Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Felix. (1809–1847). Important Autograph Letter. "Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy," 1 p., 8vo., Leipzig, March 12, 1846. Boldly inked, block of mild toning from past display, a few archival repairs on verso. Encapsulated. In German, to an unknown recipient:
"What should I do, since I received your note yesterday...Give up a principle that I had expressed full of magnanimity and with fear of no man? Never! But to take my song and saddle myself with the appearance of base self-interest? Even less than never! 'This idea appeared to the doubter as best in the end' [Quotation from Homer's "Iliad"]: I wrote another little song to go with the Schiller and now ask that you accept both in fond remembrance. But the little New Year's song must not be announced yet. If society is still in existence by New Year's Eve (which is doubtful), then let it be sung that evening; and if we like it (which is also doubtful), then let it always occur at New Year's, but at no other time. Now if the other composers do the same, as I hope they will, then keep your songs, and I my principle, intact."
During the period of this letter, Mendelssohn was hard at work on Elijah. Writing soon after (letter from Felix to Edward Buxton, March 21) "now very busy at my Oratorio," Robert Schumann also noted in his Tagebucher (II ,399) that Mendelssohn was in the "full fire" of inspiration during these weeks. Though Elijah was his primary concern in March 1846, Mendelssohn was also fulfilling a variety of commissions and, with the mention of "the other composers" in the present letter, it is possible he is referring to the German-Flemish Singing Festival in Cologne, for which he was writing the song "An die Kunstler," Op. 68, completed on April 19th. Certainly worthy of further research, this is a superb letter, showing Mendelssohn's adherence to strong principles of musical integrity.
"What should I do, since I received your note yesterday...Give up a principle that I had expressed full of magnanimity and with fear of no man? Never! But to take my song and saddle myself with the appearance of base self-interest? Even less than never! 'This idea appeared to the doubter as best in the end' [Quotation from Homer's "Iliad"]: I wrote another little song to go with the Schiller and now ask that you accept both in fond remembrance. But the little New Year's song must not be announced yet. If society is still in existence by New Year's Eve (which is doubtful), then let it be sung that evening; and if we like it (which is also doubtful), then let it always occur at New Year's, but at no other time. Now if the other composers do the same, as I hope they will, then keep your songs, and I my principle, intact."
During the period of this letter, Mendelssohn was hard at work on Elijah. Writing soon after (letter from Felix to Edward Buxton, March 21) "now very busy at my Oratorio," Robert Schumann also noted in his Tagebucher (II ,399) that Mendelssohn was in the "full fire" of inspiration during these weeks. Though Elijah was his primary concern in March 1846, Mendelssohn was also fulfilling a variety of commissions and, with the mention of "the other composers" in the present letter, it is possible he is referring to the German-Flemish Singing Festival in Cologne, for which he was writing the song "An die Kunstler," Op. 68, completed on April 19th. Certainly worthy of further research, this is a superb letter, showing Mendelssohn's adherence to strong principles of musical integrity.
Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Felix. (1809–1847). Important Autograph Letter. "Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy," 1 p., 8vo., Leipzig, March 12, 1846. Boldly inked, block of mild toning from past display, a few archival repairs on verso. Encapsulated. In German, to an unknown recipient:
"What should I do, since I received your note yesterday...Give up a principle that I had expressed full of magnanimity and with fear of no man? Never! But to take my song and saddle myself with the appearance of base self-interest? Even less than never! 'This idea appeared to the doubter as best in the end' [Quotation from Homer's "Iliad"]: I wrote another little song to go with the Schiller and now ask that you accept both in fond remembrance. But the little New Year's song must not be announced yet. If society is still in existence by New Year's Eve (which is doubtful), then let it be sung that evening; and if we like it (which is also doubtful), then let it always occur at New Year's, but at no other time. Now if the other composers do the same, as I hope they will, then keep your songs, and I my principle, intact."
During the period of this letter, Mendelssohn was hard at work on Elijah. Writing soon after (letter from Felix to Edward Buxton, March 21) "now very busy at my Oratorio," Robert Schumann also noted in his Tagebucher (II ,399) that Mendelssohn was in the "full fire" of inspiration during these weeks. Though Elijah was his primary concern in March 1846, Mendelssohn was also fulfilling a variety of commissions and, with the mention of "the other composers" in the present letter, it is possible he is referring to the German-Flemish Singing Festival in Cologne, for which he was writing the song "An die Kunstler," Op. 68, completed on April 19th. Certainly worthy of further research, this is a superb letter, showing Mendelssohn's adherence to strong principles of musical integrity.
"What should I do, since I received your note yesterday...Give up a principle that I had expressed full of magnanimity and with fear of no man? Never! But to take my song and saddle myself with the appearance of base self-interest? Even less than never! 'This idea appeared to the doubter as best in the end' [Quotation from Homer's "Iliad"]: I wrote another little song to go with the Schiller and now ask that you accept both in fond remembrance. But the little New Year's song must not be announced yet. If society is still in existence by New Year's Eve (which is doubtful), then let it be sung that evening; and if we like it (which is also doubtful), then let it always occur at New Year's, but at no other time. Now if the other composers do the same, as I hope they will, then keep your songs, and I my principle, intact."
During the period of this letter, Mendelssohn was hard at work on Elijah. Writing soon after (letter from Felix to Edward Buxton, March 21) "now very busy at my Oratorio," Robert Schumann also noted in his Tagebucher (II ,399) that Mendelssohn was in the "full fire" of inspiration during these weeks. Though Elijah was his primary concern in March 1846, Mendelssohn was also fulfilling a variety of commissions and, with the mention of "the other composers" in the present letter, it is possible he is referring to the German-Flemish Singing Festival in Cologne, for which he was writing the song "An die Kunstler," Op. 68, completed on April 19th. Certainly worthy of further research, this is a superb letter, showing Mendelssohn's adherence to strong principles of musical integrity.