The M. Deneke Mendelssohn Collection | Manuscripts and Archives at Oxford University

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Description

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Title

The M. Deneke Mendelssohn Collection

Shelfmark

MSS. M. Deneke Mendelssohn a. 1-3, MSS. M. Deneke Mendelssohn b. 1-14, MSS. M. Deneke Mendelssohn c. 1-105, MSS. M. Deneke Mendelssohn d. 1-72, MSS. M. Deneke Mendelssohn e. 1-19, MSS. M. Deneke Mendelssohn f. 1-10, MSS. M. Deneke Mendelssohn g. 1-11, MSS. Don. c. 44, 151, MS. Mus. d. 210, Deneke 93 (1), MS. Autograph b. 6, fols. 11-12, MS. Autograph b. 10 (item 813)

Summary

The M. Deneke Mendelssohn Collection contains a wealth of autographs, letters, drawing books, and other personal items relating to Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, as well as a considerable part of the composer's own library. Other relevant material is added from time to time.

Date

1819-1974

Language

French

Italian

English

Latin

German

Physical extent

23.54 Linear metres

236 physical shelfmarks

Custodial history

A major component of the archive is Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy's incoming correspondence which (along with some of his drafts replies) he had bound into a series of 27 so-called 'Grüner Bücher' ('Green Books'). After his death in 1847 and the death of his widow Cécile in 1853, the Green Books belonged to their eldest son Carl. When he died in 1897, they passed to his son Dr Albrecht Mendelssohn, who married his first cousin Dorothea (Dora) Wach in 1905. The Green Books and their index were bought from Albrecht and Dora by his cousin, Paul Victor Mendelssohn Benecke (1868-1944), to add to material which he had inherited from his mother Marie, Felix and Cécile's elder daughter. Near the end of his life, Paul entrusted his collection to his friend Margaret (Marga) Deneke (1882-1969) and, after a spell at Gunfield, her home in North Oxford, it was transferred, on deposit, to the Bodleian for safe-keeping.

After Mendelssohn's death, the subsequent guardians of the archive (particularly Paul Benecke and Marga Deneke) made great efforts to trace and acquire further items to add to the collection. The most important addition at that time came, through Marga, from the children of the composer's younger daughter, Lili Wach of Wilderswil, Interlaken. Many other papers were added by Paul and Marga themselves, who, in turn, encouraged friends and other descendants of the composer to part with material, and the Library to acquire dispersed items whenever possible.

When Marga died, her sister Helena gave other musical manuscripts to the University in her memory and these were included in the collection. Following Helena's death, three years later, ownership of the rest of the collection passed to the Library. Further additions are made as opportunities arise.

Acquisition

Near the end of his life Paul Benecke entrusted the nuceleus of the present Mendelssohn collection to his friend Margaret Deneke, who later deposited it in the Bodleian for safe-keeping. For years the archive remained unshelfmarked but indexed (with Marga's help) by John Hough. At that time scholars also relied on Ralph Leavis's intimate knowledge of the archive.

Over a hundred additional letters and other papers were purchased from the composer's granddaughter, Maria Wach of Wilderswil, during the 1950s.

After Marga's death in 1969 the collection passed to her sister Helena, who bequeathed it to the Library in memory of her sister. Thanks to this generous gesture, the majority of the present collection came into the Library's ownership in 1973. In accordance with the Bodleian practice of calling collections after their donors, the Deneke name appears alongside that of the Mendelssohns in the shelfmarks.

Further materials related to the composer have since been and continue to be added to the collection, either as gifts or through purchases, from a variety of sources.

Subject

Oratorios

Composers -- Correspondence

Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Cécile, 1817-1853 -- Correspondence

19th century

Sacred vocal music

Organ music

Mendelssohn family

Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Felix, 1809-1847 -- Correspondence

Operas -- Librettos

Music publishers -- Correspondence

Music -- Manuscripts -- 19th century

Music

Composers -- Portraits

Concerts -- Germany -- 19th century

20th century

Orchestral music

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