Page:The history of Mendelssohn's oratorio 'Elijah'.djvu/128

 HISTORY OF MENDELSSOHN'S " ELIJAH."

full of compassion,' &c., &c. Now I certainly composed it with this last meaning, and the question is whether you would think it advisable to introduce it, or not. I proposed ' He is ' instead of ' they are,* because I thought it could then be understood both ways ; but most probably you might hit on something much better still. Instead of 'who delight in His commands,' I preferred * they ever walk in the ways of peace ' only, as more expressive, and I hope you will be of my opinion. I see in the Birmingham book that you quoted the words of this chorus Psalm cvi., 3 ; but I took them from Psalm cxxviii., i, and Psalm cxii., i and 4, although nearly the same passage occurs in Psalm cvi., 3.

" No. 15 is a piece in which I must again require your friendly assistance. From the time I iirst sent it away for the Birmingham performance I felt that it should not remain as it stood, with its verses and rimes, the only specimen of a Lutheran Chorale in this old-testamential work.* I wanted to have the colour of a Chorale, and I felt that I could not do without it, and yet I did not like to have a Chorale.


 * The words of the Quartet, as sung at Birmingham, were : —

" Regard Thy servant's prayer, While angels bow before Thee, And worlds around Thy throne In strains of praise adore Thee. O, help him in his need, Thy gracious ear accord — Jehovah Sabaotb, Creator, God, and Lord!"

They were changed to the now familiar "Cast thy burden." The music was also altered, but its quartet-chorale form and slender accompaniment were retained. ( 106 )

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