Royalty Greeted Choir And Composer

Radio Record, Volume XII, Issue 24, 25 November 1938, Page 4

Royalty Greeted Choir And Composer

Mendelssohn's Hymn Of Praise Wins A King’s Approval

‘HE Saxon city of Leipzig was en fete for the festival in commemoration of the invention of printing in June, 1840. Four hundred years previously Koster of Haarlem was supposed to have used movable type for the first time. This legend has since been shattered through the findings of a certain A. van der Linde, who in 1871 published his book, "The Haarlem Legend of the Invention ot Printing by Coster." The Germans of the early nineteenth century, in all innocence had their festival, however, and part of the extensive music-making on that occasion was the production for the first time of Mendelssohn’s "Hymn of Praise" written expressly for the festival. The performance took place in Bach’s old church of St. Thomas, and later in the same year "The Hymn of Praise" was repeated for the King of Saxony. On this occasion the King sent for Mendelssohn in the early part of the eoncert and spoke very

judiciously about music. In the second part of the concert, "The Hymn of Praise" was given, and at its close the King left his seat and walked up to the composer-con-ductor’s desk and warmly conpratulated Mendelssohn, The King mentioned the pas. sages that pleased him most, and, after thanking all the singers, he took his departure, while the whole orchestra and the whole audience, made the very best bows and _ curtsies they could accomplish. In "Hymn of Praise," Mendelssohn appears to have been toying with a new construction, seeking to attain a kind of unity for the whole work by making use of a leading musical phrase or motto. He chose for his motto a splendid example, an ancient church mode, the sole function of whose few" . noble notes was to climb the svale with the slow dignity, the set, upward look of a Parsifal motive. Under Mr.. Frederick Bullock, the Royal Christchurch Musical Society will present "Hymn of Praise" on Wednesday, November 30. This performance will be relayed by 3YA.