Add MS 47859 B

Vols. XVIII, XIX (ff. 1-137, 138-256+v). Music, relating particularly to the Birmingham performance of 'Elijah', 26 Aug. 1846, and to its subsequent revision. See F. G. Edwards, op. cit., and articles by J. Bennett in The Musical Times, Oct. 1882-Apr. 1883. See also Egerton MS. 3094, passim, and Add. MS. 41572, ff. 18, 47b, 51b-52, etc. As follows:-

(1) Vocal scores of most sections, consisting chiefly of copies made by William Bartholomew for the Birmingham performance, 1846, but subsequently revised by him in accordance with Mendelssohn's directions (cf. Add. MS. 47859 A, ff. 3-17b) for the publication of the vocal score by Ewer and Co. in 1847, to which the page castings in red refer. Some of the pencil annotations appear to be in Mendelssohn's hand (ff. 89b, 123, 123b). The music is now arranged in the order of the 1847 edition (although some items bear the Birmingham numeration) and include:-(a) The Birmingham versions of the recitative 'Elijah, now Cherith's brook' (f. 25), the Widow's scene (ff. 25b-28), the recitative 'Eiijah is come already' (f. 73b) which originally opened Part II, the Queen's scene (ff. 86-96b), the recitatives 'Arise, Elijah' (ff. 106-107b), '0 Lord I have heard of Thee' (f. 114) and 'Elijah walked with God' (f. 121), and the original final chorus 'Unto Him' (ff. 133-137b);-(b) Birmingham versions together with the items which replaced them of the quartet 'Regard thy servants' pray'r' (ff. 49b-50) replaced by 'Cast thy burden' (ff. 51-51b), the recitative 'Under a juniper tree'(f. 101) and duet 'Lift thine eyes'(ff. 101-103b) replaced by 'See, now he sleepeth' (f. 104) and the trio 'Lift thine eyes' (ff. 104b- 105b), the recitative 'Hear me speedily' (ff. 110-112) replaced by 'Night falleth around me'(copy by F. G. Edwards at f. 113), and the chorus 'Thus saith the Lord'(ff. 123-125b) considerably revised to 'But the Lord from the north hath raised one' (ff. 129-132);-(c) A few passages revised or discarded before the Birmingham performance, e.g. 'He shall open' (ff. 125b-128b) originally part of the penultimate chorus;-(d) Copies in the hand of F. G. Edwards (ff. 11-13b, 57, 85, 112-113b) recording other early versions which he presumably obtained from a partly autograph score with piano accompaniment used by William Bartholomew (cf. ff. 2, 18, 22, etc.); for the later history of this manuscript see Egerton MS. 3094, ff. 292- 307; Add. MSS. 41572, ff. 51, 55, etc.; 41573, ff. 59, 60. ff. 1-137b.

(2) Voice parts, imperfect, in Bartholomew's hand, used by the soloists at the Birmingham performance (see the notes by Elizabeth Mounsey on ff. 138b, 139, 145, etc.) including Elijah's part (ff. 157-184, imperfect). A number of revisions and insertions are in Mendelssohn's hand (cf. particularly ff. 158, 174b, 177-178, 180, 182b). ff. 138-184.

(3) Printed chorus parts as used in the Birmingham performance. Imperfect. Cuts and revisions marked in red pencil and ink, etc. ff. 185- 216b.

(4) Instrumental accompaniments, in Bartholomew's hand, presumably those played at the Birmingham performance, in full score. They relate mostly to Part II (ff. 219b-254), and include the section 'He shall open' (ff. 243b-250b) cut from the penultimate chorus before the Birmingham performance, as well as items later discarded. A complete copy of the duet 'Lift thine eyes' (ff. 229-232) was made by Bartholomew in 1852 in order to 'save this lovely Duo from oblivion' (f. 232). ff. 217-254.

(5) Three pages of full score, in Bartholomew's hand (pp. 65, 211 and 374 of the Simrock edition, 1847). ff. 255-256.

includes:

• ff. 11-13b, 57, 85, 112-113b Frederick George Edwards, organist and writer on music; d.1909: Note and copies of music rel. to Mendelssohn's 'Elijah': circ. 1896.
• ff. 138b, 139, 145, 152b, 155b, 171b, 180b, 181, ii Miss Elizabeth Mounsey, sister-in-law of W Bartholomew: Notes by: n.d.