MENDELSSOHN - BARTHOLDY, FEux (1809-47). A famous Ger man composer. lie was born at llamburg, Febru ary 3. 1809, the son of Abraham Mendelssohn and Leah Salomon. The latter's brother. after embrac ing Christianity, assumed the name Bartholdy, which the Mendelssohns then added to their fam ily name. The family was wealthy and highly refined. Felix's grandfather was the celebrated Moses Mendelssohn (q.v.). His children were brought up in the Protestant. faith. Felix re ceived piano instruction first from his mother; afterwards Ludwig Berger became his teacher. His instructor in counterpoint and musical com position was Zeller; and the finishing touches to his skill as a pianist were given by Moseheles. His eldest sister, Fanny, shared this instruction.
Mendelssohn began to compose before he was twelve years of age, and also showed great taste in drawing, and was rapid, yet accurate, in his general studies. Notwithstanding his remark able achievements for one so young, his education continued on broad lines. Much of the charm which he exerted through life was due to his combining with musical genius the tastes of a man of high culture. When eleven years old lie paid a visit to Goethe. who was delighted not only with his musical accomplishments. but with his modesty and refinement.
The home of the Mendelssohns was the centre of a cultured circle. At the Sunday concerts which were given there the most eminent people residing or visiting in Berlin were met—musi cians Weber, Spohr, Paganini, Liszt, Schu mann; painters like Ingres, Vernet, Verboeck hoven, Kaulbaeh; singers like Lablaehe, Grisi, Pasta; and in addition to these, actors, sculptors, poets. and scientists. among the latter the Hum holdts, Bunsen, and Jakob Grimm. One can imagine the rich life which unfolded itself within such a circle, and its influence upon Felix's development. One of the intimates of the circle was Hensel. the portrait painter, who 1111:1rried Fanny, herself scarcely inferior to Felix at the piano. Notwithstanding his pronounced musical gifts. Felix's father, in order to make sure that
lie was acting, wisely in the choice of a musical career, took him in 1825 to Chernbini in Paris, After examining. several of the boy's 441111110":i t i011S. CberubiiiI gave an affirmative answer. In the same year Mendelssolin composed his Met (Opus 2(l). In February, 1827. his Midsummer Night's Dream overture was played at Stettin, and was received with great applause. April of the same year saw the production of his opera, The Wedding of Camaello. in Berlin, but it was not a success.
In 1828 he eomposed his overture to Goethe's poem, .1 Palm tiro awl a Happy Voyage; and a letter from Fanny. December 8, 1825, to his friend, the poet Klingemann. refers to his com position of Songs 11'ithout Words. One of Men delssidin's finest achievements, the first perform ance since Itach's death of the Saint Matthew ,l'a..seeea, took place in Berlin in 1829. The great est ditlicolties had to be overcome. nut the least IH•img the indifference of musicians and public, I ut Alendelssolin brought the affair to a tri umphant issue. and thus gave the first impetus to the great Pack revival through which that compo-vr at last obtained due recognition. In _kpril. I8'9. Aleudelssolin made the first of sev eral visits to England. where Ids former teaeller, lciselieles. was settled. 1 le was well received socialiy. and his convert appearances both as pianist and composer were highly sueee,sful. lie made a tour of Scotland and visited the 1k-brides. During a visit to the ruined pahtee of 1 lily rood, with its t radit 11,11S of Qlleell ary, he hit upon the beginning of his Ncotch Nym phony and his trip to the island. inspired his 11c bride s or / 'it/yo/e~ /'err, overture. The germ of his Kcjo-nia ion Symphony also dates from this time. The Scotch Symphony, however, was not completed until many years later, having its first performance in Leipzig ill Nlarch, IS42., and in London at. a Philharmonic concert in dune of the same year.