Page:The history of Mendelssohn's oratorio 'Elijah'.djvu/20

 HISTORY OF MENDELSSOHN'S " ELIJAH."

oratorio libretto, even upon so original a subject for musical treatment as " Og of Bashan." The following letter, written a few weeks before the composer's marriage, contains a request for the " text " of an oratorio as a wedding present — surely a novelty in the way of a nuptial gift.

[Mendelssohn to Klingemann.]

" Leipzig, February i8, 1837. "... Here comes my request. Do write for me within the next few weeks the text for a Biblical oratorio, so that I can set to and compose it during next summer. The last time we talked about it I mentioned to you two subjects which I like equally well — * St. Peter ' or ' Elijah.' What I would like best would be for you to take * Elijah ' — divide the story into two or three parts, write it out in choruses and airs, either in verse or prose of your own ; or, compile it from the Psalms and Prophets, with powerful big choruses, and then send it to me. The translation of Handel's oratorios gave you so little trouble that I think you will only require a few evenings, and the will to give them up to it, and my like * Judas Maccabaeus,' or epic, or both combined. I am satisfied with anything you do. You need not ask my advice, but just write out what you think best. Then I can compose it at once.
 * text ' will be written. You may let it be dramatic

" If you do not care for either of these two

subjects, then I am willing to take any other — for

instance, * Saul.' But somehow I think ' Elijah,'

and his going up to heaven in the end, would be

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