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Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy
as letter-writer: at the heart of 19th century European culture As one of the most important letter-writers of the 19th century, Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy maintained an extensive correspondence. With great style and eloquence he wrote letters to friends and family, letters from his travels and he also wrote to leading composers, musicians, artists as well as publishers. He corresponded with famous contemporaries such as Robert Schumann, Franz Liszt and Richard Wagner as well as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Carl Friedrich Zelter and Alexander von Humboldt. The correspondence begins in 1816 and ends in 1847 with the composer’s death. These letters are invaluable documents shedding light not only on the genesis, publication and revision of his musical works, but also on a period when relations between Christians and Jews still had a chance to become harmonious, as Moses Mendelssohn, the imminent scholar and grandfather of the composer had advocated. This edition will therefore be of great interest far beyond the circles of musicologists and music specialists. It will appeal to those who are interested in the history of culture and ideas and to those who perceive Mendelssohn and his familiy as representatives of a unique, diverse cultural epoch. The complete correspondence shows that Mendelssohn not only went on to become one of the leading figures of German musical culture in the 1840s, but that he also maintained a network of musical contacts throughout Europe. »Amongst the many brilliant letter writers of his day, [Mendelssohn] is right in the fore, sparkling with liveliness and humour like Mozart, painting pictures like Runge or Caspar David Friedrich or in his element compiling travel sketches, clever and with great linguistic virtuosity just like any literary author.« Peter Gülke |
Volume 1 (1816 to June 1830) Edited by Juliette Appold and Regina Back ISBN 978-3-7618-2301-9 To be published in fall 2008 |
A large number of the letters were written to Fanny Mendelssohn; they shed light not only on the intimate, affectionate relationship between brother and sister, but also give a new perspective to the high regard in which Felix held his sister’s compositions.
»Den Abend spielte man Whist, und Prof. Zelter, der zuerst mitspielte, sagte: Whist heißt, du sollst das Maul halten. Ein Kraftausdruck! [...] Nun meine liebe hustende Fanni! Gestern früh brachte ich deine Lieder der Frau von Göthe, die eine hübsche Stimme hat. Sie wird sie dem alten Herrn vorsingen. Ich sagte es ihm auch schon, daß du sie gemacht hättest, und fragt ob er sie wohl hören wollte. Er sagte ja, ja sehr gerne. Der Frau von Göthe gefallen sie besonders. Ein gutes Omen!« (Letter dated 6 November 1821) One important aspect emerges from Mendelssohn’s travel letters, some of which he signed »Der schreibwütige Reisende« [»The forever writing traveller«]. They reflect not only his own characteristic view of the landscapes he traversed, they also document his love for drawing, sketching and watercolour painting little noticed until recently. »Wir wohnen in des Herrn von Göthes Haus, haben schon eine Nacht darin geschlafen, gestern Abend schon da gegessen, und werden gewiß recht lustig sein. Gesund sind wir alle, und erwarten mit recht gespannter Aufmerksamkeit jeden Augenblick die Ankunft des alten Göthe. Auch Schillers Haus habe ich gesehen, und werde es zeichnen, das Haus des Lucas Kranach habe ich gezeichnet, und auch die Thomasschule steht auf dem Papier [...] morgen schreibe ich euch wieder, heute darf ich nicht mehr. Ich habe jetzt Schreibsucht. Schade daß ich aufhören muß« (Felix to his parents Lea and Abraham Mendelssohn, 4 November 1821) The Complete Edition
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