Page:The history of Mendelssohn's oratorio 'Elijah'.djvu/126

 HISTORY OF MENDELSSOHN'S "ELIJAH."

��which I gave to that beginning more than any other word could possibly do.*

" As for * the transgressor,' etc., I may possibly send another piece instead of the one which now stands, and therefore we will settle the translation hereafter.

��"In No. 34 I prefer: —

��hold, OoU the

��and afterwards-

��i=^.

��But

��yet the

��and likewise-

��But yet the

��for 1 should not like to place the word * God ' on so short a note, and in such a rhythm, while the word yet is just as light and insignificant as will do on such a note.


 * ' And again many thanks,

"F. M.-B."

The following letters from Mendelssohn to Bar- tholomew, all written in English, may now follow on.

��• Bartholomew had rendered the German words "und sein Wort brannte wie eine Fackel " as " his words appeared as light in darkness." The Enghsh Apocrypha (Ecclesiasticus xlviii., i) has, "his word burned like a lamp." It is very difficult to fathom a composer's mind ; but what can be the connection between "torches " and the key of F minor? Strangely enough the source of these words (and also of No. 24) has always been wrongly given as Ecclesiastcs, instead of Ecclesiast/c«j. This mistake has been continued for fifty years !

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