Meaning: Felix Mendelssohn's quote, "These seem to me so ambiguous, so vague, so easily misunderstood in comparison to genuine music, which fills the soul with a thousand things better than words," reflects his belief in the power and depth of music as a means of communication and expression. As a composer and musician of the Romantic era, Mendelssohn was deeply connected to the emotional and evocative qualities of music, and this quote captures his conviction that music has the ability to convey profound and complex emotions that are beyond the limitations of language.

Mendelssohn's assertion that music is "ambiguous" and "vague" in comparison to genuine music suggests that he sees words as inherently limited in their ability to express the depth and complexity of human emotions. While words may be subject to interpretation and misunderstanding, Mendelssohn believes that genuine music has the power to transcend these limitations and resonate deeply within the soul. This sentiment reflects the Romantic era's emphasis on the emotional and spiritual aspects of art, as well as the belief in the ineffable nature of music.

Furthermore, Mendelssohn's assertion that genuine music "fills the soul with a thousand things better than words" underscores his conviction that music has the capacity to evoke a wide range of emotions, thoughts, and sensations that go beyond the realm of verbal expression. In his view, music has the ability to touch the human spirit in ways that words cannot, enriching and enlivening the inner world of the listener in ways that are profound and transcendent.

It is important to consider the historical and cultural context in which Mendelssohn's quote was made. The Romantic era, during which Mendelssohn lived and worked, was characterized by a heightened emphasis on individual emotion, imagination, and the sublime. Artists and composers of this period sought to convey the depths of human experience through their work, often turning to music as a means of expressing emotions that were considered too complex or profound for language to fully capture.

Mendelssohn's own compositions, such as his "Songs Without Words" and his symphonies, exemplify his belief in the emotive and transcendent power of music. Through his music, Mendelssohn aimed to convey a rich and nuanced emotional landscape, using the expressive capabilities of musical language to communicate sentiments that may have been difficult or impossible to articulate through words alone.

In conclusion, Mendelssohn's quote encapsulates his belief in the ineffable and transcendent power of music as a form of communication and expression. His assertion that music is capable of filling the soul with a depth of experience beyond the reach of words reflects the Romantic era's preoccupation with the emotional and spiritual dimensions of art. Mendelssohn's own compositions stand as a testament to his conviction that music has the capacity to convey a wealth of emotions and experiences, enriching the inner world of the listener in ways that are profound, complex, and deeply resonant.