own; four exquisite overtures, "Ruy Blas," "Calm
Sea and Prosperous Voyage," "Hebrides," and "Melusina;" the very dramatic
cantata, "The Walpurgis Night;" a long list of beautiful songs for one or
more voices; the incidental music to Racine's "Athalia;" a very large
collection of sacred music, such as psalms, hymns, anthems, and cantatas;
several beautiful trios and other specimens of chamber-music; and the
lovely "Songs without Words," which are to be found upon almost every
piano, the beauty and freshness of which time has not impaired.
Mendelssohn never wrote a grand opera, owing to his fastidiousness as to
a libretto; though he finally obtained one from Geibel, on the subject of
the "Loreley," which suited him. He had begun to write it, and had
finished the finale to the first act, when death interrupted his work,
Nov. 4, 1847. Mendelssohn was a man of remarkable beauty, and his
character corresponded to his charm of person. He had a liberal
education, was a man of broad culture, a clever artist, and a very
skilful writer, as is shown by his volumes of letters from Italy and
Switzerland. Possessed of these graces of mind and person, and having all
the advantages that wealth could bestow, he lacked those incentives which
in other composers have brought out the deepest, highest, and most
majestic forms of musical expression. His music is a reflex of his life;
grace, elegance, culture, and finish are its characteristics.

St. Paul.

"St. Paul," the first of Mendelssohn's oratorios, was begun in Duesseldorf
and finished in Leipsic in the winter of 1835, the composer being then in
his twenty-sixth year. He first applied to Marx to write the text; but
the invitation was declined, on the ground that the chorales were
unsuited to the period of the narrative. Mendelssohn then consulted with
his friends Fuerst and Schubring, and the libretto as it now stands
represents their joint compilation. Its three principal themes are the
martyrdom of Saint Stephen, the conversion of Saint Paul, and the
apostle's subsequent career. One of the clearest statements of the
general character of the work is that given by Lampadius; he says:--

"The main thought which runs through the whole work is too high and
broad to be linked by the tie of a personal interest to any single man.
It is the glorification of Christianity, with its humility, its joy in
living and dying for the Lord, in contrast w