fmb-1839-12-18-01

            Leipzig December 18th 1839. My dear Sir
Accept my thanks for your kind letter which your friend Drysdale delivered to me and by which I learnt the news of your success in the Edinburgh professorship. My best congratulations for this proof of esteem and confidence which your countrymen gave you when they conferred upon you a dignity which you so highly deserve, and by which you will do so much good to our art and its promotion in your country. – I have not yet seen Dr. Drysdale as often as I should have wished, because our little musical circles are always on Sunday’s during this busy time of the year and he cannot assist them on that day, but I hope to see more of him after the new year, when our busiest season is over. – Then accept my thanks for all your kind intentions, with respect to the intended musical festival next autumn. How very happy and proud I should be to assist to it, and to have my St Paul or anything you like performed there. But your idea of my writing a new Oratorio for Birmingham is a mistake, which I think is occasioned by some public statements, that such was the case, and which I did not contradict, as I am very much afraid of such public affairs. I never had another Oratorio ordered for Birmingham, nor have I heard of the Festival which is to take place there, and do not know whether I shall be present to it, or not. I am writing a new (short) Oratorio for a festival which we shall have here during next summer; but it is not advanced enough to enable me to judge of its value or effect, compared to my first Oratorio . I have also begun a new Symphony, and thought of a new P. F. Concerto, and in short I would have new music enough if my visit to England should be realized, but this I fear is still a very uncertain thing, and depends I fancy upon my going to Birmingham or not. At all events I shall be most happy to hear of the progresses of your festival and to promote its interests, as much as I can. What kind of Motet of Seb. Bach’s do you wish to have? If you do not want one of great length, I could advise you to take that which we performed in 1838 at Cologn, which is well adapted to a performance at musical Festivals, and of which you could certainly get the Pianoforte score to look at, and afterwards the full score by applying to „Präsident“ Verkenius at Cologn, and making use of my name. Have you seen the six Cantata’s of his, published by Simrock at Bonn? They are all most beautiful, but very serious and not (what people will call) effective, the Orchestra being very small, and additional instruments being (as I think) out of the question in that case. If the one at Cologn should not suit you, I could propose some others of the same kind and compass. – My thanks for your kind enquiries after my wife and child; but I must now say children, for I have also a daughter since October last, and, thanks God, all continue in excellent health and spirits. Mrs. Shaw has met here with a very good and warm reception and made many friends; her success increased with every Concert at which she sang and I hardly think that her beautiful voice and extraordinary talent can be anywhere more appreciated than they were by our public. I do not know what the papers may have said, and you know how partial they will be sometimes; but as all the real lovers of music and the connoisseurs were unanimous in her praise and as her benefit-Concert, which she gave after having sung at 12 subscription Concerts was one of the most crowded that we ever had, I am sure that no success can be more decisive. She is now, you will know, to come out on the Italian stage la Scala at Milan, and I wonder how she will get on with that public. I think her singing, particularly in some Handelian songs, one of the finest I ever heard. – I have not written anything which I think suitable to your Concert in February; my Symphony is in a very backward state, and a new Overture, which I have composed, is a mere sketch which I hardly think I shall ever bring before the public in that state. Do you want something for the Piano? You say instrumental music, and we mean orchestral music by that term, but I am not sure whether you do also. If not, let me hear a few words from you. And if you can, do it at all events, and excuse my long prattling, bad English letter and believe me always yours very truly
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy.          

            <TEI xmlns="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0 ../../../fmbc_framework/xsd/fmb-c.xsd" xml:id="fmb-1839-12-18-01" xml:space="default"> <teiHeader xml:lang="de"> <fileDesc> <titleStmt> <title key="fmb-1839-12-18-01" xml:id="title_274a0359-8b2c-4a56-90a0-b779ab3d5207">Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy an John Thomson in Edinburgh<lb></lb>Leipzig, 18. Dezember 1839</title> <title level="s" type="incipit" xml:id="title_00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000">Accept my thanks for your kind letter which your friend Drysdale delivered to me and by which I learnt the news of your success in the Edinburgh professorship. My best congratulations for this proof of</title> <title level="s" type="sub" xml:id="title_e0721947-c9cd-449b-bbea-066547286b99">Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy Correspondence Online (FMB-C)</title> <title key="unknown" type="precursor">noch nicht eingetragen</title> <title key="unknown" type="successor">noch nicht eingetragen</title> <author key="PSN0000001">Mendelssohn Bartholdy (bis 1816: Mendelssohn), Jacob Ludwig Felix (1809-1847)</author><respStmt><resp resp="writer"></resp><persName key="PSN0000001" resp="writer">Mendelssohn Bartholdy (bis 1816: Mendelssohn), Jacob Ludwig Felix (1809-1847)</persName></respStmt><respStmt resp="transcription"> <resp resp="transcription">Transkription: </resp> <name resp="transcription">FMB-C</name> </respStmt> <respStmt resp="edition"> <resp resp="edition">Edition: </resp> <name resp="edition">FMB-C</name> </respStmt> </titleStmt> <publicationStmt> <publisher>Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy Correspondence Online-Ausgabe (FMB-C). Institut für Musikwissenschaft und Medienwissenschaft. Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin</publisher> <address> <street>Am Kupfergraben 5</street> <placeName> <settlement>10117 Berlin</settlement> <country>Deutschland</country> </placeName> </address> <idno type="URI">http://www.mendelssohn-online.com</idno> <availability> <licence target="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)</licence> </availability> <idno type="MSB">Bd. 7, 2547 </idno> </publicationStmt> <seriesStmt> <p>Maschinenlesbare Übertragung der vollständigen Korrespondenz Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdys (FMB-C)</p> </seriesStmt> <sourceDesc source="edition_template_manuscript" xml:id="sourceDesc_0456a9d7-bc3f-463f-a491-18df91125d91"> <msDesc> <msIdentifier> <country>Deutschland</country> <settlement>Berlin</settlement> <institution key="RISM">D-B</institution> <repository>Berlin, Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin – Preußischer Kulturbesitz</repository> <collection>Musikabteilung</collection> <idno type="signatur">N. Mus. ep. 2963.</idno> </msIdentifier> <msContents> <msItem> <idno type="autograph">Autograph</idno> <title key="fmb-1839-12-18-01" type="letter" xml:id="title_d996f5af-1b41-465b-bce7-30f4515fad23">Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy an John Thomson in Edinburgh; Leipzig, 18. Dezember 1839</title> <incipit>Accept my thanks for your kind letter which your friend Drysdale delivered to me and by which I learnt the news of your success in the Edinburgh professorship. My best congratulations for this proof of</incipit> </msItem> </msContents> <physDesc> <p>4 beschr. S.: Adresse, mehrere Poststempel.</p> <handDesc hands="1"> <p>Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy</p> </handDesc> <accMat> <listBibl> <bibl type="none"></bibl> </listBibl> </accMat> </physDesc> <history> <provenance><p>-</p> </provenance> </history> </msDesc> </sourceDesc> </fileDesc> <encodingDesc><projectDesc><p>Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy Correspondence Online-Ausgabe FMB-C: Digitale Edition der vollständigen Korrespondenz Hin- und Gegenbriefe Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdys auf XML-TEI-Basis.</p></projectDesc><editorialDecl><p>Die Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy Correspondence Online-Ausgabe FMB-C ediert die Gesamtkorrespondenz des Komponisten Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy 1809-1847 in Form einer digitalen, wissenschaftlich-kritischen Online-Ausgabe. Sie bietet neben der diplomatischen Wiedergabe der rund 6.000 Briefe Mendelssohns erstmals auch eine Gesamtausgabe der über 7.200 Briefe an den Komponisten sowie einen textkritischen, inhalts- und kontexterschließenden Kommentar aller Briefe. Sie wird ergänzt durch eine Personen- und Werkdatenbank, eine Lebenschronologie Mendelssohns, zahlreicher Register der Briefe, Werke, Orte und Körperschaften sowie weitere Verzeichnisse. Philologisches Konzept,  Philologische FMB-C-Editionsrichtlinien: Uta Wald, Dr. Ulrich Taschow. Digitales Konzept, Digitale FMB-C-Editionsrichtlinien: Dr. Ulrich Taschow. Technische Konzeption der Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy Correspondence FMB-C Ausgabe und Webdesign: Dr. Ulrich Taschow.</p></editorialDecl></encodingDesc> <profileDesc> <creation><date cert="high" when="1839-12-18" xml:id="date_edb12e3b-6fc5-4121-9bd3-9e9bd368155f">18. Dezember 1839</date></creation> <correspDesc> <correspAction type="sent"> <persName key="PSN0000001" resp="author" xml:id="persName_696aeacf-323c-4f0d-a6aa-c37e9ba90a42">Mendelssohn Bartholdy (bis 1816: Mendelssohn), Jacob Ludwig Felix (1809-1847)</persName><note>counter-reset</note><persName key="PSN0000001" resp="writer">Mendelssohn Bartholdy (bis 1816: Mendelssohn), Jacob Ludwig Felix (1809-1847)</persName> <placeName type="writing_place" xml:id="placeName_eee8f046-4f69-4097-86f8-1c973334f73d"><settlement key="STM0100116">Leipzig</settlement><country>Deutschland</country></placeName> </correspAction> <correspAction type="received"> <persName key="PSN0115318" resp="receiver" xml:id="persName_2e92769d-c820-4898-a486-08d04b22c06c">Thomson, John (1805-1841)</persName> <placeName type="receiving_place" xml:id="placeName_b6d2416f-426b-4afc-b770-a53ce0bd9827"><settlement key="STM0100316">Edinburgh</settlement><country>Großbritannien</country></placeName> </correspAction> </correspDesc> <langUsage> <language ident="en">englisch</language> </langUsage> </profileDesc> <revisionDesc status="draft">  </revisionDesc> </teiHeader> <text type="letter"> <body> <div type="address" xml:id="div_e3610662-6013-4850-8889-994a61ef3bc7"> <head> <address> <addrLine>John Thomson</addrLine> <addrLine>Esqure.</addrLine> <addrLine>Professor of music at the</addrLine> <addrLine>university</addrLine> <addrLine><hi n="1" rend="underline">Edinburgh</hi>.</addrLine> </address> </head> </div> <div n="1" type="act_of_writing" xml:id="div_15348001-dd8d-4f13-a1c7-d743abb095d1"> <docAuthor key="PSN0000001" resp="author" style="hidden">Mendelssohn Bartholdy (bis 1816: Mendelssohn), Jacob Ludwig Felix (1809-1847)</docAuthor> <docAuthor key="PSN0000001" resp="writer" style="hidden">Mendelssohn Bartholdy (bis 1816: Mendelssohn), Jacob Ludwig Felix (1809-1847)</docAuthor> <dateline rend="right">Leipzig <date cert="high" when="1839-12-18" xml:id="date_5e16897a-2b50-4a8e-b8da-2b96e5d9b855">December 18th 1839</date>.</dateline> <salute rend="left">My dear Sir</salute> <p style="paragraph_without_indent">Accept my thanks for your kind letter which your friend <persName xml:id="persName_d6b697ef-5361-43b9-b048-0ab51c1e040f">Drysdale<name key="PSN0110757" style="hidden">Drysdale, John James (1815-1892)</name></persName> delivered to me and by which I learnt the news of your success in the Edinburgh professorship. My best congratulations for this proof of esteem and confidence which your countrymen gave you when they conferred upon you a dignity which you so highly deserve, and by which you will do so much good to our art and its promotion in your country. – I have not yet seen Dr. <persName xml:id="persName_d981c416-559f-4adc-9926-794e0a00f5c4">Drysdale<name key="PSN0110757" style="hidden">Drysdale, John James (1815-1892)</name></persName> as often as I should have wished, because our little musical circles are always on Sunday’s during this busy time of the year and he cannot assist them on that day, but I hope to see more of him after the new year, when our busiest season is over. – Then accept my thanks for all your kind intentions, with respect to the intended musical festival next autumn. How very happy and proud I should be to assist to it, and to have my St <title xml:id="title_1fc843d5-1bf1-41c2-943c-7a1362d84a2d">Paul<list style="hidden" type="fmb_works_directory" xml:id="title_h5xndkoo-gty1-cafl-zzdf-ttl0ksj772az"> <item n="1" sortKey="musical_works" style="hidden"></item> <item n="2" sortKey="vocal_music" style="hidden"></item> <item n="3" sortKey="sacred_vocal_music" style="hidden"></item> <item n="4" sortKey="large-scale_sacred_vocal_works" style="hidden"></item></list><name key="PSN0000001" style="hidden" type="author">Mendelssohn Bartholdy (bis 1816: Mendelssohn), Jacob Ludwig Felix (1809-1847)</name><name key="PRC0100114" style="hidden">Paulus / St. Paul, Oratorium nach Worten der Heiligen Schrift für Solostimmen, gemischten Chor, Orchester und Orgel, [1832] bis 18. April 1836<idno type="MWV">A 14</idno><idno type="op">36</idno></name></title> or anything you like performed there. But your idea of my writing a new Oratorio for <placeName xml:id="placeName_38537654-ff6d-4a0d-ac87-2ad5d9d08fb4">Birmingham<name key="NST0100324" style="hidden" subtype="" type="institution">The Birmingham Triennial Music Festival</name><settlement key="STM0100323" style="hidden" type="locality">Birmingham</settlement><country style="hidden">Großbritannien</country></placeName> is a mistake, which I think is occasioned by some public statements, that such was the case, and which I did not contradict, as I am very much afraid of such public affairs. I never had another Oratorio ordered for Birmingham, nor have I heard of the Festival which is to take place there, and do not know whether I shall be present to it, or not. I am writing a new (short) Oratorio for a <placeName xml:id="placeName_d194dbbc-763e-42da-b60c-2b25c7148906">festival<name key="NST0103712" style="hidden" subtype="" type="institution">400-Jahr-Feier der Erfindung der Buchdruckerkunst 1840</name><settlement key="STM0100116" style="hidden" type="">Leipzig</settlement><country style="hidden">Deutschland</country></placeName> which we shall have here during next summer; but it is not advanced enough to enable me to judge of its value or effect, compared to my first <title xml:id="title_cb5122d5-cfc0-41d8-9c51-85bf7b28ee66">Oratorio<list style="hidden" type="fmb_works_directory" xml:id="title_qut8cuuw-4zuo-mcje-0ihl-alzzkque8bzk"> <item n="1" sortKey="musical_works" style="hidden"></item> <item n="2" sortKey="vocal_music" style="hidden"></item> <item n="3" sortKey="sacred_vocal_music" style="hidden"></item> <item n="4" sortKey="large-scale_sacred_vocal_works" style="hidden"></item></list><name key="PSN0000001" style="hidden" type="author">Mendelssohn Bartholdy (bis 1816: Mendelssohn), Jacob Ludwig Felix (1809-1847)</name><name key="PRC0100114" style="hidden">Paulus / St. Paul, Oratorium nach Worten der Heiligen Schrift für Solostimmen, gemischten Chor, Orchester und Orgel, [1832] bis 18. April 1836<idno type="MWV">A 14</idno><idno type="op">36</idno></name></title>. I have also begun a new <title xml:id="title_b5b6f7ad-6380-4944-9d66-dc5b6196e46a">Symphony<list style="hidden" type="fmb_works_directory" xml:id="title_nfya9ohz-qqtj-2zpe-rkx9-qsgw2lsmexlf"> <item n="1" sortKey="musical_works" style="hidden"></item> <item n="2" sortKey="instrumental_music" style="hidden"></item> <item n="3" sortKey="orchestral_music" style="hidden"></item> <item n="4" sortKey="symphonies" style="hidden"></item></list><name key="PSN0000001" style="hidden" type="author">Mendelssohn Bartholdy (bis 1816: Mendelssohn), Jacob Ludwig Felix (1809-1847)</name><name key="PRC0100343" style="hidden">Sinfonie B-Dur für Orchester, Fragment, [ca. 1838 bis 1840]<idno type="MWV">N 17</idno><idno type="op"></idno></name></title>, and thought of a new <title xml:id="title_7881124c-04dd-484a-b038-bbd347d4d113">P. F. Concerto<list style="hidden" type="fmb_works_directory" xml:id="title_slqgqgqm-xgxa-u0nw-qlul-5jgr9ookpv9z"> <item n="1" sortKey="musical_works" style="hidden"></item> <item n="2" sortKey="instrumental_music" style="hidden"></item> <item n="3" sortKey="orchestral_music" style="hidden"></item> <item n="4" sortKey="concerts_and_concertante_works" style="hidden"></item></list><name key="PSN0000001" style="hidden" type="author">Mendelssohn Bartholdy (bis 1816: Mendelssohn), Jacob Ludwig Felix (1809-1847)</name><name key="PRC0100355" style="hidden">Konzert e-Moll für Klavier und Orchester, Fragment, [1842 bis 1844]<idno type="MWV">O 13</idno><idno type="op"></idno></name></title>, and in short I would have new music enough if my visit to England should be realized, but this I fear is still a very uncertain thing, and depends I fancy upon my going to Birmingham or not. At all events I shall be most happy to hear of the progresses of your festival and to promote its interests, as much as I can. What kind of Motet of <persName xml:id="persName_f99d4978-330c-43c4-b195-a6b69ebd0a92">Seb. Bach’s<name key="PSN0109617" style="hidden">Bach, Johann Sebastian (1685-1750)</name></persName> do you wish to have? If you do not want one of great length, I could advise you to take that which we performed in 1838 at Cologn, which is well adapted to a performance at musical Festivals, and of which you could certainly get the Pianoforte score to look at, and afterwards the full score by applying to „Präsident“ <persName xml:id="persName_eb3248a0-c6e2-4452-8659-2f1009ff5a75">Verkenius<name key="PSN0115488" style="hidden">Verkenius, Erich Heinrich Wilhelm (1776-1841)</name></persName> at Cologn, and making use of my name. Have you seen the <title xml:id="title_ea8a7282-8714-442d-8071-48525a7e1f8b">six Cantata’s<name key="PSN0109617" style="hidden" type="author">Bach, Johann Sebastian (1685-1750)</name><name key="CRT0107804" style="hidden" type="music">Nimm von uns, Herr, du treuer Gott BWV 101</name><name key="PSN0109617" style="hidden" type="author">Bach, Johann Sebastian (1685-1750)</name><name key="CRT0107757" style="hidden" type="music">Herr, deine Augen sehen nach dem Glauben BWV 102</name><name key="PSN0109617" style="hidden" type="author">Bach, Johann Sebastian (1685-1750)</name><name key="CRT0107766" style="hidden" type="music">Ihr werdet weinen und heulen BWV 103</name><name key="PSN0109617" style="hidden" type="author">Bach, Johann Sebastian (1685-1750)</name><name key="CRT0107739" style="hidden" type="music">Du Hirte Israel, höre BWV 104</name><name key="PSN0109617" style="hidden" type="author">Bach, Johann Sebastian (1685-1750)</name><name key="CRT0107758" style="hidden" type="music">Herr, gehe nicht ins Gericht BWV 105 (BC A 114)</name><name key="PSN0109617" style="hidden" type="author">Bach, Johann Sebastian (1685-1750)</name><name key="CRT0107755" style="hidden" type="music">Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit (Actus tragicus) BWV 106</name></title> of his, published by <persName xml:id="persName_3c0281e5-be6f-4b29-a4b5-04bba4f9462a">Simrock<name key="PSN0114935" style="hidden">N. Simrock, Musikverlag in Bonn</name></persName> at Bonn? They are all most beautiful, but very serious and not (what people will call) effective, the Orchestra being very small, and additional instruments being (as I think) out of the question in that case. If the one at Cologn should not suit you, I could propose some others of the same kind and compass. – My thanks for your kind enquiries after my <persName xml:id="persName_d715c5c6-6922-452a-b57a-f7a0224c4d1c">wife<name key="PSN0113252" style="hidden">Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Cécile Sophie Charlotte (1817-1853)</name></persName> and child; but I must now say <persName xml:id="persName_b034c279-8036-4f3f-a0f6-f596103521d1">children<name key="PSN0113251" style="hidden">Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Carl (seit ca. 1859: Karl) Wolfgang Paul (1838-1897)</name><name key="PSN0113261" style="hidden">Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Marie Pauline Helene (1839-1897)</name></persName>, for I have also a <persName xml:id="persName_5fb28848-9592-461b-b213-3d163c7d84de">daughter<name key="PSN0113261" style="hidden">Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Marie Pauline Helene (1839-1897)</name></persName> since October last, and, thanks God, all continue in excellent health and spirits. Mrs. <persName xml:id="persName_a2c68a94-3f55-48f2-ba33-e358ee280a3c">Shaw<name key="PSN0114893" style="hidden">Shaw, Mary (1814-1876)</name></persName> has met here with a very good and warm reception and made many friends; her success increased with every Concert at which she sang and I hardly think that her beautiful voice and extraordinary talent can be anywhere more appreciated than they were by our public. I do not know what the papers may have said, and you know how partial they will be sometimes; but as all the real lovers of music and the connoisseurs were unanimous in her praise and as her benefit-Concert, which she gave after having sung at 12 subscription Concerts was one of the most crowded that we ever had, I am sure that no success can be more decisive. She is now, you will know, to come out on the Italian stage la Scala at <placeName xml:id="placeName_7474897d-802e-46d3-96a7-0a4974b65d86">Milan<name key="NST0100751" style="hidden" subtype="" type="institution">Teatro alla Scala</name><settlement key="STM0100180" style="hidden" type="">Mailand</settlement><country style="hidden">Italien</country></placeName>, and I wonder how she will get on with that public. I think her singing, particularly in some Handelian songs, one of the finest I ever heard. – I have not written anything which I think suitable to your Concert in February; my <title xml:id="title_aa1ceb06-c3bc-409f-91bc-f437a91823b6">Symphony<list style="hidden" type="fmb_works_directory" xml:id="title_sbgjlkfz-z42y-2oxo-2tfg-7vpezllm6qzw"> <item n="1" sortKey="musical_works" style="hidden"></item> <item n="2" sortKey="instrumental_music" style="hidden"></item> <item n="3" sortKey="orchestral_music" style="hidden"></item> <item n="4" sortKey="symphonies" style="hidden"></item></list><name key="PSN0000001" style="hidden" type="author">Mendelssohn Bartholdy (bis 1816: Mendelssohn), Jacob Ludwig Felix (1809-1847)</name><name key="PRC0100343" style="hidden">Sinfonie B-Dur für Orchester, Fragment, [ca. 1838 bis 1840]<idno type="MWV">N 17</idno><idno type="op"></idno></name></title> is in a very backward state, and a new <title xml:id="title_4530af25-5c3c-4d9a-b8e4-282eba789547">Overture<name key="PSN0000001" style="hidden" type="author">Mendelssohn Bartholdy (bis 1816: Mendelssohn), Jacob Ludwig Felix (1809-1847)</name><name key="" style="hidden" subtype="" type=""><idno type="MWV"></idno><idno type="op"></idno></name></title>, which I have composed, is a mere sketch which I hardly think I shall ever bring before the public in that state. Do you want something for the Piano? You say instr[u]mental music, and we mean orchestral music by that term, but I am not sure whether you do also. If not, let me hear a few words from you. And if you can, do it at all events, and excuse my long prattling, bad English letter and <seg type="closer" xml:id="seg_70673f57-3eb7-46af-92c3-c9191d6d259e">believe me always yours very truly</seg></p> <signed rend="right">Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy.</signed> </div> </body> </text></TEI>