Produced by Linda Cantoni, Bryan Ness, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) [Transcriber's Note: The original text contains a few musical slur symbols appearing over words. In this e-book, these slurs are noted in brackets, e.g., [slur symbol], and follow the word over which the slur appears. The HTML version of this e-book contains links to sound files allowing you to hear the music examples.] THE HISTORY OF MENDELSSOHN'S ORATORIO 'ELIJAH' BY F.G. EDWARDS. WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY SIR GEORGE GROVE, C.B. LONDON: NOVELLO AND COMPANY, LIMITED AND NOVELLO, EWER AND CO., NEW YORK. 1896. LONDON: NOVELLO AND COMPANY, LIMITED, PRINTERS. [Illustration: FELIX MENDELSSOHN-BARTHOLDY AT THE AGE OF 26. _From a Pencil Drawing by Mücke, in the possession of Mrs. Victor Benecke._] INTRODUCTION. I have been asked to say a few words as introduction to this volume, and I do so with pleasure. To the mass of music-loving people of this country, however, I believe that Mendelssohn requires no introduction. It has been the fashion in some quarters to speak of him slightingly, nay injuriously; but this will pass, and he needs no defence--certainly not when "Elijah" is in question. In England the oratorio has taken its place, if not on a level with "The Messiah," very near it; and what more does any work of musical art require? Fortunately every additional fact that is elicited about this great composer testifies all the more to his insight, to the depth and warmth of his feelings, and to the indefatigable earnestness with which he worked until he had realised the entire meaning of his text and expressed it in music to the utmost of his power and with all the dramatic force that it was capable of. The letters now given--many of them for the first time--abound in instances of this. The information which my friend Mr. Edwards has so carefully collected and so clearly stated, the new portrait which is due to the kindness of Mrs. Victor Benecke, and the _fac-simile_, will be very welcome; and the book is in my opinion a gain to musical literature, while it forms the fittest symbol to mark the anniversary of the production of the greatest oratorio of this century. GEORGE GROVE. LOWER SYDENHAM, _January_ 27, 1896. PREFACE. It is fifty years since Mendelssohn's "Elijah" was first performed. The place was Birmingham: the date August 26, 1846. The Jubilee of this event provides a fitting opportunity for presenting a history of Mendelssohn's familiar oratorio.