in
hall and private parlor, in palace and
cottage from the. eastern confines OF
|
yet ideally lofty strains have voiced
the mood of the happy occasion for
countless human hearts. This march
is a fragment and the most familiar
one from the music to THE AIid-Sum-
mer Nights Dream and is replete
| with delicate mysticism. 1t was writ
tel to accompany the march Of the
| noble wedding party in the play, a
brilliant and joyous company, hence
the atmosphere Of pride and splendoI
as well as gaiety which envelopes it
The Introduction gives the glad bugle
call and trumpet signals. The first
movement is proud, triumphant, ex-
ultant, telling of love the conqueror
Of obstacles overcome and of happi-
ness assured The trio, with its del
icate trills and subtle wood wind eff
fects hints of a background of shad
owy woodland mystery, Of fairy in
huence and intrigue, which color the
whole texture of the story as told BY
Shakspere and treated by Mendelss ohT
with a mastery fnesse.
With this brief review what shall
we decide is Felix Mendelssohn':
rightful place in the world as a mar
and as an artist?
First. He was a gentleman. havins
the spirit of bon comradarie alike with
artists, poets, scholars. statesmen AND
simple folk.
He was the sympathetic friend o
his lesser brothers. always giving 4
:, them helpful suggestions and en-
| couragement in their work. For hi
peers he had a boundless admiration
and love. The monument Of the grea
Bach in ST. Thomas church was erect
ed through his efforts. AS an artist b.
is placed among those Of high rank
He was voluminous composer and
skilled and brilliant performer Blu
life was too prodigal of gifts to him
for him to grow really great. Hi
whole existence was a bright, merr.
allegro with but one minor strain, an
so his music lacks the depth and sou
that come only through the vale,
of the shadow" Had he suffered tn
fate Of being ignored, misunderstood
as were Schuman, List and Wagner
there would have been a great surg
ing undertone which his music lack
~ a. ~,