Page:The history of Mendelssohn's oratorio 'Elijah'.djvu/50

 HISTORY OF ^fENDELSSOHN'S "ELIJAH"

" I hear with much pleasure that you still go on with improvements in your splendid organ ; but if I shall play it with pleasure, I must have a lighter touch, and broader keys in the pedals than what I found there last year [? time] . I am sure the pedals from C up to D {two octaves and a note) are quite enough, and it could then be contrived that the keys have the breadth which feet and boots usually require. And as for the heavy touch, I am sure that I admired your organist very much who was able to play a Fugue on them. I am afraid I would not have strength enough to do so, without a very long previous practice. Perhaps you may speak to Mr. Hill [the builder of the organ] of these observations, and hear what he says to them.

• ••••••••

" Believe me always, very truly yours,

" Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy."

On August 26 (exactly a year before "Elijah" was first performed) the Orchestral Committee resolved to recommend to the Musical Committee "That Dr. Mendelssohn Bartholdy be requested to compose a performance {sic) for the Wednesday morning, and to conduct all the morning performances." The Musical Committee at once adopted this recommen- dation, and communicated its purport to Mendelssohn, who replied as follows : —

[To Joseph Mooke, Esq.]

{Written in English.] " Leipzig, October 19, 1845.

" My dear Sir, — I received your first letter after an

absence of a few weeks, and should have answered it

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