* * * * *
On the 18th of September Mendelssohn arrived in London. Mrs. Moscheles
writes of him to her relatives in Hamburg:--
“Our dear Mendelssohn--I cannot call him otherwise--arrived at four
o’clock, was with us at seven, just the same warm and genial friend as
of old; bright, cordial, and hearty,--in a word, the type of a true man.
Klingemann and Chorley joined him here at dinner; and in the evening
Felix junior had such a tremendous romp with his godfather, that the
whole house shook. One can scarcely realize that the man who was
presently improvising in his grandest style, was the same as the Felix
senior, the king of games and romps.”
* * * * *
On the 20th of September Mendelssohn and Moscheles went to Birmingham.
From there the latter writes:--
[Illustration: 21. Birmingham. From a Pen Drawing by Mendelssohn. (See
page 209.)]
“Whilst all Birmingham was congratulating itself on having the
heaven-born composer within its walls, and on the privilege of hearing
him conduct his latest work, he, in the midst of a thousand duties,
found leisure to make for the children a pen-and-ink sketch of the city,
with its town hall, its houses, smoky chimneys, and all.”[43]
* * * * *
Further on Moscheles describes the performance of Mendelssohn’s “Hymn of
Praise,” and ends with the words:--
* * * * *
“A powerful Fugue next breaks in triumphantly, the majestic tone of the
organ resounds, and a double set of kettledrums marks the rhythm, much
as a throbbing pulse marks the course of the life-blood through a man’s
veins. Then follows a Chorale of such dignity, that involuntarily the
whole audience rose from their seats as is usually done only during the
‘Hallelujah.’ Afterwards, when the hall was emptied, he played for three
quarters of an hour on the organ, before a small circle of friends, just
as if he had neither been hearing nor conducting music, but as if his
day’s work was only then beginning.”
* * * * *
After a short stay in London, Mendelssohn, Moscheles, and Chorley
started together for Leipzig. On the eve of his departure Mendelssohn
made a pen-and-ink sketch in Mrs. Moscheles’s album, full of pleasant
allusions to their stay in Birmingham. On the left he draws the Stork
Hotel, in which they had taken up their quarters; and next to it a pair
of scissors which he had presented to Mrs. Moscheles, and which are
drawn stalking vaingloriously along and towering over the Town Hall, of
Festival memories. Then comes the Bread-and-Butter Pudding, his favorite
dish, the recipe of which he was carrying home with him.
Further on, the cravat which Mrs. Moscheles had given him. He was in the
habit of protesting that he had never been able to master the art of
adjusting his cravat, and that not until Mrs. Moscheles pronounced the
magic words, “Pin it up,” was a flood of light thrown on the subject.
Above the cravat the steamer stands in readiness for the morrow; below,
the mail-coach and the luggage,--amongst the latter, a certain umbrella
belonging to Moscheles, which Mendelssohn had unfortunately lost, is
conspicuous.[44]
They started on the 3d of October; and their adventures by sea and land
are recorded in a humorous letter penned by the trio of friends,
Mendelssohn adding a little sketch of the pitching boat he had every
reason to remember.[45]
During his ten days’ stay in Leipzig, Moscheles writes frequent letters
to his wife. The following note of invitation Mendelssohn enclosed in
one of them:--
[Illustration: 22. An Album Sketch by Mendelssohn. (See page 210.)]
+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| MRS. MOSCHELES |
| |
| is respectfully invited to a musical evening party to be given |
| on Monday, the 19th of October, at 6 o’clock precisely, in the |
| rooms of the Gewandhaus, by |
| |
| FELIX MENDELSSOHN BARTHOLDY, |
| |
| there to hear his 42d Psalm, with Orchestra, his Overture to |
| “Fingal’s Cave,” and Moscheles’s Overture to “Joan of Arc.” |
| Moscheles, the “Father of Pianists” (as Fink calls him in the |
| “Musical Gazette”), will play his G minor Concerto, as also |
| Bach’s Triple Concerto, with Madame Schumann and Dr. F. |
| Mendelssohn Bartholdy, in addition to which he will perform |
| some of his characteristic Studies. |
| |
| * * * |
| |
| It is requested that this paper be presented at the doors; |
| should, however, this request not be complied with, Professor |
| Moscheles will have to proceed to London in order to receive |
| that applause which here can but be incomplete. |
| |
| _An answer by return of post will oblige._ |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+
The “musical evening party” turned out a most brilliant one. Moscheles
describes the bright and festive scene, and the charming way in which
Mr. and Mrs. Mendelssohn received their three hundred guests. The chorus
of one hundred and forty voices was most effective, and the Gewandhaus
orchestra was never heard to better advantage.
After a short visit to his mother in Prague, Moscheles hurried back to
London, reluctantly foregoing the pleasure he had promised himself of
once more shaking hands with his friends before leaving Germany.
* * * * *
LEIPZIG, Nov. 18, 1840.
DEAR MRS. MOSCHELES,--I fancy Moscheles once more comfortably installed
by your “fireside” (this can’t be expressed in German); so now I must
write and send greetings, and say how often and with what heartfelt
gratitude I remember our late meeting. After our parting there followed
some pleasant days, which Moscheles’s and Chorley’s letters have long
ago described to you. Now, however, that Moscheles has left us by train,
and Chorley by _Schnellpost_, a quiet time has set in, with scarcely
anything to describe,--for happiness itself is indescribable; and,
indeed, I ought neither to form a wish nor to express a regret, when I
enjoy, as I do at present, health and contentment with my wife and
children, and have plenty of work to do; yet I must say we were truly
sorry on receiving Moscheles’s letter, definitely putting off his return
to us. He had become quite a member of the family during his short stay,
and as such we parted from him. He seemed to be in most friendly
sympathy with my wife; such feelings are generally mutual, and I know
she took to him the very first day. But when will my prophecy be
fulfilled, that you too will love my Cécile, and feel at home and
intimate with her? Not this next spring, I fear; and whether Moscheles
is so favorably impressed with Germany that he wishes soon to repeat his
visit, that too remains to be seen; but I hope he did feel
[Illustration: 23. Fac-simile from the Joint Letter from Ostend. (See
page 210; also, explanation in the List of Illustrations.)]
what we all had at heart,--what every one of us would have liked to show
in word and deed, if the very showing and saying had not been our weak
point, though he will nowhere find it more strongly developed,--the most
heartfelt reverence and love for himself and his work, and the most
sincere gratitude for the immense enjoyment he has procured us. It is
still our daily talk; and even little Carl[46] never passes a day
without asking Papa, “How does my uncle Mosche_n_es play?” Then I try to
imitate it with my fists in A flat, six-eight time as well as I can, but
the result is miserable. Now comes a song.[47] ...
I will give the pen to my wife, and only add love to the dear children,
to whom pray remember me. This letter is for Moscheles too. How glad I
was to hear of his successes in Prague, I need not say. I trust he
thinks of us as we do of him, and that we may soon hear of his safe
arrival. Farewell, dear Mrs. Moscheles.
Ever yours,