Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-03-03

ran SmOOCHly on CTeSCeHQO OF dQ-
miration. In comparison, how SCARED
the souls of Beethoven, Wagner. Schu-
mann and Berlioz, and even the hap
pier Schubert-how difficult the life
and career of these men whose lives
touch the years of MendelsSohn.
The thought has sometimes been
brought forward that touch of sor-
row would have added depth to the
music MendelSSohn wrote. The COM
posers who acted under the influence
of sorrow and hardship have left us
uplifting mementoS of their struggles
in which those likewise afflicted can
find comfort and help. But the gayety
and happiness which should have
their equal portion in the chemistry
of life has not found manay biogra-
pliers among composers. Seldom has
an adult nature entered into the
Sprtghtly daintiness of fairy world
with the seriousness and understand
ing of childhood as did MendelSsohn
when he wrote his imperishable
Midsummer Nights Dream" music.
Rarely has simple tenderness and
sweet beauty charmed away the heavi-
ness of the world as has his Songs
Without Words" and his larger works,
such as the 'Meerestille" or his Calm
Sea and Prosperous Voyage" over
ture
The art of painting took a place
nearly on the level with music in
Memberships affections. In fact,
drawing pictures seemed his special
talent. Pictures in colors or pic
lures in music, the atmosphere, the
landscape. the mood were all etched
with vivid stroke and an unmistak-
able clarity that made the discovery
Of detail Joy. The earth, the sky,
the ocean, different countries and
their stamp of nationaliSm all are
painted in tones by the light and
sure stroke Of Memberships pen. He
wrote quickly and easily with i'm
mense enthusiasm, pouring out his
abundant poetry of soul without a
doleful blemish in the result.
His own country, England and
France united in placing him on a
pinnacle. Honors of every descrip-
ton were his, and what was surely
more pleasing to him, the admiration
Of his fellow artists as we'll Berlioz
wrote of him: "All have heard of
him Is splendid and believe him to
be one of the great musicians of his
time. His is one of those clear, pure
souls one does not often come across"
His music brought happiness to all
who heard it, from kings to common
people, and he was revered and loved
by all classes.
When Wagner first began to at.
tract attention came the first indica-
ton of decline of interest in the
music Of Mendelssohn. A classist, in
spite Of his romanticism, Men
delssohn had no patience with the
new order of music although he I'M
easily felt its appeal to his public.
Since that time many queer things
have been heard in the name of
music and many branching roads
by Wagner. Bit by bit, Mendelssohn
became relegated to higher shelf in
the worlds musical library, from
which occasionally a work or two is
taken down.
Lately, however, the charm of his
music has come again into exercise
and there seems to be indicated a
revival of interest not only in his
music but the type of composition in
which he stood so high. Perhaps,
as he was able to reach back to his
great predecessor, Bach. he may be
able to reach forward to the modern
ist and soften with his harmonies
the hard and angular music he would
have shrunk from had he lived in
this daY of modern" music.