Show centenary of mendelssohn horn february 30 1809 N f i ia HE YEAR 1909 marks the one hundredth anniversary of 0 the birth ot of felix mendelssohn dels sohn the famous german composer conductor and organist lla ile was born february 3 1909 at hamburg north germany died at leipzig saxony november 4 1847 lie ile was son ol of a banker grandson ot of a celebrated jewish scholar and reformer in mature life the father was influenced to renounce the jewish faith and add Bart bartholdy boldy to the family name to bla branch from the orthodox members of the family rather father and mother the latter also of the jewish race adopted the christian religion the children were baptized and brought up as christians the life ot of the mendelssohn family was very interesting and beautiful the children unusually gifted in th the a homo home an art atmosphere making for full development of 0 the individual gifts felix received his first piano instruction from his mother from hla his earliest days both parents were devoted to the fostering of hta his genius the story of life Is not the record of bitter poverty and herculean efforts in overcoming obstacles i he stands out a genius accustomed all his hie days to wealth and refinement the mendelssohn family moved to berlin when felix was waa scarcely three years old and in this city his chil hood and youth were passed the parents were strict disc disciplinarians pil the children kept hard bard at work at their music rising at five in the morning to begin their taska during a visit to paris felix studied under mine nigol bigot in berlin was under the instruction of carl zelter and benefited for a season by work with Moa cheles at the age aee of nine he made his first public appearances appearance the youthful pianist winning favor in his eleventh year felix entered the sanga kad kaderle emle the following year he began systematically systematic illy to compose to t this his period belong a trio tor for piano and strings a sonata for piano and violin a sonata for piano pieces for the organ songs a comedy and a cantata it was vas the custom in the mendelssohn dels sohn zohn family to hold field musical performances for mances at their home every other Su sunday vday a small orchestra assisting and these thesa musicals were of the greatest value to tho the young musician ke ile enjoyed the opportunity ot of having his works presented rind he ha always conducted for the tha sunday musicals felix constantly wrote new works nt at the age of 17 produced the delightful midsummer nights drouin dream overture conceived by a genius and executed by a waster master ills his one opera was brought out publicly the year following the overture and though given A favorable reception tion on its ita presentation at the ne alln opera house the piece WM waa withdrawn the year 1829 is marked by an important event the performance under direction of dachs st kat matthews passion page fo a watch created a great sensation and am led to the great alach revival sue ce ellar this event an invitation to 6 visit london was waa accepted mendelssohn dels sohn solon made his first public appearance in england at ft philharmonic concert the concert opening with hla his C minor symphony PhOnY the author bims himself conducting the tha of hta his 1 wora work the newcomer was waa most ew en received and it was from england fame ame ns as coni imor thread abroad C in ID london he nashed PL tho the first book of his songs without words in that city to the end he had an en an thus lastic army of admirers loved and was beloved by the english public in all he be made ten visits to england A short bi he journeyed to london to conduct a series of philharmonic concerts of his work as conductor there stand forth most prominently his distinguished services while rii rector of the Gewand haus leipzig in this city of saxony he was very much at home very happy his work much appreciated as aa it was not always in kuhis hla home city of berlin in 1836 the university of leipzig created him doctor of philosophy from 1836 1835 to 1841 he resided lu in leipzig the latter year yielded to the soli citations of the king of prussia to return to berlin official and court interference attended his efforts in berlin and he finally asked tor for liberty to withdraw and found his way again to leipzig for a brief season lie he served as musical director at dusseldorf Dussel dort conducted at the lower athine festivals in england performances of his oratorio elijah were given under hla his direction mendelssohn compositions from the first were marked by finish and neatness ile he cor corrected retted and revised with utmost fastidiousness ot of the mass of work left behind by him only the briefest mention can be given the Mid midsummer nights dr dream am the overture work of his youth auth stands as one of his best productions ills ora elijah and st paul are ranked as the most notable of his works other notable vocal works with orchestra are the symphony can gesang cantata the ballade die erst wal music to the choruses antigone At athalle hallo and Ae oedipus in Co colomos colonos Colo lonos noa lie ile was waa author of much important church music in addition to that mentioned his orchestral works include four our symphonies and several concert overtures the chamber chamra music ra t isle includes I 1 nc 1 ude 6 seven string tots a sonata for or violin and piano an octet for strings and various other works he wrote tor for the organ three preludes and fugues dugues six sonatas preludes tn in 0 minor the plan piano compositions are numerous and distinguished fluency grace and elegance are considered date the chief technical characteristics of 0 his bla music mendelssohn was deeply Ante interested rested tn in the establishing of a school of music iu in leipzig and in 1843 saw this cherished wish fulfilled this his the date 0 othe the opening of the leipzig conservatory lie ile labored unremittingly for the success of the school brought to it not only me his prest prestige iq but a practical business busl nesa ability of much value mendelssohn married at the age aga of 2 in his marriage good fortune still faithful young cecile jeanrenaud of frankfort as an amiable and interesting lute 9 as sho she was beautiful life his domestic dome atre waa idyllic center of at all cecile as aa la is shown in the he letters alve children were born to the pair overwork and sudden shocks are thought to lo have been the cause of his hia death tho the unexpected losikoff losik los of 0 his father was waa a great blow his mothers end occurred tn in the tha same way sud bud denly and last came word that his sister bister panny fanny clag friend and cabael or habiban ha hao Iban bean stricken while Is cond conducting voting a rehearsal of her little chor chor felix pe never ver recovered tram from the ipock block of ct seath death ai 41 few later death coming lie he ws laid to rest in theatte tn in borlie his ls resting bac arced by a crosa cress lEniKE pape |