And now a great plan occupied Mendelssohn’s mind, a project which had been forming for some time; this was nothing less than to do something to arouse people to know and appreciate the great works of Johann Sebastian Bach.  Two years before Felix had been presented with a manuscript score of Bach’s “Passion according to St. Matthew,” which Zelter had allowed to be copied from the manuscript preserved in the Singakademie.  The old man was a devoted lover of Bach’s music, and had taught his pupil in the same spirit.  When Felix found himself the possessor of this wonderful book, he set to work to master it, until he knew every bit of it by heart.  As he studied it deeply he was more and more impressed with its beauty and sublimity.  He could hardly believe that this great work was unknown throughout Germany, since more than a hundred years had passed since it had been written.  He determined to do something to arouse people from such apathy.

Talking the matter over with musicians and friends, he began to interest them in the plan to study the music of the Passion.  Soon he had secured sixteen good voices, who rehearsed at his home once a week.  His enthusiasm fired them to study the music seriously, and before very long they were anxious to give a public performance.  There was a splendid choir of nearly four hundred voices conducted by Zelter, at the Singakademie; if he would only lend his chorus to give a trial performance, under Mendelssohn’s conducting, how splendid that would be!  But Felix knew that Zelter had no faith in the public taking any interest in Bach, so there was no use asking.  This opinion was opposed by one of his little choir, named Devrient, who insisted that Zelter should be approached on the subject.  As he himself had been a pupil of Zelter, he persuaded Mendelssohn to accompany him to the director’s house.

Zelter was found seated at his instrument, enveloped by a cloud of smoke from a long stemmed pipe.  Devrient unfolded the plan of bringing this great work of Bach to the knowledge of the public.  The old man listened to their plea with growing impatience, until he became quite excited, rose from his chair and paced the floor with great strides, exclaiming, “No, it is not to be thought of—­it is a mad scheme.”  To Felix argument then seemed useless and he beckoned his friend to come away, but Devrient refused to move, and kept up his persuasive argument.  Finally, as though a miracle had been wrought, Zelter began to weaken, and at last gave in, and besides promised all the aid in his power.

How this youth, not yet twenty, undertook the great task of preparing this masterpiece, and what he accomplished is little short of the marvelous.  The public performance, conducted by Mendelssohn, took place March 11, 1829, with every ticket sold and more than a thousand persons turned away.  A second performance was given on March 21, the anniversary of Bach’s birth, before a packed house.  These performances marked the beginning of a great Bach revival in Germany and England, and the love for this music has never been lost, but increases each year.