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Hereditary Genius
245
Mendelssohn, Bartholdy; had an early and strong disposition towards music; first
published aet. 15.
G. Moses Mendelssohn, a celebrated Jewish philosopher, who wrote, among other
matters, on the aesthetics of music. He was precocious.
F. Abraham Mendelssohn, a rich banker in Berlin. His son says to him, “I often
cannot understand how it is possible to have so acute a judgment with regard
to music without being yourself technically informed.” (Letters, ii. 80.)
[2 U.] His uncles were well-informed men. One was associated with Abraham in
the bank; he wrote on Dante; also on the currency. The other was a hard
student.
b. Very musical; as a pianist she was Mendelssohn's equal, and of high genius. She
was also very affectionate.
Meyerbeer, James (the name is really Beer); was exceedingly precocious. He played
brilliantly aet. 6, and was amongst the best pianists of Berlin aet. 9. He began
to publish compositions aet. 19, and d. aet. 70.
B. William Meyerbeer, the astronomer—Map of the Moon.
B. Michael Beer, a poet of high promise, who died young.
Mozart, J. C. Wolfgang; was exceedingly precocious as a child—quite a prodigy in
music. He played beautifully aet. 4, and composed much of real merit between
the ages of 4 and 6. He overworked himself, and d. aet. 35.
F. Leopold Mozart; famous violinist. His method, which he published, was
considered for fifty years to be the best work of its kind. He composed a great
deal.
b. Was a hopeful musician as a child, and excellent pianist, but she did not succeed
in after-life.
S. Charles Mozart; cultivated music as an amateur, and played with distinguished
talent, but nothing more is recorded of him.
S. Wolfgang Amedee; born four months after his father's death; was a distinguished
performer, and has composed a good deal, but has not risen to high eminence as
a composer.
Palestrina, Jean Pieriuigi de (b.?—died 1594); composer of Church music; one of
the most illustrious of names in the history of music, yet nothing is known of
his parent-
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