HISTORY OF MENDELSSOHN'S "ELIJAH."
the earliest mention of " Elijah " in the Mendelssohn correspondence.
[Mendelssohn to Schubring.]
" Leipzig, November 2, 1838.*
" Dear Schubring, — Many, many thanks for your letter, which I received the day before yesterday, and for the parcel, which came to-day. You again render me an essential service, and I feel most grateful to you. How can you ask whether I wish you to proceed in the same way? When all is so well put together, I have almost nothing to do but to write music for the words. I ought to have previously told you that the sheets you took away with you are by no means to be regarded as contain- ing a mature design, but as a mere combination of the materials I had before me for the purpose of eventually forming a plan. So the omission of the passage of the widow, and also of the raven, is decidedly most advisable ; and also the abridgment of the whole commencement, in order that the main points may be dwelt upon to one's heart's content. I would urgently entreat you to proceed with your work, so far as your time and leisure will permit, and soon to send me the continuation of the first part, which ought now to be considerable, from where you left off. Rest assured that, as I already told you, you will earn my most sincere gratitude.
" You say that at first you could not make any- thing of the subject, but that a sudden light dawned upon you. I figured to myself Elijah as a thorough •" Brief wechsel," p. 134. ( i^ )
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