As the existence of this little work, or at any rate the fact that “Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy” is concealed beneath the “F——,” is not hitherto generally known, this notice will be received with some interest.
II. The second division of the Catalogue is intended to furnish a more ready means of reference to what Mendelssohn has accomplished in the most various styles of composition (besides the published works); it is not arranged chronologically, but under different heads,—Church Music, Dramatic, etc. etc. The immense number of the works it includes, bears testimony to the strict and conscientious manner in which Mendelssohn acted with regard to himself, and how many pieces he laid aside, which, even if too much laboured, might have caused great delight and enjoyment to the world. The list also testifies to the caution of his representatives, and to their desire to act in the same spirit as himself, by not publishing anything among his papers which might be unworthy of his name, or of his importance in the history of art. Minor compositions for special occasions, songs for family fêtes, canons in albums, etc. etc., of which a vast number exist, are not included in the Catalogue, chiefly because it was impossible to make even an approach to a complete list. It may be mentioned, that Mendelssohn added full obligato organ parts to two of Handel’s oratorios, viz. “Solomon” and “Israel in Egypt,” as well as to the “Dettingen Te Deum.” Those for “Solomon” and the “Te Deum” remain in manuscript; but those to “Israel in Egypt” are published in the edition of the Handel Society of London, for whom Mendelssohn edited the oratorio.
J. R.
I.
PUBLISHED WORKS,
IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER.
1822.
Quartett for Pianoforte, Violin, Tenor, and Violoncello, in C minor, op. 1. Berlin.[97]
1823.
Quartett for Pianoforte, Violin, Tenor, and Violoncello, in F minor, op. 2. Berlin.
Sonata for Pianoforte and Violin, in F minor, op. 4. Berlin.