Add MS 47859 A

Vol. XVII (ff. 50). Letters and translations:-(1) Eleven autograph letters, in English, some with musical quotations, from Mendelssohn to Bartholomew; 9 Aug. 1846-10 Mar. 1847. The first two letters (ff. 1, 2) relate to the Birmingham performance of 'Elijah', 26 Aug. 1846, the remainder to the extensive revisions made before the second performance at Exeter Hall, London, 16 Apr. 1847, and the simultaneous publication by Ewer and Co. and Simrock in June 1847. An autograph piano accompaniment for the end of the quartet, '0 every one that thirsteth' is at f. 3b. Further letters of Mendelssohn from the same correspondence are in Add. MSS. 38091, ff. 45-48b; 41570, f. 4; Royal College of Music MS. 2198. ff. 1-17b;-(2) Printed libretto, Elijah, A Sacred Oratorio, Birmingham, 1846, (ff. 18-28), followed by Bartholomew's manuscript drafts for the same, dated (f. 35b) June 1846. The drafts also contain notes of metronome speeds, references to the score, names of singers and the Birmingham numeration of the separate items, ff. 18-46;-(3) List of items renumbered for the revised version of 'Elijah' (f. 47), together with a few draft translations by Bartholomew (ff. 48-50b) of new passages of text for Part II. ff. 47-50b.

William Bartholomew, librettist: Translations, copies of music, etc., rel. to Mendelssohn's 'Elijah': 1846-1852.

includes:

• ff. 1-17b Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, composer: Letters to W. Bartholomew: 1846-1847.
• f. 18 Frederick George Edwards, organist and writer on music; d.1909: Note and copies of music rel. to Mendelssohn's 'Elijah': circ. 1896.