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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/3750.txt b/3750.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a5283e7 --- /dev/null +++ b/3750.txt @@ -0,0 +1,18955 @@ +Project Gutenberg Etext of Letters of Franz Liszt, Volume 2: +"From Rome to the End" collected by La Mara and Translated +by Constance Bache + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the laws for your country before redistributing these files!!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. + +Please do not remove this. + +This should be the first thing seen when anyone opens the book. +Do not change or edit it without written permission. 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He could play anything on site and composed +over 400 works centered around "his" instrument. Among his key +works are his Hungarian Rhapsodies, his Transcendental Etudes, +his Concert Etudes, his Etudes based on variations of +Paganinini's Violin Caprices and his Sonata, one of the most +important of the nineteenth century. He also wrote thousands of +letters, of which 399 are translated into English in this second +of a 2-volume set of letters (the first volume contains 260 +letters). + +Those who knew him were struck by his extremely sophisticated +personality. He was surely one of the most civilized people of +the nineteeth century, internalizing within himself a complex +conception of human civility, and attempting to project it in his +music and his communications with people. His life was centered +around people; he knew them, worked with them, remembered them, +thought about them, and wrote about them using an almost poetic +language, while pushing them to reflect the high ideals he +believed in. His personality was the embodiment of a refined, +idealized form of human civility. He was the consummate musical +artist, always looking for ways to communicate a new civilized +idea through music, and to work with other musicians in +organizing concerts and gatherings to perform the music publicly. +He also did as much as he could to promote and compliment those +whose music he believed in. + +He was also a superlative musical critic, knowing, with few +mistakes, what music of his day was "artistic" and what was not. +But, although he was clearly a musical genius, he insisted on +projecting a tonal, romantic "beauty" in his music, confining his +music to a narrow range of moral values and ideals. He would have +rejected 20th-century music that entertained cynical notions of +any kind, or notions that obviated the concept of beauty in any +way. There is little of a Prokofiev, Stravinsky, Shostakovich, +Cage, Adams, and certainly none of a Schoenberg, in Liszt's +music. His music has an ideological "ceiling," and that ceiling +is "beauty." It never goes beyond that. And perhaps it was never +as "beautiful" as the music of Mozart, Bach or Beethoven, nor +quite as rational (Are all the emotions in Liszt's music truly +"controlled?"). But it certainly was original and instructive, +and it certainly will linger. + + + +FRONTISPIECE TO VOLUME II, HONORING LISZT + + +I. + +We welcome thee, from southern sunnier clime, +To England's shore, +And stretch glad hands across the lapse of time +To the once more. + +II. + +Full twice two decades swiftly have rolled by +Since thou wast here; +A meteor flashing through our northern sky +Thou didst appear. + +III. + +Thy coming now we greet with pleasure keen, +And loyal heart, +Adding tradition of what thou hast been +To what thou art. + +IV. + +No laurel can we weave into the crown +Long years entwine, +Nor add one honour into the renown +Already thine: + +V. + +Yet might these roses waft to thee a breath +Of memory, +Recalling thy fair Saint Elizabeth +Of Hungary + +VI. + +We welcome her, from out those days of old, +In song divine, +But thee we greet a thousand fold, +The song is thine! + +--C.B. + +[Presumably written by Constance Bache, this trite paean would +likely not have appealed to Liszt, who repeatedly affirmed his +humility.] + + + +TABLE OF LETTER CONTENTS (LETTER NUMBER, FOLLOWED BY ADDRESSEE) + + + +1. Dr. Franz Brendel. December 20th, 1861 +2. A. W. Gottschalg in Tieffurt. March 11th, 1862 +3. Dr. Franz Brendel. April 12th, 1862 +4. Mme. Jessie Laussot in Florence. May 3rd, 1862 +5. Dr. Franz Brendel. June 12th, 1862 +6. the same. July 12th, 1862 +7. the same. August 10th, 1862 +8. the same. August 29th, 1862 +9. the same. November 8th, 1862 +10. A.W. Gottschalg. November 15th, 1862 +11. Eduard Liszt. November 19th, 1862 +12. Dr. Franz Brendel. December 30th, 1862 +13. Breitkopf and Hartel. March 26th, 1863 +14. A.W. Gottschalg in Weimar. April 14th, 1863 +15. Dr. Franz Brendel. May 8th, 1863 +16. Eduard Liszt. May 22nd, 1863 +17. Dr. Franz Brendel. June 18th, 1863 +18. the same. July 18th, 1863 +19. Breitkopf and Hartel. August 28th, 1863 +20. Dr. Franz Brendel. September 7th, 1863 +21. Dr. Gille in Jena. September 10th, 1863 +22. Dr. Franz Brendel. October l0th, 1863 +23. Mme. Jessie Laussot. October 15th, 1863 +24. Dr. Franz Brendel. November 11th, 1863 +25. Breitkopf and Hartel. November 16th, 1863 +26. Dr. Franz Brendel. January 22nd, 1864 +27. the same. May 28th, 1864 +28. Dr. Franz Brendel. June 13th, 1864 +29. The Committee of the Society for the Support of Needy +Hungarian Musicians in Pest. June 18th, 1864 +30. Eduard Liszt. June 22nd, 1864 +31. Dr. Franz Brendel. July 1st, 1864 +32. Walter Bache in London. July 2nd, 1864 +33. ? August 7th, 1864 +34. Eduard Liszt. September 7th, 1864 +35. Breitkopf and Hartel. September 14th, 1864.93 +36. the same. October 1st, 1864 +37. Mme. Jessie Laussot. March 6th, 1865 +38. Dr. Franz Brendel. April 3rd, 1865 +39. Prince Constantine (Hohenzollern-Hechingen). May 11th, 1865 +40. Breitkopf and Hartel. May 27th, 1865 +41. Dr. Franz Brendel. July 21st, 1865 +42. Abbe Schwendtner. September 20th, 1865 +43. Dr. Franz Brendel. September 28th, 1865 +44. Eduard Liszt. November 1st, 1865. +45. Dr. Franz Brendel. January 14th, 1866 +46. the same. June 19th, 1866 +47. the same. October 2nd, 1866 +48. Breitkopf and Hartel. October 4th, 1866 +49. Dr. Franz Brendel. January 6th, 1867 +50. Dr. Cuturi in Pisa. January 22nd, 1867 +51. Julius von Beliczay in Vienna. April 29th, 1867 +52. Mme. Jessie Laussot. May 24th, 1867 +53. Eduard Liszt. June 20th, 1867 +54. William Mason. July 8th, 1867 +55. E. Repos in Paris. July 12th, 1867 +56. Prince Constantine Czartoryski.October 14th, 1867 +57. Eduard Liszt. October 16th, 1867 +58. the same. October 20th, 1867 +59. Peter Cornelius. October 23rd, 1867 +60. Eduard von Liszt. November 6th, 1867 +61. E. Repos. November 8th, 1867 +62. Mme. Jessie Laussot. January 13th, 1868 +63. DP. Franz Brendel. January 26th, 1868 +64. Walter Bache. January 30th, 1868 +65. Dr. Franz Brendel. March 31st, 1868 +66. Johann von Herbeck. June 9th, 1868 +67. Dr. Franz Brendel. June 17th, 1868 +68. E. Repos. July 1st, 1868 +69. Carl Riedel in Leipzig. August 12th, 1868 +70. E. Repos. August 26th, 1868 +71. Dr. Siegmund Lebert in Stuttgart. September 10th, 1868 +72. E. Repos. September 19th, 1868 +73. C.F. Kahnt. September 20th, 1868 +74. E. Repos. September 22nd, 1868 +75. Dr. S. Lebert. October 19th, 1869 +76. Richard Pohl in Baden-Baden. November 7th, 1868 +77. Johann von Herbeck. December 1st, 1868 +78. Dr. Siegmund Lebert. December 2nd, 1868 +79. Eduard von Liszt. December 6th, 1868 +80. Johann von Herbeck. December 29th, 1868 +81. Edvard Grieg. December 29th, 1868 +82. Carl Bechstein in Berlin. January 19th, 1869 +83. Johann von Herbeck. January 27th, 1869 +84. E. Repos. March 3rd, 1869 +85. Laura Kahrer in Vienna. April 15th, 1868 +86. Franz Servais. May 21st, 1869 +87. William Mason. May 26th, 1869 +88. Heinrich Schulz-Beuthen. June 18th, 1869 +89. Franz Servais. July 4th, 1869 +90. Mme. Jessie Laussot. July 16th, 1869 +91. Camille Saint-Sa2ns. July 19th, 1869 +92. the same. August 4th, 1869 +93. Mme. Jessie Laussot. October 7th, 1869 +94. Dr. Ludwig Nohl. November i7th, 1869 188 +95. Princess Wittgenstein. November 27th, 1869 +96. Franz Servais. December 20th, 1869 +97. Dr. Franz Witt in Ratisbon. Towards end of 1869 +98. Dr. Siegmund Lebert. January loth, 1870 +99. C.F. Kahnt. February 11th, 1870 +100. Dr. Gille. February 26th, 1870 +101. Baroness Schwartz in Crete. March 15th, 1870 +102. Camille Saint-Saens. May 12th, 1870 +103. Johann von Herbeck. June 20th, 1870 +104. Sophie Menter. August 11th, 1870 +105. the same. August 29th, 1870 +106. Kornel von Abranyi in Budapest, November 2nd, 1870 +107. Sophie Menter. March 22nd, 1871 +108. Edmund von Mihalovich in Budapest. May 29th, 1871 +109. Marie Lipsius. July 23rd, 1871 +110. Franz Servais. August 25th, 1871 +111. Walter Bache. October 25th, 1871 +112. Marie Lipsius. October 25th, 1871 +113. Breitkopf and Hartel. November 22nd, 1871 +114. Mme. Anton Rubinstein. January 9th, 1872 +115. Edmund von Mihalovich. April 18th, 1872 +116. Johanna Wenzel. June 10th, 1872 +117. Wilhelm von Lenz. September 20th, 1872 +118. Otto Lessmann. September 26th, 1872 +119. Eduard von Liszt. November 6th, 1872 +120. Princess Wittgenstein. January 10th, 1873 +121. Eduard von Liszt. January 13th, 1873 +122. Dr. Emil Thewrewk von Ponor in Budapest. January 14th, 1873 +123. Dr. Franz Witt. January 20th, 1873 +124. Eduard von Liszt. January 28th, 1873 +125. the same. February 10th, 1873 +126. the same. March 3rd, 1873 +127. Mme. Jessie Laussot. March 30th, 1873 +128. Casar Cui. May, 1873 +129. Franz Servais. June 5th, 1873 +130. Adelheid von Schorn. July 30th, 1873 +131. Eduard von Liszt. August 19th, 1873 +132. Franz Servais. August 19th, 1873 +133. Walter Bache. August 20th, 1873 +134. Max Erdmannsdorfer. September 16th, 1873 +135. Otto Lessmann. September 24th, 1873 +136. Kornel von Abranyi. October ist, 1873 +137. Martha Remmert. December 27th, 1873 +138. ? 1873 +139. Countess Marie Donhoff in Vienna. January, 1874 +140. B. Bessel in St. Petersburg. February 2nd, 1874 +141. Skiwa in Vienna. March 21st, 1874 +142. C. F. Kahnt. March 29th, 1874 +143. Dr. Franz Witt. 1874? +144. Carl Riedel. April 17th, 1874 +145. Dr. Franz Haberl, 1874? +146. Carl Riedel. May 5th, 1874 +147. Princess Julie Waldburg. May 10th, 1874 +148. Peter Cornelius. May 16th, 1874 +149. A. F. Eggers in Liverpool. June 21st, 1874 +150. Walter Bache. June 21st, 1874 +151. Dr. Franz Witt. Early Summer, 1874 +152. Dr. Franz Haberl. Early Summer, 1874 +153. Edmund von Mihalovich. July 30th, 1874 +154. Peter Cornelius. August 23rd, 1874 +155. Ludwig Bosendorfer in Vienna. August 28th, 1874 +156. Adelheid von Schorn. October 12th, 1874 +157. Breitkopf and Hartel. November 24th, 1874 +158. Count Albert Apponyi in Budapest. December 6th, 1874 +159. Edmund von Mihalovich. December 8th, 1874 +160. Carl Hoff bauer in Munich. End of 1874 +161. Edmund von Mihalovich. December 29th, 1874 +162. Carl Hoff bauer. Beginning of 1875 +163. Julius Stern. February 4th, 1875 +164. Count Albert Apponyi. February 18th, 1875? +165. Johann von Herbeck. March 3rd, 1875 +166. Eduard von Liszt. April 22nd, 1875 +167. Adelheid von Schorn. May 17th, 1875 +168. Eduard von Liszt. July 17th, 1875 +169. Louis Kohler. July 27th, 1875 +170. Carl Hillebrand in Florence. August 2nd, 1875 +171. Adelheid von Schorn. August 7th, 1875 +172. Dr. Franz Witt. August or September, 1875 +173. Lina Ramann. September 28th, 1875 +174. Eduard von Liszt. September 29th, 1875 +175. Kornel von Abranyi. October 14th, 1875 +176. Walter Bache. October 26th, 1875 +177. Eduard von Liszt. October 31st, 1875 +178. Mme. Jessie Laussot. November 17th, 1875 +179. Eduard von Liszt. November 26th, 1875 +180 Hans Schmitt in Vienna. End of 1875 +181. Kornel von Abranyi. January 20th, 1876 +182. Eduard von Liszt. January 23rd, 1876 +183. Dr. Eduard Kulke in Vienna. January 23rd, 1876 +184. Marie Lipsius. February 3rd, 1876 +185. August von Trefort in Budapest. March 1st, 1876 +186. Walter Bache. March 8th, 1876 +187. Mme. Jessie Laussot. March 9th, 1876 +188. Dr. Leopold Damrosch in New York. April 15th, 1876 +189. Friedrich von Bodenstedt. June 8th, 1876 +190. B. Bessel. June 20th, 1876 +191. Prince Carl Lichnowsky. June 21st, 1876 +192. Max Erdmannsdorfer. June 27th, 1876 +193. Kornel von Abranyi. August 6th, 1876, +194. Richard Wagner. August, 1876 +195. Marie Breidenstein in Erfurt. September 18th, 1876 +196. Camille Saint-Saens. October 2nd, 1876 +197. L.A. Zellner in Vienna. October 31st, 1876 +198. Hans Richter in Vienna. November 10th, 1876 +199. Breitkopf and Hartel. November 12th, 1876 +200. Constantin Sander in Leipzig. November 15th, 1876 +201. Breitkopf and Hartel. November 23rd, 1876 +202. Constantin Sander. November 29th, 1876 +203. Vera Timanoff. November 29th, 1876 +204. Otto Reubke in Halle. November, 1876 +205. Marianne Brandt in Berlin. December 3rd, 1876 +206. Committee of the Beethoven Monument. December 10th, 1876 +207. Eduard von Liszt. January 2nd, 1877 +208. Walter Bache. March 9th, 1877 +209. Eduard von Liszt. July 3rd, 1877 +210. Ludwig Bosendorfer. July 12th, 1877 +211. Edmund von Mihalovich. July 20th, 1877 +212. Kornel von Abranyi. July 28th, 1877 +213. Constantin Sander. September 5th, 1877 +214. Adelheid von Schorn. September 15th, 1877 +215. Breitkopf and Hartel. September 26th, 1877 +216. Frau Ingeborg von Bronsart. October 2lst, 1877 +217. Eduard von Liszt. November 23rd, 1877 +218. Jules de Zarembski. December 13th, 1877 +219. Mme. Jessie Laussot. January 29th, 1878 +220. the same. February 3rd, 1878 +221. B. Bessel. March 11th, 1878 +222. Walter Bache. March 19th, 1878 +223. Dr. Ludwig Nohl. March 20th, 1878 +224. Dr. Siegmund Lebert. March 27th, 1878 +225. Edmund von Mihalovich. April 13th, 1878 +226. Kornel von Abranyi. April 14th, 1878 +227. Fran Ingeborg von Bronsart. April 20th, 1878 +228. Eduard von Liszt. April 26th, 1878 +229. Edmund Singer. May 10th, 1878 +230. Adolf von Henselt. June 5th, 1878 +231. Eduard von Liszt. June 6th, 1878 +232. Carl Riedel. June 7th, 1878 +233. Vera Timanof£ Summer, 1878 +234. Eduard von Liszt. July 6th, 1878 +235. Robert Franz. July 12th, 1878 +236. Kornel von Abranyi. September 13th, 1878 +237. Eduard von Liszt. November 4th, 1878 +238. Freiherr Hans von Wolzogen. November 15th, 1878 +239. Eduard von Liszt. November 21st, 1878 +240. the same. January 22nd, 1879 +241. Ludwig Bosendorfer. February 19th, 1879 +242. Adolf von Henselt. February, 1879 +243. Marie Lipsius. March 2nd, 1879 +244. Otto Lessmann. March 23rd, 1879 +245. Von Trefort. May 12th, 1879 +246. Walter Bache, May 25th, 1879 +247. Ludmilla Schestakoff. June 14th, 1878 +248. A. Borodin, C. Cui, An. Liadoff, and N. Rimsky-Korsakoff. +June 15th, 1879 +249. Josef Bohm. June 22nd, 1879 +250. Vera Timanoff. Summer, 1879 +251. Adolf von Henselt. July 12th, 1879 +252. Dr. Siegmund Lebert. September 25th, 1879 +253. Bassani in Venice. October 28th, 1879 +254. Anatole Liadoff. December 25th, 1879 +255. Fran Reisenauer.Pauly in Rome. January 30th, 1880 +256. Carl Klindwo1th. February 16th, 1880 +257. Herrmann Scholtz. April 29th, 1880 +258. Sophie Menter. May 26th, 1880 +259. Jules de Zarembski. June 1st, 1880 +260. Bassani. June 4th, 1880 +261. Marie Lipsius. June l0th, 1880 +262. Kornel von Abranyi. June 20th, 1880 +263. Freiherr Hans von Wolzogen. July 28th, 1880 +264. Friedrich Hofme1ster. August 17th, 1880 +265. Baroness Helene Augusz. September 1st, 1880 +266. Mme. Anton Rubinstein. October 24th, 1880 +267. Frau Amalie von Fabry in Budapest. November 1st, 1880 +268. Frau Anna Benfey-Schuppe. November 11th, 1880 +269. Committee of Antwerp Musical Society. November 16th, 1880 +270. Sophie Menter. December 2nd, 1880 +271. Dr. Friedrich Stade. December 11th, 1880 +272. S. Jadassohn. January l0th, 1881 +273. Frau Reisenauer-Pauly in Konigsberg. January 29th, 1881 +274. Dionys von Pazmandy. February 15th, 1881 +275. Fran Colestine Bosendorfer. April 17th, 1881 +276. the Committee of the Wagner-Verein. April 25th, 1881 +277. Kornel von Abranyi. May 13th, 1881 +278. the same. May 22nd, 1881 +279. Frau Charlotte Blume-Arends. August 29th, 1881 +280. Otto Lessmann. September 8th, 1881 +281. Francois Auguste Gevaert in Brussels. September 19th, 1881 +282. the same. October 8th, 1881 +283. Edmund von Mihalovich. October 8th, 1881 +284. Jules de Zarembski. December 4th, 1881 +285. Camille Saint-Saens. December 6th, 1881 +286. Ludwig Bosendorfer. December 8th, 1881 +287. Pauline Viardot-Garcia. December 12th, 1881 +288. Mme. Malwine Tardieu in Brussels. January 20th, 1882 +289. Alexander Wereschagin. February 5th, 1882 +290. Martha Remmert. February 20th, 1882 +291. Mme. Malwine Tardieu. April 11th, 1882 +292. Franz Servais. April 22nd, 1882 +293. Mme. Malwine Tardieu. April 23rd, 1882 +294. Otto Lessmann. April 23rd, 1882 +295. Frau Charlotte Blume-Arends. April 23rd, 1882 +296. Freiherr Hans von Wolzogen. April 25th, 1882 +297. Frau Henriette von Liszt. May 11th, 1882 +298. Camille Saint-Saens. May 14th, 1882 +299. Mme. Malwine Tardieu. June 10th, 1882 +300. Committee of Allgemeine Deutsche Musikverein. June, 1882 +301. F. von Jagemann at Freiburg in Breisgau. July 6th, 1882 +302. Nicolaus Oesterlein in Vienna. July 16th, 1882 +303. Kornel von AbrAnyi. July 23rd, 1882 +304. Freiherr Hans von Wolzogen. July 27th, 1882 +305. Mme. Malwine Tardieu. September 12th, 1882 +306. Otto Lessmann. September 16th, 1882 +307. the same. September 20th, 1882 +308. Frau Charlotte Blume-Arends. September 27th, 1882 +309. Otto Lessmann. October 14th, 1882 +310. the same. November 4th, 1882 +3ll. Mme. Malwine Tardieu. November 6th, 1882 +312. Otto Lessmann. November, 1882 +313. Adelheid von Schorn. November 20th, 1882 +314. Freiherr Hans von Wolzogen. November 24th, 1882 +315. Franz Servais. November 26th, 1882 +316. Adelheid von Schorn. December 8th, 1882 +317. Carl Riedel. December 9th, 1882 +318. Arthur Meyer in Paris. January 28th, 1883 +319. Albert Fuchs. February 4th, 1883 +320. Saissy in Budapest. February 6th, 1883 +321. the same. February eth, 1883. +322. Rich and Mason in Toronto. 1883 +323. Mme. Marie Jaell. February 12th, 1883 +324. Adelheid von Schorn. February 14th, 1883 +325. Otto Lessmann. February 18th, 1883 +326. Lina Ramann. February 22nd, 1883 +327. Mme. Malwine Tardieu. March 6th, 1883 +328. Ferdinand Taborszky in Budapest. March 11th, 1883 +329. Baroness M. E. Schwartz. March 22nd, 1883 +330. Baroness Wrangel in St. Petersburg. May 20th, 1883 +33I. Mason and Hamlin in Boston. June 12th, 1883 +332. Mme. Malwine Tardieu. December 14th, 1883 +333. Cäsar Cui. December 30th, 1883 +334. Otto Lessmann. January 10th, 1884 +335. Felix Mottl. February 8th, 1884 +336. Frau Henriette von Uszt.February 8th, 1884 +337. Camille Saint-Satins. April 29th, 1884 +338. Otto Lessmann. May 7th, 1884 +339. Camille Saint-Saëns. May 18th, 1884 +340. Walter Bache, May 23rd, 1884 +341. Carl Navratil in Prague. May 30th, 1884 +342. Baron Friedrich Podmaniczky in Budapest, 1884 +343. Freiherr Hans von Wolzogen. June 18th, 1884 +344. Auguste Gotze. June 22nd, 1884 +345. Kornei von Abranyi. July 1st, 1884 +345A. Mme. Malwine Tardieu. August 9th, 1884 +346. Rahter in Hamburg. August 28th, 1884 +347. Richard Pohl. September 12th, 1884 +348. Sophie Menter. September 13th, 1884 +349. Baron Friedrich Podmaniczky. September 2lst, 1884 +350. Walter Bache. October 18th, 1884 +351. Mili Balakireff in St. Petersburg. October 2lst, 1884 +352. Countess Mercy-Argenteau. October 24th, 1884 +353. Mme. Malwine Tardieu. December 7th, 1884 +354. Freiherr Hans von Wolzogen. December 18th, 1884 +355. Camille Saint-Saens. End of 1884 or beginning of 1885 +356. Countess Mercy-Argenteau. January 20th, 1885 +357. Camille Saint-Saens. January 27th, 1885 +358. Mme. Malwine Tardieu. April 6th, 1885 +359. Lina Ramann. April 27th, 1885 +360. Camille Saint-Saens. May 8th, 1885 +361. Alexander Siloti. May, 1885 +362. J. P. von Kiraly in Eisenstadt. June 5th, 1885 +363. Ferdinand Taborszky. June 8th, 1885 +364. Alfred Reisenauer. September 1st, 1885 +365. Otto Lessmann. September 5th, 1885 +366. Casar Cui. October 18th, 1885 +367. Countess Mercy-Argenteau. October 24th, 1885 +368. Eduard Reuss in Carlsruhe. November 4th, 1885 +369. Breitkopf and Hartel. November, 1885 +370. Walter Bache. November 17th, 1885 +370A. the same. November 26th, 1885 +370B. the Philharmonic Society. November 26th, 1885 +371. Countess Mercy-Argenteau. November 2lst, 1885 +372. Camille Saint-Sans. November 28th, 1885 +373. Eugen d'Albert. December 26th, 1885 +374. Sophie Menter. December 30th, 1885 +375. Eduard Reuss. January l0th, 1886 +376. Walter Bache. February 11th, 1886 +377. Countess Mercy- Argenteau. February 17th, 1886 +379. Sophie Menter. March 18th, 1886 +379. Countess Mercy-Argenteau. April 14th, 1886 +380. Alexander Ritter. April 24th, 1886 +381. Frau Amalie von Fabry. May 27th, 1886 +382. Mme. Malwine Tardieu. May 29th, 1886 +383. Eduard Reuss. June 5th, 1886 +384. Frau Reuss-Belce. June 5th, 1886 +385. Eduard Reuss. June 22nd, 1886 +386. Sophie Menter. July 3rd, 1886 + +Index of Supplemental Letters + +387. Freiherr von Spiegel in Weimar. September 30th, 1841 +388. Eugenio Gomez in Sevilla. December 27th, 1844 +389. Mme.? End of December, 1844 +390. Mme.? Beginning of 1845 +391. Mme.? in Milan. 1846 +392. Frau Charlotte Moscheles (?). June 22nd, 1848 +393. Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst. May 30th, 1801 +394. Josef Dessauer (?). Beginning of the fifties +395. Testimonial for Joachim Raff. Beginning of the fifties. +396. Dr. Eduard Hanslick in Vienna. January 31st, 1856. +397. Minister von Bach in Vienna. September 18th +398. ? in Leipzig. Spring, 1859 +399. Dr. Eduard Hanslick. September 24th, 1859 + + + +THE LETTERS OF FRANZ LISZT, VOLUME 2: FROM ROME TO THE END + + + +1. To Dr. Franz Brendel + +[Rome,] December 20th, 1861 + +Dear Friend, + +For the New Year I bring you nothing new; my soon ageing +attachment and friendship remain unalterably yours. Let me hope +that it will be granted to me to give you more proof of it from +year to year. + +Since the beginning of October I have remained without news from +Germany. How are my friends Bronsart, Draseke, Damrosch, +Weissheimer? Give them my heartiest greetings, and let me see +some notices of the onward endeavors and experiences of these my +young friends, as also of the doings of the Redactions-Hohle +[Editorial den] and the details of the Euterpe concerts. + +Please send the numbers of the paper, from October onwards, to me +at the address of the library Spithover-Monaldini, Piazza di +Spagna, Rome. Address your letter "Herrn Commandeur Liszt," Via +Felice 113. "Signor Commendatore" is my title here; but don't be +afraid that any Don Juan will stab me--still less that on my +return to Germany I shall appear in your Redactions-Hohle as a +guest turned to stone!-- + +Of myself I have really little to tell you. Although my +acquaintance here is tolerably extensive and of an attractive +kind (if not exactly musical!), I live on the whole more retired +than was possible to me in Germany. The morning hours are devoted +to my work, and often a couple of hours in the evening also. I +hope to have entirely finished the Elizabeth in three months. +Until then I can undertake nothing else, as this work completely +absorbs me. Very soon I will decide whether I come to Germany +next summer or not. Possibly I shall go to Athens in April-- +without thereby forgetting the Athens of the elms! .--. + +First send me the paper, that I may not run quite wild in musical +matters. At Spithover's, where I regularly read the papers, there +are only the Augsburger Allgemeine, the Berlin Stern-Zeitung +[Doubtless the Kreusseitung], and several French and English +papers, which contain as good as nothing of what I care about in +the domain of music. + +Julius Schuberth wrote a most friendly letter to me lately, and +asks me which of Draseke's works I could recommend to him next +for publication. To tell the truth it is very difficult for me in +Rome to put myself in any publisher's shoes, even in so genial a +man's as Julius Schuberth. In spite of this I shall gladly take +an opportunity of answering him, and shall advise him to consult +with Draseke himself as to the most advisable opportunity of +publishing this or that Opus of his, if a doubt should actually +come over our Julius as to whether his publisher's omniscience +were sufficiently enlightened on the matter!-- + +Remember me most kindly to your wife. + +Yours most sincerely, + +F. Liszt + +Please give my best greetings to Kahnt. Later on I shall beg him +for a copy of my songs for a very charming Roman lady. + + + +2. To A.W. Gottschalg, Cantor and Organist in Tieffurt + +["Der legendarische Cantor" [the legendary Cantor] the Master +jokingly named this faithful friend of his. "I value him as a +thoroughly honest, able, earnestly striving and meritorious +comrade in Art, and interest myself in the further progress-- +which is his due," wrote Liszt to the late Schuberth. Meanwhile +Gottschalg was long ago advanced to the post of Court organist in +Weimar. He is widely known as the editor of the "Chorgesang" +[chorus singing] and of the "Urania."] + +Dear Friend, + +Although I cannot think otherwise than that you remain ever +equally true to me, yet the living expression of your kindly +feelings towards me is always a pleasure and a comfort. First of +all then accept my warmest thanks for your two letters, which +bring back to me the best impressions of your morning and evening +visits to me in my blue room on the Altenburg. + +It goes without saying that I have no objection to make to the +publication of the Andante from the Berg Symphony in the Jubilee +Album in honor of Johann Schneider. I only beg, dear friend, that +you will look the proof over accurately, and carefully correct +any omissions or mistakes in the manuscript. + +I should be very glad if I could send you a new Organ work, but +unfortunately all incentive to that sort of work is wanting to me +here; and until the Tieffurt Cantor makes a pilgrimage to Rome +all my organ wares will certainly remain on the shelf. + +Ad vocem of the Tieffurt Cantor, I will tell you that I have been +thinking of him very particularly these last few days, whilst I +was composing St. Francis's Hymn of Praise ("Cantico di San +Francesco"). The song is a development, an offspring as it were, +a blossom of the Chorale "in dulci jubilo," for which of course I +had to employ Organ. But how could I be writing an Organ work +without immediately flying to Tieffurt in imagination?--And lo, +at the entrance to the church our excellent Grosse [The +trombonist of the Weimar orchestra (died 1874), who was so +faithfully devoted to Liszt, and whom the latter remembered in +his will] met me with his trombone, and I recollected an old +promise--namely, to compose a "piece" for his use on Sundays. I +immediately set to work at it, and out of my "Cantico" has now +arisen a Concertante piece for Trombone and Organ. I will send +you the piece as an Easter egg by the middle of April. [Published +by Kahnt in Leipzig] Meanwhile here are the opening chords:-- + +[Here, Liszt illustrates with a musical score excerpt of the +opening chords of the Concertante, in F major] + +and on a lovely evening in May will you play the whole with +Grosse in your church at Tieffurt, and perpetuate me with Organ +and Trombone!-- + +It has struck me that your name is not mentioned among the +fellow-workers in the Johann Schneider Jubilee Album. If there is +still time and space you might perhaps contribute your +arrangement of the Fugue from the "Dante Symphony" (with the +ending which I composed to it for you). This proposal is open to +amendment, on the supposition that Hartels are willing to agree +to it--and, above all, that it suits you. + +.--. N.B.--I beg you most particularly to make no further use of +the two Psalms "By the waters of Babylon," of which you have a +copy, because I have undertaken to make two or three essential +alterations in them, and I wish them only to be made known and +published in their present form. I send the new manuscript at the +same time as the Cantico di San Francesco. + +My best greetings to your wife, and rest assured always of my +sincere thanks, and of the complete harmony of my ideas with your +own. + +F. Liszt + +Rome, March 11th, 1862 + +When I am sending several manuscripts at Easter, I will write a +couple of letters to Weimar and thank Jungmann [A pupil of +Liszt's in Weimar; died there in September 1892] for his letter. +I feel the want of time almost as much in Rome as in Weimar, and +I have observed a strict Fast in correspondence as a rule, so +that for three months past I have hardly sent as many as three to +four letters to Germany. + +Remember me most particularly to Herr Regierungsrath Miller! [A +friend of Liszt's, a multifarious writer on music; died 1876] + + + +3. To Dr. Franz Brendel. + +[Autograph in the possession of Herr Alexander Meyer Cohn in +Berlin.] + +Dear Friend, + +Your friendly letter has again brought me a whiff of German air, +which is all the more welcome to me here as I have not too much +of it. One sees extremely few German papers in Rome--also I read +them very irregularly--and my correspondents from Germany are +limited to two, of whom friend Gottschalg, my legendary Tieffurt +Cantor, is the most zealous. His letters flow from his heart--and +are therefore always welcome to me. + +For all of good news that you tell me I give you twofold thanks. +Firstly, because you have for the most part brought it about, +prefaced it, and seen it through. And then, because you tell it +me in so friendly a fashion. Although I have long been prepared +to bear the fiasco of my works quietly and unmoved, yet still it +is pleasant to me to learn that the "Faust" Symphony in Leipzig +did not have such a very bad fate. [In one of the "Euterpe" +concerts, under Bronsart's conducting, at which Schnorr of +Carolsfeld sang the tenor solo.] Do not fail, dear friend, to +give Herr Schnorr my best thanks--and if perchance my songs would +be a little pleasure to him will Kahnt be so good as to send +Schnorr a copy (bound) at my order? + +With regard to the Bronsart affair, I sincerely regret that I had +not the opportunity of smoothing matters down sooner. Between +people of one mind dissension and variance should never appear-- +much less lead to an outbreak. As you ask me for my opinion, I +openly confess that in the main Bronsart appears to me perfectly +justified in vindicating his choice of new compositions for the +musical directors, in spite of the fact that the two or three +experiments he has made do not show in favor of the principle (as +seen by the consequences). But between ourselves we must not +conceal the fact that a great part of the laxity and corruption +of our musical condition in Germany (as also elsewhere) is to be +attributed to the too great--or too petty--yielding and pliancy +of conductors and music-directors. I well know that the Euterpe +Committee nourishes and cherishes quite another idea than that of +the company X. Y. Z., or of the Court Theater directors A. B. C. +D. Yet the question constantly arises--Shall the cook cook? Shall +the coachman drive?--Ergo let the musician also have his own way. +The harm that may spring from that is not so very terrible. + +On the other side, I consider a change of persons in the +management of a new institution is not desirable. In intellectual +movements in particular the leaders of them are especially +recommended to keep themselves conservative as regards their +people. The public requires definiteness before all else--and +just this is endangered by a change of persons. The substitute +for B., whom you mention to me (his name also begins with B.), is +certainly highly to be recommended in all that concerns talent, +position, and I think also worthy character; none the less do I +vote very decidedly that Bronsart be retained--if possible. + +I do not need to add, dear friend, that this opinion of mine is a +purely objective one. I have not heard a word from Bronsart since +last September, and, as I said to you before, my musical news +from Germany is limited to two, or at most three letters which +Gottschalg wrote me. + +With the wish that all difficulties may be smoothed in the best +way by your intelligent gentleness and forbearance, I remain your +warmly devoted + +F. Liszt + +[Rome] April 12th, 1862 + +P.S.--More next time (though little of interest to you, as +absolutely nothing occurs here that could touch you closely).--I +am preparing to stay here for the summer, and somewhat longer.-- +In order not to lose the post I only send you today these few +lines. + + + +4. To Madame Jessie Laussot in Florence + +[Madame Laussot, an English lady, became later the wife of Dr. +Carl Hillebrand, the celebrated writer. She was the intimate +friend of Liszt, Von Bulow, etc., and is herself a musician of +great repute, to whom many artists of note, Sgambati, Bache, +Buonamici, etc., owe much of the success of their career. She +started a musical society in Florence, the "Societa Cherubini;" +which she conducted for many years, and introduced there much of +the best music of Germany (Liszt's included).] + +Your charming lines, Madame, reached me at the beginning of Holy +Week. At that moment one no longer belongs to oneself in Rome; +and I have felt this more than others, for the services and +ceremonies of the Sistine Chapel and of St. Peter's, to which I +attached a special musical interest, have absorbed all my time +during the last fortnight. Pray excuse me therefore for not +having thanked you sooner for your kind remembrance, which +touches me much. + +Some one has made a mistake in telling you that I am coming to +Florence. I have no longer any taste for moving about from one +place to another, and, unless something very unforeseen happens, +I shall not stir from here so soon. Rome is a more convenient +place than others for those who ask nothing better than to work +in their own fashion. Now, although I have become very +indifferent as to the fate of what I write, work none the less +continues to be the first need of my nature. I write therefore +simply to write--without any other pretensions or care--and for +this it suits me best to remain in one place. + +Will you be so kind, Madame, as to give my very affectionate +respects to Madame Ritter [Mother of Carl Ritter--Wagner's +friend--and of Alexander Ritter, the composer of "Der faule +Hans."], to which please add my best remembrances to her family, +and pray accept also the expression of my very sincere and +affectionate regards. + +F. Liszt + +May 3rd, 1862 (Via Felice, 113--Rome.) + + + +5. To Dr. Franz Brendel + +Rome, June 12th, 1862 + +Grand, sublime, immeasurably great things have come to pass here +lately. The Episcopate of the whole world assembled here round +the Holy Father, who performed the ceremony of the canonisation +of the Japanese martyrs at Whitsuntide in the presence of more +than 300 bishops, archbishops, patriarchs, and cardinals. I must +abstain, dear friend, from giving you any picture of the +overpowering moment in which the Pope intoned the "Te Deum;" for +in Protestant lands that which I might call the spiritual +illumination is wanting. Let us therefore, without any other +transition, return to our everyday musical matters! + +I am convinced that your determination to make a change in the +choice of conductors of the Euterpe has been made only after +mature consideration. .--. In my last letter I pointed out, as +the chief thing, that in concert societies the principle of +stability in the matter of the Musical Direction is the most +important thing, whereby I did not in the least mean to say that +one must on that account agree to extreme consequences--or rather +inconsequences. Well, as your decision is made, any further +discussion is useless. Blassmann [He moved to Dresden some years +later, and there he died.] has now to approve himself, and +actively to fulfil the favorable expectations which his talent +and good name justify. So be it, and as Schuberth says, Punktum +[a full stop.] + +As regards the place of meeting for the next Tonkunstler- +Versammlung I am quite of your opinion. First of all I advise you +to consult Bulow. Owing to his long connection with the Court at +Carlsruhe he is best qualified to take the preliminary measures +("to pave the way"!). If the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess take up +the matter favorably, then without doubt all that is requisite +and necessary will be done in the most desirable manner. The most +essential things are + +(a) Letting us have the theater free of charge for two to three +evenings--(as at Weimar--would not it perhaps be best to mention +this in the 1st letter?). + +(b) Official preparatory measures by the Intendant to ensure the +co-operation of the Carlsruhe orchestra and chorus, also free of +charge. + +You will have to consult more fully with Dr. Devrient and +Kalliwoda as to the best time for it. But the thing to be done +before all else is to gain the Grand Duke's interest--and if you +think it would be practicable for me to write a few lines to +H.R.H. later on I will do so with pleasure. I only beg that you +will give me exact particulars of the steps already made and +their results. + +For my part I think that to Bulow, a priori, ought to be +entrusted the conducting of the Musical Festival, and this point +should be at once mentioned as settled in the introductory letter +to the Grand Duke. Otherwise Bedow's position in the affair would +not be sufficiently supported. + +To sum up briefly: Request Bulow to undertake the conductorship +of the Musical Festival; and address the Grand Duke of Baden, +either by letter or by word of mouth (as opportunity may +warrant), with the request that H.R.H. would graciously support +the proposed Musical Festival of the third Tonkunstler- +Versammlung, by giving it his patronage, as the Grand Duke of +Weimar did last year, etc., etc. + +.--. That excellent Pohl has quite forgotten me. I asked him, +through Gottschalg, to send me my Gesam- melte Lieder [complete +songs], the "Dante Symphony" (in score and arrangement for 2 +Pianos), the 4-hand Symphonic Poems, and a couple of copies of my +Catalogue (published by Hartel). + +I have been waiting in vain for these for two months. A few days +ago I wrote to Frau von Bulow to send Pohl an execution; perhaps +this may help matters at length! + +The Berlioz parts have remained at Weimar. Grosse knows about +them--and possibly they have also gone to Pohl with the rest of +the scores. As soon as they are found I shall be happy to make a +present of them to the library of the Musikverein for their use, +as well as the scores, and I authorise you with pleasure, dear +friend, to do the same with the score and parts of the "Gran +Mass." + +The newspaper has not reached me from Pohl any more than the +parcel. + +Hearty greetings to your wife from yours in all friendship, + +F. L. + + + +6. To Dr. Franz Brendel + +Dear Friend, + +Well, as the parcel has come at last, Pohl shall not be scolded +any more, and his "innocence" shall shine out in full splendor! +.--. + +I have just received a few lines from Berlioz; Schuberth, whom I +commissioned, before I left, to send the dedication-copy of the +"Faust" score to Berlioz, has again in his incompetent good +nature forgotten it, and perhaps even from motives of economy has +not had the dedication-plate engraved at all!!--Forgive me, dear +friend, if I trouble you once more with this affair, and beg you +to put an execution on Schuberth in order to force a copy with +the dedication-page from him. The dedication shall be just as +simple as that of the "Dante Symphony," containing only the name +of the dedicatee, as follows, + +"To Hector Berlioz." + +After this indispensable matter has been arranged I beg that you +will be so kind as to have a tasteful copy, bound in red or dark +green, sent, perhaps through Pohl (?), to Berlioz at Baden (where +he will be at the beginning of August. In case neither Pohl nor +his wife should go to Baden this summer (which however I scarcely +expect will be the case), send the copy to Fraulein Genast (who, +as I learn from the "Zeitschrift" [periodical], is at present in +Carlsruhe) with the request that she will give it to Berlioz. + +Is there not any talk of bringing out an arrangement of the +"Faust Symphony" for 2 Pianofortes?--Schuberth is sure to have +far greater things in contemplation, and I almost regret having +incommoded him by giving up the manuscripts!-- + +Nonetheless, please take him to task about it, or, better, bully +him into action with "Faust-Recht" [Faust rights or Faust +justice.] In truth the final chorus of Part III. of the Faust +tragedy, "faithful to the spirit of Part II. as composed by +Deutobold-Symbolizetti-Allegoriowitsch-Mystifizinsky"-- + +"Das Abgeschmackteste +Hier ward es geschmeckt, +Das Allvertrackteste +Hier war es bezweckt" + +[A parody on the concluding lines of Goethe's Faust. The parody +may be freely translated as follows:-- + +The most insipid +Here was tasted; +In queerest nonsense +Here all was wasted."] + +can often be applied to matters of publishing. And while I am +touching on this, to me, very disagreeable chapter, may I also +take the opportunity of inquiring how long our amiable friend and +patron Julius Schuberth is intending to ignore the 2 Episodes +from Lenau's "Faust" ("Nachtlicher Zug"--and "Mephisto Walzer"), +which I recommended to his good graces more than a year ago, and +gave him in manuscript? + +Must the pages perchance become quite mouldy, or will he bring +them out as an oeuvre posthume [posthumous work]? I am tired of +doing silent homage to this noble mode of proceedings, and intend +next time to help the publisher out of all his perplexities +[Untranslatable pun on "Verleger" and "Verlegenheiten."] by +putting the manuscripts back in their place again.-- + +-- + +"O Freunde, nicht diese Tone, sondern lasst uns angenchmere +anstimmen!" [A quotation from Schiller's "Ode to joy" in +Beethoven's "Choral Symphony:" "O friends, not tones like these, +but brighter ones let us sing."] (I am perhaps not quoting +exactly, although the sense of the apostrophe remains clearly +present, especially in musical enjoyments and experiences!) +Amongst the "more pleasant" things I at once place much +information given in your letter and the newspaper (which reached +me at the same time in some 16 numbers with Pohl's parcel). My +most earnest wishes are, first and foremost, bound up in the +complete prospering, upspringing, and blossoming of the "grain of +mustard-seed" of our Allgemeine Deutsche Musik-Verein. With God's +help I will also support this in other fashion than mere +"wishes." According to my opinion the third Tonkunstler- +Versammlung will be the chief factor in strengthening and +extending the Allgemeine Deutsche Musik-Verein, which comprises +in itself the entire development and advancement of Art. + +Various reasons led me to recommend Carlsruhe to you in my last +letter as the most suitable place for the third Tonkunstler- +Versammlung, that is, supposing that H.R.H. the Grand Duke gives +his countenance to the matter, and grants us favorable conditions +with regard to the disposal of the theater, orchestra, and +chorus. It behoves Bulow, as conductor of the musical +performances, to undertake to "pave the way" towards a favorable +promise on the Grand Duke's side. Within two to three months the +necessary preliminaries can be fixed, and I shall then expect +fuller tidings from you about the further plans and measures. + +Without wishing to make any valid objection to Prague--rather +with all due acknowledgment of what Prague has already +accomplished and may still accomplish--yet it seems to me that +the present political relations of the Austrian monarchy would +make it inopportune to hold the Tonkunstler-Versammlung in Prague +just now. On the other hand I am of opinion that a more direct +influence than has yet been possible on South Germany, which is +for the most part in a stagnating condition, would be of service. +Stuttgart in particular, through Pruckner, Singer, Stark, etc., +might behave at it differently from what it did at a previous +Musical Festival in Carlsruhe! + +Dr. Gille's interest in the statutes and deliberations of the +M.V. [Musik-Verein] is very advantageous, as also Pohl's previous +removal to Leipzig. .--. The constant intercourse with you, +together with the Leipzig acids and gases, will be sure to suit +him well. + +From Weimar I have received a good deal of news lately from Count +Beust, Dingelstedt, Gille, and Stor. To the latter my answer will +be little satisfactory; but I cannot continue with him on any +other road, and let the overpowering Dominant of his spasmodic +vanity serve as the Fundamental note of our relations. + +I am writing to Gille by the next post, and also to Muller, who +rejoiced me lately by his Erinnerungs-Blatt [remembrance] from +Weimar, (in the 8th November issue of the "Zeitschrift," which I +have only now received). Will you, dear friend, when you have an +opportunity, give my best thanks to Kulke for his article upon +Symphony and Symphonic Poem--and also the enclosed lines to +Fraulein Nikolas, from whom I have received a charming little +note? + +Already more than 140 pages of the score of my "Elizabeth" are +written out complete (in my own little cramped scrawl). But the +final chorus--about 40 pages--and the piano-arrangement have +still to be done. By the middle of August I shall send the entire +work + +to Carl Gotze at Weimar to copy, together with the "Canticus of +St. Francis," which I composed in the spring. ["Cantico del +Sole," for baritone solo, men's chorus, and organ. Kahnt.] It +would certainly be pleasanter for me if I could bring the things +with me--but, between ourselves, I cannot entertain the idea of a +speedy return to Germany. If later there seems a likelihood of a +termination to my stay in Rome, you, dear friend, shall be the +first to hear of it. + +With hearty greetings to your wife, I remain + +Yours in sincere and friendly attachment, + +F. Liszt + +Rome, July 12th, 1862 + +Your little commission about Lowenberg shall be attended to. Let +me soon have news of you and of my intimate friends again. There +is absolutely nothing to tell you from here that could interest +you. In spite of the heat I shall spend the summer months in +Rome. + + + +7. To Dr. Franz Brendel + +[Letters 7, 8, 9, 18, and 24 to Brendel have been partially +published in La Mara's "Musikerbriefe" (Letters of Musicians), +Vol. II.] + +What a delightful bunch of surprises your letter brings me, dear +friend! So Pohl has really set to work on the Faust brochure--and +Schuberth is actually not going to let the piano-arrangement of +the "Faust Symphony" lie in a box till it is out of date. How +curious it all sounds, just because it is so exactly the right +thing and what I desired!--If you are back in Leipzig please send +me soon a couple of copies of the Faust brochure (those numbers +of the journal containing Pohl's articles have not reached me), +and also send me the 2-pianoforte arrangement of the Faust +Symphony (a few copies when convenient). I have as yet received +nothing of the parcel which Kahnt announced as having sent me +with some of my 4-hand things; and as I have fished out here a +very talented young pianist, Sgambati [A pupil of Liszt's, and +now one of the first pianoforte players and composers of Italy; +has been, since 1871, Professor at the Academia Sta. Cecilia in +Rome] by name, who makes a first-rate partner in duets, and who, +for example, plays the Dante Symphony boldly and correctly, it +would be a pleasure to me to be able to go through the whole +cycle of the Symphonic Poems with him. Will you be so good +therefore, dear friend, as to ask Hartel for the whole lot in the +2-pianoforte arrangement (a double copy of each Symphonic Poem, +for with one copy alone I can do nothing, as I myself can only +play the thing from notes!), and also the 4-hand arrangement, +with the exception of the "Festklange," which Hartels have +already sent me? + +Besides these, I expect in the same parcel the Marches which +Schuberth has published (the "Goethe Marsch" and the Duke of +Coburg) and the "Kunstler Festzug" [Artists' procession] (for 4 +hands), which I ordered previously.-- + +The "Legend of St. Elizabeth" is written out to the very last +note of the score; I have now only to finish a part of the piano +arrangement, and the 4-hand arrangement of the Introduction, the +Crusaders' March, and the final procession--which shall be done +by the end of this month at latest. Then I send the whole to +Weimar to be copied, together with a couple of other smaller +manuscripts. What will be its ultimate fate will appear according +as...Meanwhile I will try one or two little excursions into the +country (to Albano, Frascati, Rocca di Papa--and a little farther +still, to the "Macchia serena" near Corneto, where in earlier +times much robbery and violence took place!), and before the end +of September I hope to be able to set steadily to work again, and +to continue my musical deeds of "robbery and murder"! Would that +I only could hear, like you, the Sondershausen orchestra, and +were able to conjure friend Stein and his brave phalanx into the +Colosseum! The locality would assuredly be no less attractive +than the "Loh," [The Sondershausen concerts are, as is well +known, given in the "Lohgarten."] and Berlioz's Harold Symphony, +or Ce que l'on entend sur la montagne [One of Liszt's Symphonic +Poems], would sound there quite "sonderschauslich" [curious] +[Play of words on Sondershausen and "sonderbar" or "sonderlich"]. +I often imagine the orchestra set up there, with the execrated +instruments of percussion in an arcade--our well--wishers Rietz, +Taubert, and other braggarts of criticism close by (or in the +Aquarium!)--the directors of the Deutsche Musik-Verein resting on +the "Pulvinare," and the members all around resting on soft +cushions, and making a show in the reserved seats of the +Subsellia, as senators and ambassadors used to do!-- + +Tell Stein of this idea, and give him my most friendly thanks for +all the intelligent care and pains that he so very kindly gives +to my excommunicated compositions. As regards the performances of +the Sondershausen orchestra I am quite of your opinion, and I +repeat that they are not only not outdone, but are even not often +equalled in their sustained richness, their judicious and liberal +choice of works, as well as in their precision, drilling, and +refinement.--It is only a shame that no suitable concert-hall has +been built in Sondershausen. The orchestra has long deserved such +an attention; should such a thing ever fall to their lot, pray +urge upon Stein to spread out the Podium of the orchestra as far +as possible, and not to submit to the usual limited space, as +they made the mistake of doing in the Gewandhaus, the Odeonsaal +in Munich, etc., etc., and also, alas, in Lowenberg. The concert- +hall of the Paris Conservatoire offers in this respect the right +proportions, and a good part of the effect produced by the +performances there is to be ascribed to this favorable +condition.-- + +According to what I hear Bulow is not disposed to mix himself up +in the preliminaries of the next Tonkunstler-Versammlung. +Accordingly some one else must be entrusted with the afore- +mentioned task in Carlsruhe, although Bulow was the best suited +for it. If you do not care to enter at once into direct +communication with Devrient, Pohl would be the best man to +"pioneer" the way. It would not be any particular trouble to him +to go from Baden to Carlsruhe, and to persuade Devrient to favor +the matter. This is before all else needful, for without +Devrient's co-operation nothing of the sort can be undertaken in +Carlsruhe. If the Tonkunstler-Versammlung takes place not out of +the theater season, then one or more theatrical performances can +be given in conjunction with it, especially of Gluck's Operas; as +also an ultra-classical Oratorio of Handel's might well be given +over to the Carlsruhe Vocal Unions. .--. + +What "astonishing things" are you planning, dear friend? This +word excites my curiosity; but, on the other hand, I share your +superstition to speak only of actions accomplished ("faits +accomplis"). In Schelle you will gain a really valuable +colleague. Has his "History of the Sistine Chapel" come out yet? +If so, please be so good as to send me the book with the other +musical things.-- + +My daughter, Frau von Bulow, writes to me that Wagner's new work +"Die Meistersinger" is a marvel, and amongst other things she +says:-- + +"These 'Meistersinger' are, to Wagner's other conceptions, much +the same as the 'Winter's Tale' is to Shakespeare's other works. +Its phantasy is found in gaiety and drollery, and it has called +up the Nuremberg of the Middle Ages, with its guilds, its poet- +artisans, its pedants, its cavaliers, to draw forth the most +fresh laughter in the midst of the highest, the most ideal, +poetry. Exclusive of its sense and the destination of the work, +one might compare the artistic work of it with that of the +Sacraments-Hauschen of St. Lawrence (at Nuremberg). Equally with +the sculptor, has the composer lighted upon the most graceful, +most fantastic, most pure form,--boldness in perfection; and as +at the bottom of the Sacraments-Hauschen there is Adam Kraft, +holding it up with a grave and collected air, so in the +'Meistersinger' there is Hans Sachs, calm, profound, serene, who +sustains and directs the action," etc. + +This description pleased me so much that, when once I was started +on the subject, I could not help sending you the long quotation. +The Bulows, as you know, are with Wagner at Biebrich--at the end +of this month there is to be a performance of "Lohengrin" at +Frankfort under Wagner's direction. There must not fail to be a +full account of this in the Neue Zeitschrift, and for this I +could recommend my daughter as the best person. The letters in +which she has written to me here and there of musical events in +Berlin and elsewhere are really charming, and full of the finest +understanding and striking wit.-- + +Berlioz was so good as to send me the printed pianoforte edition +of his Opera "Les Troyens." Although for Berlioz's works +pianoforte editions are plainly a deception, yet a cursory +reading through of "Les Troyens" has nevertheless made an +uncommonly powerful impression on me. One cannot deny that there +is enormous power in it, and it certainly is not wanting in +delicacy--I might almost say subtilty--of feeling. + +Pohl will let you know about the performance of Berlioz's comic +Opera "Beatrice and Benedict" in Baden, and I venture to say that +this Opera, which demands but little outside aids, and borrows +its subject from a well-known Shakespeare play, will meet with a +favorable reception. Berlin, or any other of the larger theaters +of Germany, would certainly risk nothing of its reputation by +including an Opera of Berlioz in its repertoire. [This took place +a quarter of a century later.] It is no good to try to excuse +oneself, or to make it a reason, by saying that Paris has +committed a similar sin of omission--for things in which other +people fail we should not imitate. Moreover Paris has been for +years past developing a dramatic activity and initiative which +Germany is far from attaining--and if special, regrettable +personal circumstances prevent Berlioz from performing his works +in Paris, the Germans have nothing to do with that. + +Hoping soon for news of you (even if not about the "astonishing +things"), I remain, dear friend, with faithful devotion, + +F. Liszt + +Rome, August 10th, 1862 Via Felice, 113 + +Who has corrected the proofs of the "Faust Symphony"? Please +impress upon Schuberth not to send out into the world any +unworthy editions of my works. Bulow is so good as to undertake +the final revision, if only Schuberth will take the trouble to +ask him to do so. + + + +8. To Dr. Franz Brendel + +Via Felice, 113 [Rome], August 29th [1862] + +Dear Friend, + +In explanation of the main point of your last letter (which +crossed mine), namely, the question as to where the next +Tonkunstler-Versammlung is to be held, let me add the following +in colloquial form. + +I should not, without further proof, exactly like to consider +Carlsruhe as a town altogether unsuitable for the purpose-- +although Pohl and Bulow are afraid it is, and have various +reasons for assuming it to be so. As regards Bulow, I have +already asked you not to trouble him with any of the preliminary +details. When the time comes, he is certain to do his part--that +is, more than could be expected or demanded of him. Only he must +not be tormented with secondary considerations, not even where, +owing to his position and antecedents, he is best known (for +instance, in Carlsruhe, as already said). His individuality is +such an exceptional one that its singularities must be allowed +scope. Hence let us meanwhile leave him out of the question, he +being what he is, with this reservation--that he undertakes to +conduct the musical performances--as I hope and trust he will +finally arrange to do. But again as to Carlsruhe, I would propose +that unless you have important, positive objections to the place, +you should write to the Grand Duke yourself and beg him in my +name to take the Musik-Verein under his patronage, etc.--The +worst that could happen to me in return would be to receive a +courteously worded refusal; this, it is true, is not a kind of +thing I cultivate as a rule, but as a favor to such an honorable +association I would gladly face the danger, in the hope that it +might prove of some use and advantage. + +Write and tell me, therefore, in what spirit Seifriz has answered +you, and what information Riedel has gathered in Prague. Prague, +for certain (yet rather uncertain?) considerations, is indeed +much to be recommended; only one would need, in some measure, to +have the support of the musical authorities and notabilities of +the place, as well as that of the civic corporation (because of +municipal approbation and human patronage). In short, if the +Tonkunstler-Versammlung were taken up and set in a good light +there by a few active and influential persons, everything else +would be easy to arrange, whereas otherwise all further steps +would be so much trouble thrown away. I cannot altogether agree +with your opinion, dear friend, that "the difficulties would in +no way be greater in Prague than in Leipzig"--you forget that you +yourself, in the capacity of a Leipzig citizen, removed most of +the difficulties by your unswerving perseverance and your +personal influence, whereas in Prague you could act only through +the intervention of others. The question, therefore, is whether +you can confidently reckon upon reliable friends there. + +Until I receive further news from you, it seems to me that +Bulow's idea of preferring Lowenberg to all other places is one +very well worth consideration. Our amiable Prince would certainly +not fail to give his earnest support to the Tonkunstler- +Versammlung, and the small miseries of the little town of +Lowenberg might be put up with or put down, for a few days at all +events. Think this plan over again carefully, and do not look at +Lowenberg through the glasses of our excellent friend Frau von +Bonsart!--Of course a date would have to be fixed when the +orchestra is assembled there, and the whole programme arranged +with Seifriz and drawn up with his friendly co-operation. In my +opinion many things might be possible in Lowenberg that could +scarcely be broached elsewhere; and as, in fact, Bulow conceived +the idea I expressly recommend it you as a means for "paving the +way" to a happy issue.-- + +Together with your last letter I received three of the Faust +essays by Pohl. I shall send him my warm thanks for them by next +post, and shall add, for his bibliographical and statistical +edification, the little remark that Mademoiselle Bertin had an +Italian opera performed in Paris before the Revolution of July, +entitled "Faust" or "Fausto." Before Pohl's articles appear in +pamphlet form I should like to have read them all through--but if +he is in a hurry about them, do not mention this to him; perhaps, +however, if it did not make the pamphlet too thick, it might be +well to include Pohl's essay on the "Dante Symphony" (as it +appeared in Hartel's edition of the score). + +In spite of the unsatisfactory performance of the "Dante +Symphony" in Dresden (partly, moreover, the fault of the bad, +incorrectly written orchestral parts, and my careless +conducting), and without regard to the rapture of the spiritual +substance (a matter which the general public tolerates only when +demanded by the higher authority of tradition, and then +immediately gapes at it upside down!)--in spite, therefore, of +this grievous Dresden performance, which brought me only theone +satisfaction of directly setting to work at some not unessential +improvements, simplifications, and eliminations in the score-- +that had taken hold of me during the rehearsals and the +performance, and which I felt at once, without troubling myself +about the audience present...--Now, what was I about to say, +after all these parentheses and digressions? Yes, I remember +now:--the "Dante Symphony" is a work that does not need to be +ashamed of its title,--and what you tell me of the impression +produced by the "Bergsymphonie" (in Sondershausen) strengthens me +in my presumption. Hence I should be glad to see the preface by +Pohl printed again, and placed at the end of the "Faust" +pamphlet; for, considering what most people are, they require to +read first, before attaining the capacity for learning, +understanding, feeling, and appreciating.-- + +The edition of the "Faust Symphony" (arranged for two +pianofortes) is worthy of all praise, and, in the language of +music-sellers, elegant. The printer has done well in so arranging +the type that a number of lines are brought on to one page and a +number of bars on to every line. Schuberth shall ere long receive +a complimentary note from me, together with a few "proof" +indications for the "Faust Symphony." But, in fact, I have come +across only a few and unimportant errors as yet. + +The publication of Lenau's two "Faust Episodes" (a point Pohl +touches upon in his essay with fine discrimination) Schuberth +might undertake according as he sees fit. I am pretty well +indifferent as to whether the pianoforte arrangement or the score +appears first; only, the two pieces must appear simultaneously, +the "Nachtlicher Zug" as No. 1 and "Mephisto's Walzer" as No. 2. +There is no thematic connection between the two pieces, it is +true; but nevertheless they belong together, owing to the +contrast of ideas. A "Mephisto" of that species could proceed +only from a poodle of that species!--.--. + +With the "Elizabeth" (of which I have now to write only the +pianoforte score, which will take about a fortnight's time) I am +also sending to Weimar the three Psalms in their new definitive +form. It would please me if, some day, a performance of the 13th +Psalm, "How long wilt Thou forget me, O Lord?" could be given. +The tenor part is a very important one;--I have made myself sing +it, and thus had King David's feelings poured into me in flesh +and blood!-- + +It is to be hoped that Schnorr will be kind enough to adapt +himself to the tenor part (the only solo voice in the Psalm, but +which affects everything, and penetrates and sways chorus and +orchestra). Theodor Formes sang the part very well eight years +ago in Berlin; but that performance at Stern's Concert was to me +only a first trial performance!-- + +With notes alone nothing can be accomplished; one thirsts for +soul, spirit, and actual life. Ah! composing is a misery, and the +pitiful children of my Muse appear to me often like foundlings in +a hospital, wandering about only as Nos. so and so!-- + +Please give my best thanks to Schnorr for having so kindly +interested himself in my orphaned "Songs." His better self- +consciousness--the God we carry in our breasts--requite him for +it!--My daughter, Frau von Bulow, writes and tells me marvels +about Schnorr and his wife, and of the performance of "Tristan" +at Wagner's in Biebrich. If only we possessed electric telegraphs +in favor of musical ubiquity! Assuredly I would not make any +misuse of them, and only rarely put myself in correspondence with +the music-mongers; but Tristan and Isolde are my "soul's +longing"! + +The French journals contain nothing but praise and exclamations +of delight at the success of "Benedict and Beatrice," Berlioz's +new opera, which was performed in Baden. Pohl is sure to give you +a full report of it. To judge from his essay, the tenor solo at +the end of the "Faust Symphony" caused less offence in Leipzig +(it was the stumbling-block in the Weimar performance, so much so +that influential and well-disposed friends have urgently advised +me to strike out the solo and chorus and to end the Symphony with +the C major common chord of the orchestra). It was really my +intention at first to have the whole "Chorus mysticus" sung +invisibly--which, however, would be possible only at performances +given in theaters, by having the curtain lowered. Besides which, +I felt doubtful whether the sound would not have thus become too +indistinct... + +However it may be with this and other things, I will not fail to +exercise patience and goodwill--but neither will I make too great +a demand upon yours. Enough, therefore, for today from your +heartily devoted + +F. Liszt + +P.S.--N.B.--With the next sending of music please enclose the +choruses from Schumann's "Manfred" (Songs and pianoforte +accompaniment). I shall probably this autumn be engaged with the +same subject, which, in my opinion, Schumann has not exhausted. + + + +9. To Dr. Franz Brendel + +Dear Friend, + +You will have heard of the grievous shock I received in the +middle of September. [Liszt's eldest daughter, Mme. Blandine +Ollivier, had died.] Shortly afterwards Monsieur Ollivier came to +Rome, and during his stay here, which lasted till the 22nd +October, I could not calculate upon being able to take any +interest in other outward matters. This last week I have had to +spend in bed. Hence my long delay in answering you. + +So far as I understand the position of affairs with regard to the +Tonkunstler-Versammlung, it seems difficult to give any definite +advice. The question here is not one of theoretical, but of +absolutely practical considerations, with regard to which +unfortunately my influence is very limited. In my last letter I +believe I told you that I am prepared, in case you decide upon +Prague, to subscribe my name to the petition addressed to the +Austrian ministry in behalf of state support. At the same time I +intimated to you that my cousin Dr. Eduard Liszt would be the +best one to draw up the said petition (in accordance with a draft +sent to him), and in fact might aid the undertaking with good +advice, and otherwise promote its interests. I, on my side, will +not spare myself any trouble in order to obtain from the Austrian +government a favorable result for the objects of the Tonkunstler- +Versammlung. I cannot, of course, guarantee success beforehand; +still I consider it not impossible, and when the time comes I +will communicate all further details to you. + +In the first place, however, comes the question whether I can +take any personal part in the meeting of the Tonkunstler- +Versammlung in the year '63? [This meeting did not take place in +1863, but in 1864.] And unfortunately this question I am forced +to answer decidedly in the negative. Owing to its being my custom +not to enlighten others by giving an account of my own affairs, I +avoid, even in this case, entering further into particulars. Of +this much you may meanwhile be assured with tolerable certainty: +I have neither the intention nor the inclination to make any +lengthened stay in Germany. Probably, however, during the course +of next summer I may go to Weimar for perhaps a three weeks' +visit to my gracious Master the Grand Duke. From Weimar I should +go to Leipzig, and then return here by way of Trieste or +Marseilles. + +Requests for concert performances of my works under my direction +have been addressed to me from several quarters of late. +Yesterday again I received a letter on this same subject from +London, to which, as in the case of the others, I shall reply +with grateful thanks and excuses.-- + +I am firmly resolved for some length of time to continue working +on here undisturbed, unremittingly and with an object. After +having, as far as I could, solved the greater part of the +"Symphonic" problem set me in Germany, I mean now to undertake +the "Oratorio" problem (together with some other works connected +with this). The "Legend of Saint Elizabeth," which was altogether +finished a couple of months ago, must not remain an isolated +work, and I must see to it that the society it needs is +forthcoming! To other people this anxiety on my part may appear +trifling, useless, at all events thankless, and but little +profitable; to me it is the one object in art which I have to +strive after, and to which I must sacrifice everything else. At +my age (51 years!) it is advisable to remain at home; what there +is to seek, is to be found within oneself, not without; and, let +me add, I am as much wanting in inclination to wander about as I +am in the necessary means for doing so. But enough of my +insignificant self. Let us pass over at once to the subject of +those two brave fellows who, in your opinion, ought to play a +chief part in the next Tonkunstler-Versammlung: Berlioz--and +Wagner. + +To class them together thus seemed strange to me at first, +considering the present state of affairs. And, so far as their +two-headed personality is drawn in, I hold it to be impossible +even. So let us take each apart. + +A) Berlioz. Considering what has occurred, and what has appeared +in print, it strikes me as more than doubtful whether Berlioz +would make up his mind to undertake the musical conductorship of +the Tonkunstler-Versammlung, even though Benazet should come +forward en personne as mediator. Besides which his moral +influence at the Festival and the negotiations would be hindering +and disturbing. Hence let us leave Berlioz in Paris or in Baden- +Baden, and be content in being consistent and in giving him a +proof of our admiration by getting up a performance of one of his +larger works. (Perhaps the "Te Deum?"--if I am not mistaken it +lasts a good hour. For Prague this choice would be appropriate-- +unless the "Requiem" might be preferred. We might even consider +whether the two might not be given together; this would +abundantly fill one concert. Discuss the requisite means, etc., +for giving these, with Riedel.) + +B) Wagner. What am I to say to you of Wagner? Have you had any +talk with him lately in Leipzig? On what terms are you with him +at present?...Ah, it is a pity that we cannot procure a stream of +gold for him, or have some palaces of gold built for him! What +can he do with admiration, enthusiasm, devotion, and all such +non-essential things? + +Nevertheless it is our indebtedness and duty to remain faithful +and devoted to him. The whole German Musik-Verein shall raise up +a brazen wall in his honor!--He is verily worthy of it! + +Hence, dear friend, see what can be arranged with Wagner. Since I +left Berlin we have not corresponded. But I am surprised almost +that I did not receive a line from him after Blandine's death! +.--. + +Au revoir, therefore, dear friend. In Weimar or in Leipzig only +can I tell you what I may be able to accomplish later. I must, +however, most urgently beg to be exempted from undertaking to +direct the German Musik-Verein for the year '63!-- + +With cordial and most friendly greetings, + +Yours sincerely, + +November 8th [1862] + +F. Liszt + +P.S.--Best thanks for your Sondershausen essays. + + + +10. To A. W. Gottschalg + +Dear Friend, + +Your kind letter reached me on October 22nd, and this day, which +could not pass without sorrow, has this year been brightened by +many loving and solemn remembrances. Accept my thanks, and +present my best remembrances to all those whose names you +mention, and who have so kindly thought of me. Unfortunately +there is no prospect of my soon being able to celebrate the 22nd +October with Weimar friends; but I may tell you that I intend +paying H.R.H. the Grand Duke a visit during the course of the +summer. And we two shall then also have a bright and happy day in +Tieffurt--and look through a couple of new Organ pieces together. +Grosse must not fail to be there likewise, nor his trombone box, +which I have specially had in my mind ever since the journey to +Paris. [Grosse took his instrument with him on the journey, in +order that it might be at hand in case Liszt should want it.] +Meanwhile, however, tell dear, good Grosse not to be vexed about +the delay in connection with the promised despatch of his +"Sonntags-Posaunenstuck." [Sunday piece for trombone.] It is long +since finished, also some three or four Organ pieces, which, dear +friend, I wrote for you last spring. But the postal arrangements +are so little safe, under present circumstances, that I do not +care to send manuscripts by this means. In despatching parcels to +Vienna or Paris I could, of course, make use of the courtesy of +the embassies; but it is more difficult with Weimar...and so the +parcel with the "Legend of Saint Elizabeth," the three Psalms +instrumented (and essentially remodelled), several Pianoforte and +Organ pieces, together with Grosse's "Sunday-piece," must remain +in my box till some perfectly reliable opportunity presents +itself. If the worst comes to the worst I shall bring the whole +lot myself. + +The Schneider-Organ-Album, and the one to appear later--the +Arnstadter-Bach-Organ-Album (which is to contain the magnificent +fugal subject from Bach's Cantata that I arranged for the Organ-- +and not without difficulty), I beg you to keep in your library +till my return. + +I am very unpleasantly affected by the hyper-mercantile +craftiness of one of my publishers whom you mention in your +letter. It would truly be unjust if you were not to receive the +usual discount, and indeed an exceptional amount, when purchasing +the "Faust Symphony." But who would ever succeed in washing a +negro white? And, in addition, one has generally to put up with +the inky blackness of his bills!--I could tell many a tale of +such doings, and indeed of persons who are afterwards not ashamed +to talk braggingly of their friendship for me! "O friends, not +these tones, rather let us strike up pleasanter ones," sings +Beethoven. + +The "Elizabeth," it is to be hoped, contains something of the +sort. At least, as far as possible, I have labored carefully at +the work, and, so to say, lived it through for more than a year. +In No. 3 of the score--the "Crusaders"--you will come across the +old pilgrim song from the days of the Crusades which you had the +kindness to communicate to me. It has rendered me good service +for the second subject of the "Crusaders' March." In the +concluding notice of the score I acknowledge my thanks to you for +it and give the whole song from your copy. + +Among the pleasant bits of news (exceptions to the rule!) which +reach me from our quarters is that about the improvement of your +pecuniary position, which is probably accompanied by your +appointment as teacher at the newly established Seminary classes. +In the way of merit you lack nothing, and nothing in zeal and +energetic perseverance. Let me hope, dear friend, that you may +more and more meet with your due reward! + +With kindest greetings, + +F. Liszt + +Rome, November 15th, 1862 + + + +11. To Eduard Liszt + +Dearest Eduard, + +The feeling of our double relationship is to me always an +elevating and comforting one. Truly you abide with me, as I do +with you--cum sanguine, corde et mente. + +Accept my thanks for your kind lines, and excuse my not having +written to you long ago. I might indeed have told you many a +thing of more or less interest; but all seemed to me tiresome and +insufficient in writing to you. I needed more than ever, and +above all things, ample time to compose myself, to gather my +thoughts, and to bestir myself. During the first year of my stay +here I secured this. It is to be hoped that you would not be +dissatisfied with the state of mind which my 50th year brought +me; at all events I feel it to be in perfect harmony with the +better, higher aspirations of my childhood, where heaven lies so +near the soul of every one of us and illuminates it! I may also +say that, owing to my possessing a more definite and clearer +consciousness, a state of greater peacefulness has come over me. + +Blandine has her place in my heart beside Daniel. Both abide with +me bringing atonement and purification, mediators with the cry of +"Sursum corda!"--When the day comes for Death to approach, he +shall not find me unprepared or faint-hearted. Our faith hopes +for and awaits the deliverance to which it leads us. Yet as long +as we are upon earth we must attend to our daily task. And mine +shall not lie unproductive. However trifling it may seem to +others, to me it is indispensable. My soul's tears must, as it +were, have lacrymatoria made for them; I must set fires alight +for those of my dear ones that are alive, and keep my dear dead +in spiritual and corporeal urns. This is the aim and object of +the Art task to me. + +Yon know that I have finished the "Legend of Saint Elizabeth" +(200 pages of score--2 and 1/2 hours' duration in performance). +In addition to this some other compositions have been produced, +such as: the "SunCanticus ("Cantico del Sole") of Saint +Franciscus"--an instrumental Evocatio in the Sistine Chapel-two +Psalms, etc. I trust you may again find us in these, in mind and +feeling. + +I am now about to set myself the great task of an Oratorio on +Christ. By the 22nd October, '63, I hope to have solved the +difficulty as far as my weakness and strength will permit. + +As you see, dearest Eduard, it is impossible to get out of my +head the idea of writing notes. [Notenkopfe] In spite of all good +precepts and friendly counsellors (who mean it much better by me +than I can ever understand!) I go so far as to maintain that for +several years past and in many yet to come I have not done and +shall not do anything more ingenuous than cheerfully to go on +composing. And what more harmless occupation could there be? +especially as I never force my little works upon any one, nay, +have frequently begged persons to refrain from giving certain too +unconscientious [Play on words "gewissen" and "ungewissenhaft"] +renderings of them,--and that I ask for no further appreciation +or approval than can, in fact, be granted according to taste and +disposition. + +From Pest I have lately received through Baron Pronay, in the +name of the Council of the Conservatoire, an invitation to +establish my domicile there, and to promote the interests of +Hungarian music. Probably you will hear of my excusatory reply. + +Between ourselves, and frankly said in plain German, it would be +of no advantage to me again to take up any outward musical +activity (such as my conductorship in Weimar which came to an end +a few years ago, and after September 1861 became a locked door to +me through my Chamberlain's key). But possibly I may later find a +fitting opportunity for composing something for Hungary. After +the precedent of the "Gran Mass" I might, for instance, on some +extraordinary occasion, be entrusted, say, with a "Te Deum" or +something of the kind. I would gladly do my best, and only on +some such terms could I regard my return to Hungary as becoming. + +Meanwhile remains quietly in Rome, honestly striving to do his +duty as a Christian and an artist, + +Thine from his heart, + +F. Liszt + +Rome, November 19th (St. Elizabeth's Day), 1862 + + + +12. To Dr. Franz Brendel + +Dear Friend, + +The difficulties and troubles of the musical situation of which +you speak in your last letter but one, I can, unfortunately, only +too well understand. No one is better acquainted with such +matters than I am, and hence no one is better able to appreciate +and recognise the value of your unselfish, persevering work and +efforts, which also show you so sincere in your convictions. And +one of the dark sides in my present position, dear friend, is +that I can be of so little use to you, that I am compelled to +remain in a state of passivity and forbearance that does not at +all agree with me. However, you may rely upon my readiness to +render any assistance wherever I may still be able to help.--In +accordance with your wish I shall take an early opportunity of +writing to Prince H[ohenzollern] concerning the Tonkunstler- +Verein. It is to be hoped that our amiable, noble-minded patron +will show himself no less disposed in our favor than he has done +on former occasions. And you, on your part, do not fail to +discuss with Seifriz by letter the points and modals of the +support expected. It is a pity that Bulow's proposal to hold the +next meeting of the T.K. Verein in Lowenberg has not proved +feasible. Were it likely to be broached again I should not make +any objections to it, because, in fact, the place seems to be +precisely a favorable centre at present. But, as already said, it +is not my place to express any definite opinion on the subject, +and I am entirely satisfied in leaving all that has to be done to +your judgment and foresight. + +I am delighted to hear of Bulow's extraordinary success in +Leipzig, and still more so to hear of your renewed and intimate +relations with him. He is the born prototype of progress, and +noble-minded to a degree! Without his active co-operation as +director and standard-bearer a Tonkunstler-Versammlung at the +present time would at least be an anachronism. + +From Wagner I lately received a letter in which he informed me of +a performance of his "Tristan" in Vienna towards the end of +January. Afterwards he intends arranging some concerts in Berlin- +-and, it seems, in St. Petersburg also. My endeavors to secure +him comfortable quarters in Weimar seem for the time being to be +useless, because of his dislike to an insignificant appointment, +and the adverse circumstances of life in a small town. Certainly +his project of drawing annually 3,000 thalers (*450 British +pounds sterling*), by some agreement between the Grand Dukes of +Weimar and Baden, is much more to the point. The question is only +whether their Highnesses will consent to it? .--. + +With heartiest greetings, most sincerely yours, + +F. Liszt + +December 30th, 1862 + + + +13. To Breitkopf and Hartel + +Dear Herr Doctor, + +The four scores of the Beethoven Symphonies, of which you advised +me in your friendly letter, reached me yesterday. My eyes are +meanwhile revelling and delighting in all the glories of the +splendid edition, and after Easter I shall set to work. Nothing +shall be wanting on my part, in the way of goodwill and industry, +to fulfil your commission to the best of my power. A pianoforte +arrangement of these creations must, indeed, expect to remain a +very poor and far-off approximation. How instil into the +transitory hammers of the Piano breath and soul, resonance and +power, fulness and inspiration, color and accent?--However I +will, at least, endeavor to overcome the worst difficulties and +to furnish the pianoforte-playing world with as faithful as +possible an illustration of Beethoven's genius. + +And I must ask you, dear Herr Doctor, in order that the statement +on all the title pages--"critically revised edition"--may be +complied with, to send me--together with your new edition of the +scores of the "Pastoral," the C minor, and A major Symphonies--a +copy of my own transcriptions of them. Probably I may alter, +simplify, and correct passages--and add some fingerings. The more +intimately acquainted one becomes with Beethoven, the more one +clings to certain singularities and finds that even insignificant +details are not without their value. Mendelssohn, at whose +recommendation you formerly published my pianoforte scores of the +"Pastoral" and C minor Symphonies, took great delight in these +minutiae and niceties!-- + +With regard to the agreement about the A major Symphony I mean +shortly to write to Carl Haslinger, and expect that he will be +quite willing to meet my wish. [A pianoforte transcription of +this Symphony by Liszt had been published by Haslinger.] + +With grateful thanks, dear Herr Doctor, I remain yours in +readiness and sincerity, + +F. Liszt + +Rome, March 26th, 1863 + +P.S.--The four Symphonies shall be finished before the end of +summer and sent to Leipzig. If you are satisfied with my work +would you entrust the arrangement of the Overtures to me when I +have finished the Symphonies--provided, of course, that you have +not made any agreement with any one else? + + + +14. To A. W. Gottschalg in Weimar + +Dear Friend, + +This year my name-day fell in the middle of Easter week, on +Maundy Thursday. Your hearty letter again brought what to me is +the pleasantest news in the world. Thank you for it, and let +those know of it who share your sincere, friendly, and faithful +sentiments! First let me mention Carl Gotze, [A chorister in +Weimar (a favorite copyist of the Master's) became a musical +conductor in Magdeburg and died in 1886.] whose kindly words I +should so gladly like to answer in accordance with his wish, and +then my dear Kammer-virtuoso, Grosse. Grosses trombone no doubt +officiated brilliantly at Bulow's concert and at the performance +of Berlioz's opera! An echo of the former reached me, thanks to +your inspired notice in Brendel's paper, where I accidentally +came across a little remark which you had addressed to one of the +most estimable and graceful of German lady-singers anent my +little-heeded songs. I certainly cannot find fault with you for +showing some interest in the songs and for thus frankly +expressing your opinion. On the contrary, your sympathetic +appreciation is always welcome, amid the direct and indirect +disparagement which falls to my lot. Unfortunately, however, I +must make up my mind that only by way of an exception can I +expect to find friends for my compositions. The blame is mine; +why should one presume to feel independently, and set the +comfortable complacency of other folks at defiance?--Everything +that I have written for several years past shows something of a +pristine delinquency which is as little to be pardoned as I am +unable to alter it. This fault, it is true, is the life-nerve of +my compositions, which, in fact, can only be what they are and +nothing else.-- + +In the Psalms I have made some important alterations, and shall +shortly send Kahnt the manuscript. A few passages (especially the +verse "Sing us one of the songs of Zion") which had always +appeared awkward to me in the earlier version, I have now managed +to improve. At least they now pretty well satisfy my soul's ear. + +The "Christus" Oratorio is progressing but slowly, owing to the +many interruptions which I have to put up with this winter. It is +to be hoped I may obtain some entire months of work during the +summer. I thirst for it. + +Of the musical undertakings here you will learn the more +noteworthy events from a paper I sent to Brendel last week. +Further and fuller news about myself is meanwhile uncertain. +Probably I shall in the end not find myself able to do anything +better than to put my whole story in the musical notes that I am +incessantly writing down, but which need not either be printed or +heard. + +However that may be, I remain, dear friend, in sincere affection, +yours gratefully and in all friendship, + +F. Liszt + +Rome, April 14th, 1863 + +P.S.--The Bach-Album and other music which you say you had to +send me (e.g., your arrangement of the Dante fugue if it has been +printed) please let me have through Kahnt. Enclose also a copy of +the Ave Maria for Organ. + +[Figure: Musical Score Excerpt] + + + +15. To Dr. Franz Brendel + +Dear friend, + +The last months brought so many interruptions in my work that I +still feel quite vexed about it. Easter week I had determined +should, at last, see me regularly at work again; but a variety of +duties and engagements have prevented my accomplishing this. I +must, therefore, to be true to myself and carry out my former +intention, shut myself up entirely. To find myself in a net of +social civilities is vexatious to me; my mental activity requires +absolutely to be free, without which I cannot accomplish +anything. + +How things will turn out later about my proposed journey to +Germany I do not yet know. Probably my weary bones will be buried +in Rome. Till then their immovability will serve you better than +my wandering about on railways and steamboats. On the other hand, +there is but little for me to do in Germany. War is at the door; +drums and cannon will come to the fore; God protect the faith of +heroes and give victory to the righteous among humanity! .--. + +Where is Wagner, and what about the performances of "Tristan", +the "Nibelungen", and the "Meistersinger" in Weimar or elsewhere? +Tell me of this. I have not written to Weimar for long, and have +also not had any news from there. My only German correspondent +(Frau von Bulow) is suffering from some eye-trouble, which has +interrupted our exchange of letters...so I am absolutely ignorant +of what is going on. The February numbers of the "Neue +Zeitschrft" are the last I have received. Your articles on +Criticism are excellent, and, indeed, nothing else was to be +expected. Give Louis Kohler my most friendly thanks for his kind +perseverance in "paving the way for my scores to receive more +kindly appreciation." The more thankless the task the more +heartily grateful do I feel to my friends. + +Most sincerely yours, + +F. Liszt + +Rome, May 8th, 1863 + + + +16. To Eduard Liszt + +Dearest Eduard, + +Weariness or something of the sort carried my thoughts back to my +"Berceuse." Various other "Berceuses" rose up in my dreams. Do +you care to join my dreams? It shall not cost you any trouble; +without touching the keyboard yourself, you will only need to +rock yourself in the sentiments that hover over them. A really +amiable and variously gifted lady will see to this. She plays the +little piece delightfully, and has promised me to let it exercise +its charms upon you. I shall, therefore, ere long send you a copy +of the new version of the "Berceuse" addressed "to the Princess +Marcelline Czartoryska, Klostergasse 4." [A pupil of Chopin's] +Wend yourway thither--and, in case you do not find the Princess +at home, leave the manuscript with your card. I have already told +her of your contemplated visit, and have spoken of you as my +heart's kinsman and friend. You will find the Princess Cz. +possessed of a rare and fine understanding, the most charming +figure in society, and a kindly and enthusiastic worshipper of +Mozart, Beethoven, and Chopin, and, above all this, the +illuminating faith of the Catholic Church reflected in Polish +blood. + +"Patria in Religione et Religio in patria" might be the motto of +Poland. God protect the oppressed! + +One other commission for the Princess Cz. please undertake for +me. During her residence here she on several occasions expressed +the wish to become acquainted with some of my compositions (to +which, whether intentionally or not, she had hitherto not paid +much attention). I played with her my arrangement of the +Symphonic Poems for 2 pianofortes--the "Heroide funebre," +"Tasso," and the "Preludes"--which she received with kindly and +courteous tolerance. Without desiring more--for ample experience +has taught me that my compositions more readily rouse +estrangement than attraction--I should, nevertheless, like the +musical threads of our pleasant relations not to be entirely +dropped, and wish therefore to present her, first of all, with +various pieces of music by way of making amends. In the badly +stocked music shops of Rome I could not find anything suited to +her talent, and promised to ask your help in the matter. I beg +you, therefore, dearest Eduard, to get the following works simply +and neatly bound in one volume (in the following order), and to +present them soon to the Princess Cz.:-- + +1. "Glanes de Woronice" (Leipzig, Kistner). +2. "Melodies de Chopin", transcrites par Liszt (Berlin, +Schlesinger). +3. "Mazurka" (Senff, Leipzig). +4. "2 Polonaises" (idem). +5. "2 Ballades" (1 and 2. Kistner, Leipzig.) +6. "Consolations" (Hartel, Leipzig). + +If the volume is not too thick with the above you might add the +"Valse melancolique" and "Romanesca" (second edition of +Haslinger). Of course let all this, contents and binding, be put +down to my account, and given to the Princess-artist as a present +from me. If the pieces cannot be procured in Vienna, order them +speedily from Leipzig through Haslinger or Spina. + +A propos of Spina: has the arrangement for 2 pianofortes of my +orchestral setting of Schubert's magnificent C major "Fantasia" +not yet been published? This delay, or, more properly, this +remissness, is by no means a pleasant matter to me. With all my +heart, thine, + +F. Liszt + +Rome, May 22nd, 1863 + + + +17. To Dr. Franz Brendel + +Dear Friend, + +I had to remain in bed all last week--and am still pretty weak on +my legs. But there is nothing further wrong: my head is free +again; the rest can be imagined. The day after tomorrow I quit my +rooms in the Via Felice and move to Monte Mario (an hour's +distance from the city). Father Theimer is kind enough to allow +me to occupy his apartments in the almost uninhabited house of +the Oratorian. The view is indescribably grand. I mean now, at +last, to try and lead a natural kind of life. I hope I may +succeed in approaching more closely to my monastico-artistic +ideal...Meanwhile you may laugh at me about it. In my next letter +I will tell you where to address me. + +Pastor Landmesser will bring you further news about me to +Leipzig, before the end of July, on his way back to Dantzig. I +shall get him to take you the manuscript of the Psalms (of which +I spoke to you). They are now ready for publication, and will not +disgrace Kahnt's house of business. + +The corrected copy of the Faust Symphony, too, I will send you by +this opportunity, for Schuberth. + +With regard to performances of my works generally, my disposition +and inclination are more than ever completely in the negative. My +friends, and you more especially, dearest friend, have done their +part in this respect fully and in the kindest manner. It seems to +me now high time that I should be somewhat forgotten, or, at +least, placed very much in the background. My name has been too +frequently spoken of; many have taken umbrage at this, and been +uselessly annoyed at it. While "paving the way for a better +appreciation," it might be advisable to regard my things as a +reserve corps, and to introduce new works by other composers. + +This will sufficiently intimate that the "Legend of St. +Elizabeth" may quietly go on slumbering in my paper-box. As may +also the work upon which I am now engaged, and which to my regret +is making but very slow progress, owing to the many interruptions +which perpetually plague me. + +Should any one of the programmes be filled with one of my +compositions, it would be best to select one of those already +published, in order that, at all events, the publisher's approval +may, in some measure, be held up to view. + +In my opinion you have made a good choice in Porges. The young +man is reliable, intelligent, and capable of inspiration, and +what he may still lack in skilfulness he will easily acquire. The +essential point in a task of this kind is a modest, honest, and +not too dry effort. What I have heard and know of Porges makes me +feel assured that he will best fulfil the various demands made by +the editorial office. + +What is one to think of the marvels which Pohl has brought back +from Lowenberg? I haven't sufficient imagination to form any +clear idea about them from the preliminary hints you communicated +to me. Let me have a fuller report, therefore, if you think that, +under certain conditions, I should mix myself up with the matter. +And also tell me frankly, without periphrase, what the Musik- +Verein wishes and expects from the patronage of the Grand Duke of +Weimar?--One ought not to shoot about at random with Royal +Highnesses! It would only lead to a vexatious loss of powder. + +How is Kap[ellmeister] Wehner? Is he still in his King's good +graces? [He was in the service of the King of Hanover; and is +long since dead.] Kapellmeister Bernhard Scholz was here last +month--but he did not honor me with a visit. + +Today's post has brought me some very friendly lines from my +worthy precentor Gottschalg in Tieffurt. He tells me of a concert +in Denstedt, where several pieces of mine were performed--among +others one of the Psalms (which I shall shortly send to Kahnt by +Landmesser, an essentially improved version); they were sung by +Fraulein Genast. This lady, so Gottschalg writes, is to be +married today. Do you know to whom? I am so entirely cut off from +all my Weimar connection that I had not heard anything about +this. But as I still retain a very friendly recollection of this +excellent lady-exponent of my songs, I beg you, dear friend, to +let me have her new name and to tell me whether her husband +resides in Weimar or elsewhere. + +I am perfectly satisfied with my new abode at Monte Mario.-- +Pastor Landmesser will give you a description of it--and perhaps +I may find a photograph of the place--if not I shall order one +for you later. + +Your sincerely devoted + +F. Liszt + +Rome, June 18th, 1863 + + + +18. To Dr. Franz Brendel + +Dear Friend, + +You will receive these lines in the lovely Sondershausen Park. +One gladly accustoms oneself to the place, and the admirable +performances of the Loh-concerts--I derive the word from "Lohe" +[flame]--give the atmosphere a certain spiritual stimulus. My +friendly greetings to Stein--and present my warm thanks to the +courageous orchestra, which has not been scandalised by the +"Symphonic Poems"! . . . + +The parcel from Kahnt reached me safely a few days after your +letter (of 26th June). Mililotti [Director of the Classical Music +Association in Rome; he had requested Professor Riedel to send +him the programmes of his concerts.] intends writing to Riedel to +thank him for his kindness in forwarding his programmes. When +Mililotti's concerts prove more of a success he may, by way of a +return, send his Roman programmes to Leipzig. But at present the +musical doings here are of but small interest to other countries. + +By sending me the score edition of "Mignon" and "Loreley" Kahnt +has given me peculiar pleasure. It seems to me correct, and I am +foolish enough to find the instrumentation pretty. By the way, +other instrumental settings occur to me: those of several of +Schubert's songs ("Erlking," "Gretchen," "The Young Nun," and a +few others) that I wrote for Fraulein Genast. They are not mere +manufactured arrangements, and might not altogether displease +musicians of fine feeling. The manuscript of the scores was left +with Seifriz in Lowenberg. If any publisher should feel inclined +to accept them they are at his disposal. .--. + +In answer to an important point in your letter, I quite agree +about presenting the Grand Duke of Weimar with a Report +describing the object and aims of the Allgemeine Deutsche Musik- +Verein. And on this occasion H.R.H. should be respectfully and +graciously invited to address an appeal to his illustrious +relatives to take some interest in the progress and success of +the Association; in plain language, to strengthen his +protectorship by letters of recommendation, or in some other way. +In presenting the Report (which might most appropriately be +undertaken by Pohl and Regierungsrath Muller) the Grand Duke or +His Excellency Count Beust might be addressed directly by word of +mouth, and be distinctly given to understand the desirability of +obtaining the sympathy of the Grand Duchess, the Queen of +Prussia, the King of Holland, T.R.H. the Grand Duchesses Helene +and Marie (of Russia), the Grand Duke Peter of Oldenburg (in St. +Petersburg), the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Baden, the +Hereditary Prince of Meiningen, the Dukes of Altenburg and +Coburg, etc. I give these names because, owing to their near +relationship with the Grand Duke and their own personal fondness +for music, they should stand first as patrons and supporters of +the Allgemeine Deutsche Musik-Verein. + +Gladly would I have undertaken the duties of diplomatist to the +Association in Weimar, and endeavored to obtain the Grand Duke's +active intervention...But at this distance I cannot, for the time +being, accomplish anything. My gracious Master has no leisure for +lectures on artistic subjects that I might concoct in the Eternal +City; and if I tried to enlighten him in any such way his first +and only word in reply would be "Why does not Liszt come back, in +place of writing such allotria?" [Observations beside the mark.]- +-A short time ago I received from him a very kind, monitory +letter, calling upon me to return to Weimar for the Kunstler- +Versammlung in August. .--. I would advise you to make use of +your stay at Sondershausen by getting an introduction to the +Prince, and by obtaining his support as regards the Musik-Verein. +Discuss this matter with Stein, for he is best able to attend to +it. Possibly a larger performance in the Loh might be got up for +the benefit of the Association. .--. + +This letter is so filled up with Royal Highnesses, Majesties, and +illustrious personages, that it offers me a natural transition to +tell you of an extraordinary, nay, incomparable honor I received +last Saturday evening, the 11th of July. His Holiness Pope Pius +IX. visited the Church of the Madonna del Rosario, and hallowed +my apartments with his presence. After having given His Holiness +a small proof of my skill on the harmonium and on my work-a-day +pianino, he addressed a few very significant words to me in the +most gracious manner possible, admonishing me to strive after +heavenly things in things earthly, and by means of my harmonies +that reverberated and then passed away to prepare myself for +those harmonies that would reverberate everlastingly.--His +Holiness remained a short half-hour; Monsign. de Merode and +Hohenlohe were among his suite--and the day before yesterday I +was granted an audience in the Vatican (the first since I came +here), and the Pope presented me with a beautiful cameo of the +Madonna.-- + +I must add one other princely personage to this letter, and with +this I am obliged to close. A visit at this very moment is +announced from the Principe della Rocca, who has driven up with +his photographic apparatus. You shall, therefore, ere long have a +little picture of the Madonna del Rosario which, since the Pope's +visit here, has been the talk of Rome. + +A thousand hearty greetings. + +F. L. + +July 18th, 1863 + + + +19. To Breitkopf and Hartel. + +Rome, August 28th, 1863 + +My Dear Sir, + +The work that you were good enough to entrust to me is almost +finished, and by the same post you will receive the Piano score +of 8 Symphonies of Beethoven, whilst awaiting the 9th, which I +propose to send you with the proofs of the preceding ones. Nos. +1, 2, 3, 4, and 8 are bound in one volume; there is only the +"Funeral March" from the "Eroica Symphony" wanting, which is +published in the Beethoven-Album by Mechetti, Vienna. I shall +require to see this arrangement again (which you will oblige me +by sending with the next proofs), for probably I shall make +numerous corrections and modifications in it, as I have done in +the Symphonies in C minor, in A, and the "Pastoral," which were +edited some twenty years ago. The copies of these are returned to +you today with a great many alterations, errata and addenda, +inasmuch as--in order to satisfy my own criticism--I have been +obliged to apply to them the torture of red pencil and gum, and +to submit them to a very considerable alteration. + +Whilst initiating myself further in the genius of Beethoven, I +trust I have also made some little progress in the manner of +adapting his inspirations to the piano, as far as this instrument +admits of it; and I have tried not to neglect to take into +account the relative facility of execution while maintaining an +exact fidelity to the original. Such as this arrangement of +Beethoven's Symphonies actually is, the pupils of the first class +in the Conservatoires will be able to play them off fairly well +on reading them at sight, save and except that they will succeed +better in them by working at them, which is always advisable. +What study is deserving of more care and assiduity than that of +these chefs d'oeuvre? The more one gives oneself to them the more +one will profit by them, firstly in relation to the sense and +aesthetic intelligence, and then also in relation to the +technical skill and the attaining of perfection in virtuosity--of +which one should only despise the bad use that is sometimes made. + +By the title of Pianoforte score (which must be kept, and +translated into German by Clavier-Partitur or Pianoforte- +Partitur?) I wish to indicate my intention of associating the +spirit of the performer with the orchestral effects, and to +render apparent, in the narrow limits of the piano, sonorous +sounds and different nuances. With this in view I have frequently +noted down the names of the instruments: oboe, clarinet, kettle- +drums, etc., as well as the contrasts of strings and wind +instruments. It would certainly be highly ridiculous to pretend +that these designations suffice to transplant the magic of the +orchestra to the piano; nevertheless I don't consider them +superfluous. Apart from some little use they have as instruction, +pianists of some intelligence may make them a help in +accentuating and grouping the subjects, bringing out the chief +ones, keeping the secondary ones in the background, and--in a +word--regulating themselves by the standard of the orchestra. + +In order to be perfectly satisfied with regard to my work allow +me, my dear sir, to beg you to let Mr. Ferdinand David and +Monsieur Moscheles see it before it is printed. The minute +familiarity they have acquired with the Symphonies of Beethoven +will show them in a moment any errors, oversights, faults and +misdeeds of which I, very unwittingly, may have been guilty. Will +you please assure them that any information from them in these +respects will be most valuable to me, and that I shall not fail +to profit by it for the honor of your edition. In particular I +should like to know from Mr. David whether the N.B. placed on +page 78 of the manuscript (Finale of the 8th Symphony--"the +execution of the principal figure, etc.") is authorised,--and I +should be very grateful to him for any other particulars he is +kind enough to give me. As to Mr. Moscheles, I hope he will not +disapprove of my having followed his example in putting a profuse +fingering for the greater ease of the mass of performers; but +perhaps he would be so kind as to suggest a better fingering +himself, and to let me know his observations upon such and such +an artifice of "piano arrangement" of which he is a consummate +master. There is only one point on which I would venture even to +an act of rebellion--it is that of the pedals, a bass [base] +passion of which I cannot correct myself, no matter how annoying +the reproaches it may draw upon me!--["Even if one may +presuppose," he writes on another occasion (27th August, 1861) to +Breitkopf and Hartel, "a correct use of the pedal on the part of +piano-players, I am nevertheless, through manifold unpleasant +experiences to my ears, brought back to giving the most minute +indications of it."] + +If, as I venture to flatter myself, my arrangement of the +Symphonies satisfies you, I should be tempted to propose to you, +for next year, a similar work on the Quartets, those magnificent +jewels in Beethoven's crown which the piano-playing public has +not yet appropriated in a measure suitable to its musical +culture. + +But I really fear to exhaust your patience by giving you proofs +of mine...consider therefore this project of the Quartets as not +having been proposed if it seems to you inopportune, and pray +accept, my dear sir, the expression of my very sincere and +devoted sentiments. + +F. Liszt + +(Monte Mario, Madonna del Rosario) + +P.S.--As it has been impossible for me to hunt out here a copyist +who will fulfil the conditions that may reasonably be exacted +(the one whom I employed pretty much last year divides his time +between the prison and the public-house!), I am compelled to send +you the manuscript such as it is, with many apologies for its +badly written appearance. To make a fair copy of it someone with +plenty of experience is needed; and I can safely recommend you +such an one in Mr. Carl Gotze ("Member or Vice-director of the +theater chorus") at Weimar. He is accustomed of old to my +writing, and would make the copy of the Symphonies with +intelligence and care. + +N.B.--A copy of the Orchestral Score of the Symphonies will be a +great help to the work of the copyist of my manuscript, for +exactness in nuances, division of parts and indication of the +instruments. + +In any case it will be necessary for me to revise the final +proofs. .--. + +Let me add, in conclusion, that I shall be glad to receive, with +the proofs or even sooner, a copy of my "Etudes d'execution +transcendante," and also those "d'apres Paganini" (Breitkopf and +Hartel edition), which I have promised to give to an excellent +pianist here, Mr. Sgambati, who is most capable of playing them +well in public;--and, besides these, a copy of my "Ave Maria" +(for chorus with Organ accompaniment) which is shortly to be +performed here. + + + +20. To Dr. Franz Brendel + +Dear Friend, + +This morning I sent off manuscripts and corrections to Hartel and +Schuberth--and thus had to write the word Leipzig several times. +It struck me as a reproach as regards yourself, and I mean +forthwith to get rid of it. You shall not hear of me through +others without having the trouble of reading my own bad +handwriting yourself. I have not, however, anything very special +to relate. The summer has passed quietly and I have not wandered +abroad much; have, in fact, been pretty constantly sitting at my +work. My abode continues to suit me more and more, so I intend to +spend the winter here. You no doubt received with my last letter +the photograph of the "Madonna del Rosario." Unfortunately I +cannot send you a picture of the grand, truly sublime view that +can be enjoyed from every window. So you must imagine it to +embrace all Rome, the wondrous Canmpagna, and all the past and +present glories of the district. + +For some time past I have had no other news of you than your +excellent articles on "artistic individuality," etc., in which, +among many other right and fine observations, I was specially +pleased with the axiom: "The artistic temperament, when genuine, +corrects itself in consequence of the change of contrasts." May +it prove so in my case;--this much is certain,--that in the +tiresome business of self-correction few have to labor as I have, +as the process of my mental development, if not checked, is at +all events rendered peculiarly difficult by a variety of +coincidences and contingencies. A clever man, some twenty years +ago, made the not inapplicable remark to me: "You have in reality +three individuals to deal with in yourself, and they all run one +against the other; the sociable salon-individual, the virtuoso +and the thoughtfully-creative composer. If you manage one of them +properly, you may congratulate yourself."--Vedremo! [We shall +see!] + +Weitzmann's "Carnival in Rome towards the Middle of the +Seventeenth Century," I read with great pleasure in the "Neue +Zeitschrift." It is a pleasant, lively sketch, spiced with +learning but without pedantic lead. Did a very remarkable +"History of the Pianoforte," etc., by the same author, appear in +your paper? Frau von Bulow wrote to me lately that Hans is busy +with some essays for the N. Z. Probably he is writing a review of +Weitzmann's "History of the Pianoforte," which would be most +appropriate; if this is not the case I would advise you to get +one of your staff to undertake the work and to give several +quotations from it. The confounded pianoforte has its +unmistakable significance, were it only because of the general +abuse to which it is put!--In honor of Hartel's edition of +Beethoven I have been occupying myself again with studies and +experiments in pianoforte pieces. The arrangements of the 8 +Beethoven Symphonies which I am about to send to Leipzig are, I +trust, successful. They cost me more trouble, in attempts of +various sorts, in corrections, eliminations and additions, than I +had anticipated. As we grow old we deliberate more and are less +readily satisfied... + +To Schuberth I have sent the corrections of the 2-pianoforte +arrangement of the "Faust Symphony," together with a pretty, +tuneful arrangement of the "Preludes" by Herr Klauser (of New +York), and was thus induced to play the hackneyed piece through +again, to touch up the closing movement and give it new +figuration. In the hands of a skilful player it will prove +brilliantly effective. + +But enough of all this pianoforte stuff! I feel forced to set to +work again in blackening score-sheets--and first of all the +"Christus Oratorio" shall be proceeded with.--Write and tell me +whether Kahnt is publishing the two Psalms which Pastor +Landmesser took him, and advise him to request Herr von Bulow to +revise the last proofs. There is nothing more vexatious to me +than careless editions, full of errors, such as Schuberth would +like to have if one gave free reins to his good nature! From the +Committee of the Association for the Completion of Cologne +Cathedral I have received an invitation to the Festival arranged +for the 14th and 15th October. The letter reminds me, in the most +courteous terms, that in the year '42 I had the honor of being a +member of the Council. I had not forgotten this peculiar +distinction; but the worthy gentlemen seem absolutely not to have +considered how my activity could now appropriately be of service, +and they wisely guard against mentioning any of my ecclesiastical +compositions, although it might have occurred to them that I +could manage something in that species of music. However, the +worthy Committee find the old story of the "period of my +brilliancy," and the "bewitching strains I drew from the keys," +etc., more voluble and convenient. Besides which some small sum +would have to be forthcoming were I to agree in considering +myself what the good folks would like to consider me. Fortunately +the determination of my work does not lie in their hands, and on +account of this very evident conviction I answered their +communication most courteously, modestly referring to my present +occupation in Rome, and enclosing an extract from one of the +Hymns of St. Ambrosius, from the Liturgy of the "Three Holy +Kings," an incident intimately connected with Cologne Cathedral. +At the same time I feel satisfied that I have not shown any +intention to give annoyance, and declared myself as perfectly +content to fulfil my duties as an honorary member of the Council, +in quietude, by composing a work specially for the Cathedral +(which I shall not fail to do), but without laying the slightest +claim to the sympathy--much less to the patronage--of the worthy +gentlemen of Cologne.--I flatter myself that I am not in the bad +graces of the Three Holy Kings, consequently do not need to +trouble myself about the rest of the Cologne folk! + +Now my Leipzig parcels can be despatched with an easy mind. + +With heartiest greetings, + +Yours devotedly, + +F. Liszt + +September 7th, 1863 + +Monte Mario (Madonna del Rosario) + +P.S.--Sgambati, an excellent Roman pianist, wishes to study my A +major Concerto. Schott has as yet omitted to send me the +complimentary-copy of this piece, to which I am entitled, so I +beg you to enclose in Kahnt's next sending a duplicate copy +(arranged for 2 pianofortes, as there can be no thought of an +orchestral performance of it here). From Hartel I have also +ordered for Sgambati and Bach [This is no doubt meant for Bache.] +my Etudes, the Paganini ones, and my "Ave Maria" (chorus-score +and voice parts, for a performance at the Classical Concerts +conducted by Mililotti). It would be advisable, owing to the +expense of forwarding music, to send the things all in one +parcel; please be kind enough to suggest this to Hartel, and to +get the 3 opus from him, and I do not wish to have to wait beyond +the end of October for them. Gottschalg will soon have some copy +to send me which might come at the same time. + + + +21. To Justizrath Dr. Gille of Jena + +Dear friend, + +I trust you will forgive my long silence. I could not excuse +myself in any other way than by a worse lamentation about the +variety of circumstances, moods and occupations that have more +and more encouraged my habitual dislike to letter-writing. Unless +some definite object demands it of me, I do not write to any one +in Germany, with the exception of Bulow, my cousin Eduard in +Vienna, and Brendel, to whom I am very grateful for the kindness +with which he looks after the more important details connected +with my musical affairs. As regards my Weimar friends, my +inclination to communicate with them is spoilt by my imagining +that they would as gladly see me among them as I should feel at +home among them. And as I cannot write to them and say: "I am +coming to remain with you," I get more and more silent. + +My stay in Rome is not an accidental one; it denotes, as it were, +the third part--(probably the close) of my life, which is often +troubled, but ever industrious and striving upwards. Hence I +require ample time to bring various long works and myself to a +good ending. This requisite I find in my retirement here, which +will probably become even more emphatic; and my present monastic +abode provides me not only with the most glorious view over all +Rome, the Campagna and the mountains, but also what I had longed +for; quiet from without and peacefulness.--Enclosed is a +photograph of the "Madonna del Rosario," as an illustration to +the notices that have lately appeared in the newspapers in +connection with the Holy Father's visit here. + +Your friendly lines came strangely in conjunction with the +"Dettingen Te Deum" to which you refer, and which I was playing +through at the very moment your letter was handed to me. A very +amiable English lady delighted me a little while ago by +presenting me with the praiseworthy London edition-"Novello's +Centenary Edition"--of the Oratorios of Handel, Haydn, +Mendelssohn, etc. (and all sold at from 1 to 3 shillings each); +these works are always welcome society to me. The number +containing the "Dettingen Te Deum" also contains the "Coronation +Anthem" (composed in 1741). "Zadok the priest, and Nathan the +prophet, anointed Solomon King." [This sentence is written in +English by Liszt.] + +The commencement is wonderfully grand and powerful, like the +Bible itself.-- + +However notwithstanding all my admiration for Handel, my +preference for Bach still holds good, and when I have edified +myself sufficiently with Handel's common chords, I long for the +precious dissonances of the Passion, the B minor Mass, and other +of Bach's polyphonic wares. + +Remember me kindly to your wife, and with heartiest greetings to +M. Gille, junior, I am Your sincerely attached + +F. Liszt + +Rome, September 10th [1863] + +(Monte Mario, Madonna Del Rosario.) + +Do not omit in your next letter to tell me something about your +musical Jubilee in Jena. + + + +22. To Dr. Franz Brendel + +Dear Friend, + +I am deep in my work. The more we sow a field the more it +spreads. One would need to live to the age of a Methuselah to +accomplish anything plentiful! + +Your letters, unlike so many others, are always so welcome, and I +thank you most sincerely for all the goodness, kindness, honesty +and warmth of feeling that the continuance of our friendship +brings with it. For even though you may not always be able to +communicate pleasant or enjoyable news, still things disagreeable +I can tolerate more readily from you, because of your ever +moderate and characteristically steadfast interpretation. The +experience you had lately to make with Y.Z. I regret sincerely, +and would gladly make you some compensation for a loss that is as +unexpected as it is unfortunate. But I am sorry to say I do not +know of any one who would exactly suit you. There is truly a +great dearth of men [Menschen] in this world! When they are put +to the test they prove themselves useless. My ten years' service +in Weimar gave me abundant proof of this! + +Probably you will just have to drag on with your contributors, +till we finally get into smoother water again. It is more than +three months since I received any numbers of the Neue Zeitschr.; +do not forget to enclose the numbers in the next sending +(together with the music I want from Hartel), and address always +to "Madonna del Rosario (of which a photograph herewith), Monte +Mario--Rome." + +Kahnt's willingness to publish the score of the two Psalms is +very flattering to me. He shall have the manuscript soon, and I +should like to enclose the instrumentation of the Songs from +Wilhelm Tell. Should a convenient opportunity occur some kindly- +disposed singer might be found to bring them into notice (perhaps +Schnorr?). The instrumental-fabric is not plain or ordinary, and +enhances the effect of the vocal part. My critical ex-colleague +Stor praised it formerly when performed at one of the Court- +Concerts at which Caspari sang the songs,--and since then I have +added some dainty little bits. One must praise oneself, +especially when others too often fail in doing so!-- + +With regard to the Tonkunstler-Versammlung, it seems to me that +the choice of Leipzig is most advantageous for the purpose at +present, and I would advise you to adhere to this. In the course +of the winter we will have an "exchange of thoughts" ("un echange +d'idees," as Prince Gortschakoff is ever saying) about the +programme and arrangements, and this will assuredly lead to more +harmonious results than the Russian notes. Fortunately we do not +need to quarrel about the extent of the treaties of 1815! + +Hearty greetings from your sincerely devoted + +F. Liszt + +October 10th, 1863 + +P.S.--About six weeks ago there appeared in the Leipzig +"Illustrirte Zeitung" a biographical notice of F. Liszt, together +with a portrait. Let me have the number, and tell me who wrote +the article. + +.--. Has anything new in the way of scores or pianoforte pieces +been published that is likely to interest me? Here people speak +of Mendelssohn and even Weber as novelties! + + + +23. To Madame Jessie Laussot + +Herewith, dear Madame, are a few lines that I beg you to forward +to Madame Ritter (mere), as I do not know where to address to +her. [She had lost her daughter Emilie, the sister of Carl and +Alexander Ritter.] + +The melancholy familiarity with death that I have perforce +acquired during these latter years does not in the least weaken +the grief which we feel when our dear ones leave this earth. If +at the sight of the opening graves I thrust back despair and +blasphemy, it is that I may weep more freely, and that neither +life nor death shall be able to separate me from the communion of +love.-- + +She whom we are mourning was especially dear to me. Her bodily +weakness had perfected the intuitive faculties in her. She took +her revenge inwardly and lived in the beyond...At our first +meeting I thought I should meet her again. It was at Zurich at +Wagner's, whose powerful and splendid genius she so deeply felt. +During several weeks she always took my arm to go into the salle +a manger at the hour of dinner and supper,--and she spread a +singular charm of amenity, of sweet and conciliatory affection in +that home to which a certain exquisite degree of intimacy was +wanting. She possessed in a rare degree the secret of making her +presence agreeable and harmonious. Everything in her, even to her +very silence, was comprehensive, for she seemed to understand, or +rather to determine the thoughts which words render in only an +unformed manner, and worked them out in her noble heart. + +May her soul live for ever in the fulness of the light and peace +of God!-- + +Very cordially yours, + +F. Liszt + +October 15th, 1863 + +(Madonna Del Rosario, Monte Mario.) + +Pray excuse my delay in these few lines. It was only yesterday +that I learned your address through Mr. Sgambati. + + + +24. To Dr. Franz Brendel + +Dear Friend, + +Kahnt's last sending that reached me last week brought me much +that I found pleasant and encouraging in the numbers of the Neue +Zeitschrift. I could verily not have imagined that so mild and +kindly a ray of light could have been shed over my compositions +discussed there, as is given under cipher 8. Let me know who +writes under cipher 8--I promise not to divulge the secret--and +meanwhile present my as yet unknown reviewer with my sincerest +thanks for his appreciation of my nature, which he manifests in +so kind and sympathetic a manner in his commentary to the +"Seligkeiten" [Beatitudes] and the instrumentation of "Mignon's +Song." [The review was written by Heinrich Porges.] He has formed +the most correct estimate of my endeavors by pointing to the +result, namely, to throw life into the truly Catholic, universal +and immortal spirit--hence to develop it--and to raise the +"culture that has been handed down to us from the remote Middle +Ages, out of the heavy atmosphere of the monasteries and, as it +were, to weave it into the life-giving ether of the free spirit +pervading the universe." + +I also perfectly agree with the extremely applicable close of the +same article: "Our age has not yielded its right to feel itself +connected with the Infinite," and I intend to set to work in +earnest to comply, as far as possible, with the kindly +expectations of my reviewer. His reference to my Psalms leads me +to wish that I might soon see the four Psalms published in score +(they are very diverse, both as regards feeling and musical +form). Kahnt's willingness to publish them is, therefore, welcome +news to me, and I beg he will give me a proof of his goodwill by +kindly having them ready for next Easter's sale. + +He can settle everything about the form and equipment "al suo +commodo" (as people say here). + +Still the Psalms should be published in the same form, and should +Kahnt decide upon retaining the form of the Prometheus score (as +he writes to me) I shall be quite content and satisfied. The day +after tomorrow I shall send him the instrumentation of the 23rd +and 137th Psalms together with the score of the 13th. The latter +is one of those I have worked out most fully, and contains two +fugue movements and a couple of passages which were written with +tears of blood. Were any one of my more recent works likely to be +performed at a concert with orchestra and chorus, I would +recommend this Psalm. Its poetic subject welled up plenteously +out of my soul; and besides I feel as if the musical form did not +roam about beyond the given tradition. It requires a lyrical +tenor; while singing he must be able to pray, to sigh and lament, +to become exalted, pacified and biblically inspired.--Orchestra +and chorus, too, have great demands made upon them. Superficial +or ordinarily careful study would not suffice... + +Pardon me, dear friend, for having troubled you to such an extent +with marginal comments to my manuscripts. I will only add that I +should be glad to see the short Choral Psalm for men's voices +("The Heavens declare the glory of God") printed in time for the +Easter's sale, in score-form from the copy I left Kahnt before I +went away;--and now to return to the Articles in the Neue +Zeitschrift, I feel specially grateful, in the first place, for +the communications concerning the Hungarian orchestra in Breslau. + +To hear again of my Ex-Chamber-Virtuoso Josy in so friendly a way +pleased me extremely, and I beg you to send my sincerest thanks +to the author of the article for having so carefully studied my +Rhapsodies and the less well-known book (not to speak of the +erroneous interpretation it has had to endure at other hands!) on +"Hungarian Gipsy Music"; at the same time will you beg him to +accept the enclosed photograph of my humble self, in return for +the one he gave Josy? + +[An extremely musical gipsy boy of this name was presented to +Liszt in Paris in 1844 by Count Sandor Teleki. Liszt's endeavors +to train the boy as an artist failed, however, owing to the +impossibility of accustoming the child of nature to engage in +earnest study, as Liszt himself relates in "Die Zigeuner und ihre +Musik in Ungarn" [The Gipsies and their Music in Hungary] (Ges. +Schriften, Bd, vi.)] + +In your next let me have some account of the position and work of +this worthy Breslau correspondent, for I have not before met with +anything from his pen in the Neue Zeitschrift. I herewith send +you a second photograph of my present abode, "Madonna del +Rosario," as the first one went astray, but to prevent a like +accident in the post I shall register this letter. + +Bulow's searches into and out of the subject are splendid, and +his farewell words in memory of Fischl show the noblest beat of +heart. When are the articles on Offenbach, etc., from the same +intellectual region, to appear?...I am curious also to see what +news there will be of the Berlin Orchestral concerts, instituted +and conducted by Bulow. + +You mention cursorily some new programme-form concerning which +"you rather flatter yourself." Tell me more about this and send +me a few of the programmes. + +From Pohl I lately received a very cordial letter which I +answered forthwith. His Vorschlag zur Gute, etc., in the N. Z. I +have not yet read, and this is the case with many other articles +in the last numbers, which, however, I mean ere long to overtake. +In spite of my retirement and seclusion I am still very much +disturbed by visitors, duties of politeness, musical proteges-- +and wearisome, mostly useless correspondence and obligations. +Among other things the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Society has +invited me, during the Lent season, to direct two of their +concerts, giving performances of my own compositions. The letter +certainly reads somewhat more rationally than that of the Cologne +Cathedral Committee (of which, I told you); but the good folks +can nevertheless not refrain from referring to the trash about +"my former triumphs, unrivalled mastery as a pianist," etc., and +this is utterly sickening to me--like so much stale, lukewarm +champagne. Committee gentlemen and others should verily feel +somewhat ashamed of their inane platitudes, in thus unwarrantably +speaking to my discredit by reminding me of a standpoint I +occupied years ago and have long since passed.--Only one Musical +Association can boast of forming an honorable exception to this +since my departure from Germany, namely the Society "Zelus pro +Domo Dei," in Amsterdam, which, in consequence of the approval +and performance of my Gran Mass last week, has conferred on me +their diploma by appointing me an honorary member, in addition to +a very kind letter written in a becoming tone. + +The diploma is headed: "Roomsch Catholiek Kerkmusiek Collegie," +and the Society was founded in 1691. + +For your wife's amusement and as a piece of French reading I send +a copy of my answers to the letters from St. Petersburg and +Amsterdam. When you have read them please send both copies to my +daughter in Berlin, as an addition to her small collection of my +miscellaneous correspondence. + +Most cordial greetings.--Yours in all friendship, + +F. Liszt + +November 11th, 1863 + + + +25. To Breitkopf And Hartel + +Dear Sirs, + +.--. Pray present my kindest thanks to Conzertmeister David for +his consent to the N.B. in the Finale of the 8th Symphony. The +method of execution, as indicated, was the one important question +to me; by the satisfactory solution of this I am now perfectly +content, and it is pleasant to me, therefore, to be able to agree +to your wish to undertake the publication of the 9 piano-scores +forthwith, without asking advice elsewhere. My former request on +this subject was meant only to serve as a proof of my sincerest +conscientiousness; as soon as you consider it superfluous let it +be so. + +Your letter also settles the copyist-difficulty. Still, +notwithstanding all the model-works that issue from the House of +Breitkopf and Hartel, I could scarcely expect that the printers +would worry over my bad musical writing, that is rendered even +more indistinct by my numerous erasures and corrections--and for +this reason I recommended Herr Carl Gotze of Weimar by way of +help; he is very quick at deciphering my untidy manuscripts. But +of the best copyists it may be said "Better none," to use +Beethoven's words in pronouncing his verdict upon Malzel's +metronome. + +Permit me therefore, dear sirs, to reduce all these preliminaries +and details to the simplest form, by giving you absolute power +concerning the publication of the 9 Symphonies--provided that the +last proofs are sent to me for revision. + +While awaiting the Beethoven scores (Quartets, Egmont, and +"Christ on the Mount of Olives") I send you my best thanks in +advance, and shall hope to send you later a specimen of my small +savoir-faire in the matter of Quartet arrangements to look at. If +it should meet with your approval I would gladly, next summer, +proceed in working out a former pet idea of mine; to make +pianoforte transcriptions of Beethoven's Quartets "for the home +circle," and, as it were, to make them a link in the Master's +catena aurea, between his Sonatas and Symphonies.--No +considerations in the way of honorarium need form any hindrance +to this project, especially as in such matters not the smallest +difficulty has ever arisen in our relations with one another, +which have now lasted over 20 years. Besides, the way and manner +you accept my proposal offers the best prospect for its +realisation, to our mutual satisfaction in tempore opportuno. + +.--. I beg you, dear sirs, to accept my sincere thanks as well as +the assurance of my respectful attachment. + +F. Liszt + +Rome, November 16th, 1863 + +(Monte Mario, Madonna Del Rosario.) + + + +26. To Dr. Franz Brendel + +Dear Friend, + +By way of excusing my delay in writing I must tell you at once of +an indisposition, which during Christmas week prevented my +undertaking any other occupation or amusement than that of +keeping in bed. For several weeks after that there were other +things, entirely unconnected with musical doings and affairs, +which, however, urgently demanded attention. Your admirable New +Year's letter I received yesterday. It perfectly confirms my +opinion of the state of affairs (as became clear to me long +since), and my agreement with you as regards our "Debit and +Credit." The latter, unfortunately, does not show the right +equilibrium--but must be made to do so. In the first place three +points have to be secured; and to save useless explanations +between us, I shall describe these in geographical style, under +the names of Weimar, Lowenberg, Carlsruhe. They at present +embrace and solve all the essential questions: division of work, +appointment of suitable persons, procuring adequate means, active +organisation of the Musik-Verein, etc., etc. And, granted that +you are not deceiving yourself about my very limited influence, +my personal presence and intervention would seem indispensable. +Still I will not conceal the fact that it is, at least, +inconvenient for me to leave Rome even for a short time, and +people should not object to my finding more satisfaction in my +retirement here than in the barren unpleasantries of a so-called +"circle of activity." But if, as you assure me, the question +affects the good cause, and I could really be of service to a few +dear friends,--well in that case every other consideration shall +give way and my willingness be put to the proof. Although it will +be very difficult for me to make up my mind to start, I will +towards the beginning of June have my passport vise'd for +Carlsruhe, in order that I may attend the Musical Festival there, +provided that Bulow conducts. In the intervals between the +rehearsals and performances we should discuss with active friends +the Whys and Wherefores connected with the Musik-Verein which, +first of all, requires to be placed on a firm footing. And so far +as I can assist in doing this (especially by advocating its cause +with our patron and the Hohenzollern princes) it certainly shall +be done. + +Pohl seems to have put on wrong spectacles if he reads in my +letter that I have no greater wish than to return to unique +Germany! People may think about it what they please; the positive +truth is that I do not bother myself about fools of any species, +whether German, French, English, Russian or Italian, but am +peacefully industrious in my seclusion here. "Let me rest, let me +dream," not indeed beneath blossoming almond trees, as Hoffmann +sings, [A song which Liszt set to music] but comforted and at +peace under the protection of the Madonna del Rosario who has +provided me with this cell. My German friends would certainly be +acting much more reasonably were they to come and visit me here, +instead of tempting me abroad. However you may assure the rest of +my acquaintances that I will not inconvenience them with my +presence for any length of time, and that my interference at the +Musical Festival in Carlsruhe is only a temporary one and +altogether harmless. By the middle of July, at latest, I intend +to be back here again, or earlier if possible. + +The Pro memoria of the A. D. Musik-Verein, addressed to the Grand +Duke, together with the protocol of the audience on the 17th of +November, I received through Gille. My thanks and reply I shall +send shortly. Likewise also the programme of a very exceptional +solemnity which takes place on the 5th February, and which is +already engaging my attention in a variety of ways. + +In all friendliness, + +Your cordially devoted + +F. Liszt + +January 22nd, 1864 + +To Kahnt my best thanks for having sent the last parcel of music +correctly. Postage and dues cost over 13 Prussian thalers. By the +way, do not offend me any longer by franking your letters. I on +my part frank my letters only when I send you a letter-parcel +containing copies, etc. + +Last postscript. .--. Do me the one other favor of seeing that my +enclosed answer safely reaches Herr B. I do not know his address- +-and, although we may have met in Weimar, as he once wrote to me, +I have scarcely any recollection of the fact. + +Do not be vexed at the apparent presumption and vain-glory of +this last communication for today...My modesty will sufficiently +come to my rescue to prevent my putting too many feathers in my +cap! [The German proverb of which Liszt makes use is "allzugrosse +Rosinen im Kopfe tragen." Besides, thank God, I am too honest and +truth-loving to fall a victim to vanity. + + + +27. To Dr. Franz Brendel + +Dear Friend, + +Excuse an intermezzo on music-publishers today. I have received +from Julius Schuberth and from Peters' Bureau de Musique +contradictory letters about some right or unrighteous edition of +my arrangement of Beethoven's "Septet". Schuberth's communication +is many-sided, the other very one-sided, but neither of them +enlightens me in the least, for it is a question of long since, +and I scarcely remember where and for whom I arranged the +"Septet", now more than 20 years ago. And although Schuberth has +given me but little cause to be satisfied with his editions, +still I should not wish to do him any injury by this piece of +business, [An untranslatable pun on the words Handel and Handel] +and hence I have not sent him any reply. For the same reason I +shall leave Peters' communication unanswered, and must get you, +dear friend, to make these two gentlemen understand that I cannot +mix myself up with any of their disputes as publishers. And in +order that you may obtain an insight into the matter I send you, +herewith, Peters' letter, with regard to which I can only say +that I have no recollection of having made a duet arrangement of +Beethoven's "Septet"...Yet this is precisely what I do not wish +to say. Let the two gentlemen settle the matter amicably between +themselves and ignore my existence altogether. + +As Bulow is happily back, the programmes of the Carlsruhe Musical +Festival will now soon be finally drawn up. Remenyi, who has +played here some half-dozen times in the Teatro Argentina with +extraordinary success, has a decided inclination to appear at the +Musical Festival; I told him, however, that Conzertmeister Singer +had probably already been engaged. Should Singer not be able to +come, I would recommend Remenyi with absolute confidence. Of all +the violinists I know, I could scarcely name three who could +equal him as regards effect. Tell Bulow of Remenyi's friendly +offer, and let me know at your convenience whether it is +accepted.-- + +As soon as I hear more definitely about the programme I shall +answer Gille's friendly note. Meanwhile (after 4 months' +incessant interruptions) I have again set to work, and cannot now +leave it till the time comes for my journey. + +What a royal and marvellous act is Ludwig of Bavaria's letter to +Wagner! It ought verily to be engraved in the Walhalla in letters +of gold. Oh that some other Princes would adopt a similar +style!-- + +In all friendship, yours sincerely, + +F. Liszt + +Rome, May 28th, 1864 + + + +28. To Dr. Franz Brendel. + +Dear Friend, + +Shortly after sending off my letter anent the Peters-Schuberth +squabble, I received the programme-sketch of your last letter but +one. Exceedingly important and indispensable are the Wagner- +numbers. Let me hope he has already given you a favorable reply. +Bulow will be the best one to arrange things and to conduct. I +wrote to him the day before yesterday to advise him again to be +strictly moderate with regard to the number of my compositions. +The half of what is given in your sketch of the programme would +be amply sufficient. People do not want to hear so much of my +things, and I do not care to force them upon them...On this +occasion, especially, my wish is only to see some of my friends +again--in no way to seek appreciative approval from the public. +Such misleading abuses have long since and entirely ceased for +me. Hence, dear friend, do not have me playing the braggart on +your programme! If a place is to be retained for Remenyi he will +fill it brilliantly. For both as a soloist and a quartet player +his accomplishments are extraordinary. + +You ask me about "definite news of my journey." As already said, +I am determined to attend the Tonkunstler-Versamammlung, and +afterwards to go to Weimar for a few days. My departure from here +depends upon the date of the Carlsruhe concerts. I shall arrange +to be there a few days previously, and shall ask Bulow to secure +apartments for me. A variety of considerations (among which are +economical ones too) compel me not to extend my absence from Rome +beyond a month, and before returning I am in duty bound to pay my +mother a visit in Paris. Hence I shall have but little time for +strolls on the banks of the Ilm or elsewhere...But let me hope +that my journey will not prove pure idling, and I shall do my +best "to pave the way" to meeting all your wishes in as +satisfactory a manner as possible. Further details on this +subject I shall give you by word of mouth towards the end of +August. All mere reports about my remaining in Germany for some +length of time I beg of you to contradict most emphatically. Some +newspapers seem anxious that it should be known that I am about +to settle in Hungary. There is nothing whatever in this report +beyond the anticipated order for my composing a second "Gran +Mass", and perhaps publishing an Hungarian translation of the +"Elizabeth." These two tasks may, during the course of next year, +lead to my revisiting Hungary (?). + +Kindly present my excuses to Riedel, who wishes me to attend his +concert in the St. Thomas Church (at the beginning of July). I am +delighted that the "Seligkeiten" find a place in his programme, +and I am sincerely grateful to H. von Milde for having +contributed so much to their success by his fine interpretation +and inspired delivery. Whether the Psalm ("By the waters of +Babylon") is not somewhat too low for Frau v. Milde's voice, I +should not like to say. I remember, however, that she sang it on +one occasion at the Altenburg gloriously. Of course I can +consider it only a very flattering mark of attention and +amiability on the part of Frau von Milde to venture anywhere to +introduce any one of my compositions under her vocal protection, +but especially in Leipzig. + +With hearty thanks and kindest greetings yours, + +F. Liszt + +Rome, June 13th, 1864 + + + +29. To the Committee of the Society for the Support of Needy +Hungarian Musicians in Pest. + +Gentlemen, + +You are good enough to invite me in a very flattering manner to +take part in the Association that you are starting, with the +object of helping needy and infirm musicians in Hungary. Every +tie which unites me to our noble country is dear to me. I +cordially accept to be entirely yours, and am pleased to hope +that the esteem in which you are held, added to your intelligent +solicitude for this good work, will secure it speedily and +lastingly excellent results. + +The good that you propose to realise is not liable to +controversy, but is so plainly evident that you will receive on +all sides nothing but approbation, encouragement, help and +support. Nevertheless, as you do me the honor to ask my explicit +opinion with regard to the statutes of your Society, I will +venture to observe that it seems to me desirable not to limit +oneself exclusively and for ever to helping sick and infirm +musicians--and their needy heirs. Those who are in health, when +they are at the same time well-deserving, have a claim also on +your sympathy...Without enlarging on this point here, I only +recommend to your attention, gentlemen, the statutes (published +at Leipzig) of the Association which was formed at Weimar in +August 1861, under the name of "Allgemeiner Deutscher Musik- +Verein," in which the needs of music and of musicians of our day +have been taken into consideration simultaneously. + +If I had not the sad honor of being poor I should hasten to put a +considerable sum at your disposal. Pray pardon me, then, the +moderate offering of a hundred florins which you will shortly +receive (through my cousin Dr. Eduard Liszt, of Vienna), and I +beg you to accept, gentlemen, the assurance of my sincere desire +to render in future the best service to your work, as also the +expression of my very distinguished and devoted sentiments. + +F. Liszt + +Rome, June 18th, 1864 (Madonna Del Rosario) + + + +30. To Eduard Liszt + +Very dear Eduard, + +Assuredly I have not been "complaining" of you to Count +Gallenberg nor to anybody else in the world. Quite the contrary, +and on every occasion I boast of my beloved cousin, and am happy +and proud of his loyal, delicate and noble friendship, which is +one of the sweetest kindnesses of Providence to me. + +Nevertheless I am much obliged to Count Gallenberg for having +somewhat driven you to write to me, extra, so good and tender a +letter, for which I thank you from my heart and soul. + +The electoral circular you added to it gives me real +satisfaction, and I am pleased at the public evidence that has +been attained of your "honorableness, firmness of character and +great capability." It seems to me that it was not possible, under +the actual circumstances, to have obtained a more complete +success in the competition with Schuselka; [Eduard Liszt was at +that time standing against Schuselka as a andidate for the +Reichstag (Parliament), but without success.] but I hope that +your turn will come soon. The waiting is painful for you, without +doubt, and is also too prolonged as regards your deserts...still +one must be resigned to it, and that as simply as possible, by +abstaining from useless words and taking useless steps. To be +ever deserving, though only occasionally obtaining--much or +little--is still the wisest thing to do in this world, where "he +who endures little will not endure long!"-- + +.-. Shall I see you at Carlsruhe at the end of August? I hope so +most truly. Before returning here (at the beginning of October) I +shall spend a few days with my mother in Paris. You will not be +vexed with me for beginning with her first, and for postponing +till another year my transient visit to you at Vienna, which I +accept in the same manner as you offer it, and for which the +occasion will be found when I return to Hungary, supposing that +they are inclined (as appears likely) to give me an order similar +to that of the "Graner Messe." Otherwise, and unless there be any +determining circumstance for me, I am resolved not to tire people +with my presence, as also to withdraw myself from the idle +fatigue that people cause me. Thank God I have something to work +at without disturbing myself at my work further than is necessary +for the good conscience I hope always to keep. For this Rome is +peculiarly adapted to me, and I shall not go away for the +smallest thing without well knowing what it is for. + +I send herewith my answer to the Committee of the Association in +aid of poor musicians in Hungary, [See the foregoing letter of +18th June.] to which I beg the Princess to authorise you to add +the sum of 200 florins. Let them be sent at once to the +Committee, begging for an acknowledgment, which you will send to +me. + +Remenyi will come and see you shortly. He has spent nearly two +months here, and has been heard very often at the Argentina +Theater with extraordinary success. I have invited him to come to +Carlsruhe, as I am persuaded that he will succeed no less well +there than in Rome. Meanwhile I beg you to give him a cordial +reception. + +Yours ever affectionately, + +F. Liszt + +June 22nd, 1864 [Rome] + +Greetings and love to your dear ones. + +It goes without saying also that I think most affectionately of +Cornelius and Tausig, which you will tell them. + + + +31. To Dr. Franz Brendel + +Dear Friend, + +.--. I can assure you of Remenyi's co-operation. By the middle of +July I expect a letter from him with his fuller address. It will +be superfluous to mention him in the preliminary programme of the +concert-performances. But what about Wagner?--Frau von Bulow +sends me very sad news of him...If he definitely refuses to +attend the Tonkunstler-Vers. all we can do is to obtain his +consent to give the extracts--previously enumerated in the +programme--from his "Meistersanger" and other of his works +(together with the scores and voice parts). In my opinion these +pieces are indispensable for the principal day of the Carlsruhe +programme. It would be best if Bulow alone brought the matter to +the desired issue. It seems to me impossible that Wagner could +give him and all of us the pain of an absolute refusal! At all +events everything must be done to avoid such a misfortune--nay, I +may even say, such a scandal. + +For the future, dear friend, you shall be totally relieved of the +trouble of sending me these detailed communications. Frau von +Bulow is going to report to me of the further progress of the +preliminary arrangements concerning the Tonk.-Vers.; you yourself +have more than enough to do with writing, negotiating, deciding, +preparing, weighing to and fro, and in thinking things out, etc., +etc. + +It is settled, therefore, that I am coming, and you will have to +look after me during my couple of weeks' stay in Germany, as it +is mainly your fault that I am coming. Between ourselves I may +tell you that, had it not been for your pressing letters, I +should probably have confined myself to giving the Bulows a +rendez-vous in Marseilles, and to paying my mother a few days' +visit in Paris. Of other roads there are extremely few for me +nowadays--and those that I have still to tread are not to be +found in journeys, but only indeed at my quiet writing-table! + +With hearty greetings and in all friendship, yours, + +F. Liszt + +July 1st, 1864 + +Yesterday I received a friendly letter from Seroff. Could not +some fragment from his "Judith" be fitted into your Carlsruhe +programme? + + + +32. To Walter Bache in London + +[The addressee (1842-1888), a pupil of Liszt's, settled in London +as teacher, pianist and conductor, devoted his whole life there +to making Liszt's music known in England. His annual Recitals and +Orchestral concerts were devoted mainly to this object.] + +I reply to your letter, dear Mr. Bache, by assuring you once more +of my very sincere and affec-* *tionate interest. You will never +find me wanting or behindhand when it is a question of proving +this to you; be very sure of that. + +The good news you give me of Madame Laussot is very welcome to +me. I hope she will give me the pleasure of coming again to Rome, +for I see no chance of my coming to Florence. Towards the middle +of August I shall start for Carlsruhe, where I have promised to +be present at the third Tonkunstler-Versammlung. Thence I shall +go to Weimar, and shall take Paris on the way in order to see my +mother again before returning here at the beginning of October. + +Please tell Madame Laussot that she would wrong me if she did not +count me amongst her most truly affectionate and devoted +adherents. I especially preserve a grateful remembrance of her in +connection with the "Ideale," and all that attaches to it. She is +of the very small number of noble and intelligent exceptions in +the too great number of my friends and acquaintances. I was +speaking to this purpose the day before yesterday to a young +person of Grecian origin who lives in Florence at the Count de +Sartiges' house (and who frequents Madame Laussot's concerts). +The Athenian plays the piano marvellously and charmingly. + +You will bring me Ehlert's Scherzo with other of his +compositions. + +Meanwhile I commission you to give my best compliments to Ehlert. + +A thousand cordial and affectionate things, and a revoir next +winter. + +July 2nd, 1864, Madonna del Rosario + +F. Liszt + +Thanks for the triple photograph, [Probably of Mme. Laussot, +Pinelli and Bache, who were taken together.] which is thrice +welcome. + + + +33. To ? + +[Autograph letter (without address) in the possession of Monsieur +Etienne Charavay in Paris. The letter appears to be addressed to +a friend in Vienna.] + +Dear Friend, + +The parcel of music you kindly announce has not yet come; but I +will not delay in sending you my thanks, as I am about to leave +here for six or seven weeks. + +The day after tomorrow I travel to Carlsruhe to attend the +Tonkunstler-Versammlung, the concerts there (conducted by Bulow) +being given between August 22nd and 26th. Thence I go to Weimar +on a visit. By the end of September I shall be with my dear +mother in Paris, and back here by the middle of October. You must +not be surprised if in newspaper-fashion I leave it undecided +whether or not I change my abode and remain in Rome for ever. + +The words for ever remind me of the 22nd Psalm (according to the +usual Protestant numbering the 23rd) which, in reality, I +composed for a tenor, whereas the 137th is meant for a mezzo- +soprano (Fraulein Genast, now married to Herr Merian, in Basle). + +I am therefore surprised that you should have proposed the latter +Psalm and not the 22nd for Herr Erl, and I fear the effect of it +will not be good sung by a tenor. The violin accompaniment which +on several occasions is in unison, as well as the concluding +chorus, "Jerusalem, Jerusalem," are written exclusively for +women's (or boys') voices, and thus demand a female soloist. +Besides which it seems to me that the sentiment and spiritual +tonality of the Psalm do not move in the masculinum. Israelitish +gentlemen must not be called upon to sigh, to dream and to +abandon themselves to their grief in any such way. + +I shall be much pleased to become fully acquainted with the new +works by Kremser, Hasel and Ziehrer, which you promise me, on my +return. + +Meanwhile with best thanks and kind greetings, yours in all +friendship, + +F. Liszt + +Rome, August 7th, 1864 (Madonna del Rosario) + + + +34. To Eduard Liszt + +Weimar, September 7th, 1864 (In the blue room of the Altenburg) + +It grieved me to have to do without your presence at the +Tonkunstler-Versammlung in Carlsruhe, dearest Eduard. Your +letter, however, speaks of your having made some advance in your +career, and this greatly delights me. I hope you will soon have +more definite news to communicate to me on the subject. You know +that to see you prosperous is one of the satisfactions I most +desire in life!-- + +As regards the Tonkunstler-Versammlung you will find a kindly and +satisfactory resume of the proceedings in the supplement of the +Allgemeine Augsburger Zeitung--3lst August, 1st to 3rd September. +Bulow was unfortunately prevented by serious illness from +conducting. From a personal as well as an artistic point of view +I felt his absence very keenly--however no complaint whatever can +be made about the performance, and the reception accorded by the +audience, especially to my Psalms, was extremely favorable. I +assuredly never expected to meet with such sympathetic +appreciation, after my experiences of former years. Friend Lowy +had, on this occasion, no reason to hide himself in a seat at the +back! In the Chamber-music soirees three of my Songs ("Es muss +ein Wunderbares sein," "Ich liebe Dich," and "Mignon") were sung +by Herr and Frau Hauser, and an encore was demanded. Remenyi +played magnificently, and Fraulein Topp [Alida Topp, a pupil of +Liszt's.] is a marvel. + +At the conclusion of the Tonkunstler-Versammlung I started early +on Sunday morning for Munich with Cosima (who remained with me +the whole week of the concerts). Hans was confined to bed at the +Bairischer Hof; his nervous rheumatic complaint has now settled +in his left arm, which he will probably be unable to move for +several weeks to come. In addition to the physical pain he +suffers most grievously from this enforced state of inactivity. +To endure things patiently is to some natures an absolute +impossibility. He travelled back to Berlin, ill as he was, last +Saturday, accompanied by his wife, and I have promised to go and +spend a couple of days with him after my visit to Prince +Hohenzollern in Lowenberg, where I go in a day or so. + +Of Wagner's wondrous fortune you are sure to have heard. No such +star has ever before beamed upon a tone-or a word-poet. N.B.-- +H.M. the King of Bavaria addresses his communication, "To the +Word-and Tone-Poet, Richard Wagner." More by-and-by about this +remarkable affair of Wagner's. I saw him in Munich on several +occasions, and spent one day alone with him in his villa on the +Starnberger See. + +I have been here since the day before yesterday. .--. + +Continue to love me--as I do you. + +With all my heart your + +F. Liszt + +Address me to Weimar (at the Altenburg). I must return here from +Lowenberg (between the 15th and 8th September) in order to await +the Grand Duke at the Wartburg. + + + +35. To Breitkopf and Hartel + +Dear Herr Doctor, + +Together with the corrected proofs of the Pastoral and the C +minor Symphonies (in which I found one or two errors) I sent you +(from Weimar) my pianoforte arrangement of the 3rd instrumental +movements of the 9th Symphony. After various endeavors one way +and another, I became inevitably and distinctly convinced of the +impossibility of making any pianoforte arrangement of the 4th +movement for two hands, that could in any way be even +approximately effective or satisfactory. I trust you will not +bear me any ill-will for failing in this, and that you will +consider my work with the Beethoven Symphonies as concluded with +the 3rd movement of the 9th, for it was not a part of my task to +provide a simple pianoforte score of this overwhelming 4th +movement for the use of chorus directors. Arrangements of this +kind have already been made, and I maintain that I am not able to +furnish a better or a more satisfactory one for helpless +pianofortes and pianists, and believe that there is no one +nowadays who could manage it. + +In my edition of the 9th Symphony for two pianos, prepared for +Schott, the possibility was offered to me of reducing the most +essential parts of the orchestra-polyphony to ten fingers, and of +handing over the chorus part to the second piano. But to screw +both parts, the instrumental and vocal, into two hands cannot be +done either "a peu pres or a beaucoup pres!" + +In case other proofs of the remaining Beethoven Symphonies are +ready, you might send me them to Weimar before Tuesday, 20th +September. I should be glad at the same time to receive the +splendid 6 Mottets of Bach in eight-voice parts (among which is +"Sing unto the Lord a new song"). I am all the more in need of +reading such works, as I am at present unable to hear a +performance of them. + +Next week I shall again spend a few days in Weimar (or +Wilhelmsthal); thence I go to pay my mother a visit in Paris, and +by 18th October, at latest, I shall be back in Rome. + +Yours respectfully and sincerely, + +F. Liszt + +Schloss Lowenberg, September 14th, 1864 + +I requested Herr Kahnt to return to you with my best thanks the +copy of the Symphonic Poems which was kindly forwarded to me in +Carlsruhe. + + + +36. To Breitkopf and Hartel + +Dear Herr Stadtrath, [Town Councillor] + +In compliance with the wish you so kindly express, I will again +make an attempt to "adapt" the 4th movement of the 9th Symphony +to the piano, and soon after my return to Rome will set to work +upon the required tentative. Let us hope that the variation of +the proverb: "Tant va la cruche a l'eau qu'a la fin...elle +s'emplit"--may prove true. [So often goes the pitcher to the +water that at last it is filled.] + +While talking of various readings allow me to draw your attention +to an exceptionally valuable collection. A very carefully and +well-trained musician with whom I have been acquainted for many +years past--Herr Franz Kroll (in Berlin)--has, with industrious +and unceasing perseverance, been collecting, copying and +arranging for publication the noteworthy various readings of +Bach's manuscripts of the "Wohltemperiertes Clavier." [The well- +tempered Piano] Last week he showed me several of them, and I +became convinced of the substantial interest of the collection +and encouraged friend Kroll to send you a full account of them. +In now enclosing his letter to you--written at my instigation--I +take upon myself, with pleasure and the fullest conviction, the +musical duty of advocating the publication of these various Bach +readings, and of heartily recommending Kroll's work as an +essentially useful, complementary addition to your admirable +edition of the "Bach-Gesellschaft" [The Bach Society]. + +Pray accept, dear Herr Stadtrath, the assurance of my sincere +esteem and devotion. + +F. Liszt + +Wilhelmsthal, October 1st, 1864 + + + +37. To Madame Jessie Laussot + +You will be good enough to excuse me, dear Madame, for having +delayed replying to your kind letter. Amongst your many rare +qualities there is one that I particularly admire; it is the +prowess of your musical sympathies. Nevertheless I must scruple +to expose you to too harsh trials, and, knowing by experience +with how little favor my works meet, I have been obliged to force +a sort of systematic heedlessness on to myself with regard to +them, and a resigned passiveness. Thus during the years of my +foreign activity in Germany I constantly observed the rule of +never asking any one whatsoever to have any of my works +performed; more than that, I plainly dissuaded many persons from +doing so who showed some intention of this kind--and I shall do +the same elsewhere. There is neither modesty nor pride in this, +as it seems to me, for I simply take into consideration this +fact--that Mr. Litz [Liszt quotes the very common misspelling of +his name which has frequently been seen since he was "le petit +Litz" in Paris.] is, as it were, always welcome when he appears +at the Piano (--especially since he has made a profession of the +contrary--) but that it is not permitted to him to have anything +to do with thinking and writing according to his own fancy. The +result is that, for some fifteen years, so-called friends, as +well as indifferent and ill-disposed people on all sides, sing, +enough to split your head, to this unhappy Mr. Litz, who has +nothing to do with it, "Be a pianist, and nothing but that. How +is it possible not to be a pianist when, etc., etc." + +Possibly they are right--but it would be too much to expect me to +sign my own condemnation. Far from that, I confess that +contradiction ends by tempting me seriously, and that I am +resolved to pursue it to the end, without any illusion or +approbation whatever. Only at certain moments I fancy that that +judicious maxim of Champfort is somewhat applicable to me +"Celebrity is the punishment of talent and the chastisement of +merit." + +Our friend Sgambati is happily in a fair way to incur this +punishment and chastisement--and certainly with very good reason. +He has done wonders this winter at his four concerts, which have +had a success both of fashion and of real good taste. I, for my +part, have gained a thorough affection for Sgambati, and the +remarkable development of his talent of so fine and noble a +quality interests me keenly. + +A thousand very cordially affectionate and devoted things. + +F. Liszt + +Rome, March 6th, 1865 + + + +38. To Dr. Franz Brendel + +Dear Friend, + +While awaiting from you definite word about the next Tonkunstler- +Versammlung in Dessau, let me, meanwhile, thank you for your last +communication. The main interest of the musical performances is, +of course, on this occasion centred in Riedel and his Verein. In +the programme-sketch I notice my Psalm 137 at the very beginning. +What lady takes the solo?--mind and soul are indispensable in it. + +Bronsart wrote to me at the beginning of March that he +entertained the idea of a concert-tour to the Russian provinces +on the Baltic. I should be glad to hear that the Euterpe squabble +and quarrel in connection with the T.K.V. in Dessau were at an +end, and that Bronsart was to undertake the conductorship. + +As a supplement to this I send you herewith the programme of the +concert held in the hall of the Capitol, where for some years +past no special festivities have been given, and probably never +anything of this kind before. For the first time the different +orchestras in Rome (the Sistine, St. Peter's, Lateran and +Liberian) all united to give a performance which upon the whole +may be said to have been as successful as it was well received. + +The concert was proposed to the Holy Father, and approved of by +him. Owing to the exceptional character of the undertaking, +which, like that of last year, was made to fit in with the plan +of the detailed arrangements--(some ladies belonging to the +aristocracy, and commissionaires distributed the tickets which +were sold at a minimum, no advertising, etc.), I determined to +give my co-operation. I played the "Cantique" (the last number of +the "Harmonies poetiques et religieuses" published by Kistner), +and, as there was no end to the applause, I added my +transcription of Rossini's "Charite" (published by Schott). +Everybody in Rome with any claim to culture was present, and the +hall was more than full. + +With friendliest greetings, your sincerely devoted + +F. Liszt + +April 3rd, 1865 + +P.S.--Please get Kahnt to inquire of Hartel as soon as possible, +how far the printing of my arrangement of the Beethoven +Symphonies has progressed, and whether I may rely upon his +sending--during Easter week as already settled--the orchestral +parts (autographed) of several of my Symphonic Poems,--more +especially of the Dante Symphony? It is possible that the Dante +Symphony may be performed here towards the end of April. But you +shall have further news of me before that. + +Bote and Bock will shortly publish a very simple Hymn of mine +(for pianoforte) entitled "The Pope's Hymn." + + + +39. To Prince Constantine of Hohenzollern-Hechingen + +Monseigneur, + +Your Highness will understand that it is a necessity of my heart +to speak to you of a very happy juncture that assures me +henceforth, in full degree, the stability of feeling and of +conduct to which I aspired. It seems to me that I should be +guilty of ingratitude and wanting in respect to the condescending +friendship with which you are good enough to honor me, did I not +let you know of the determination I have taken. On Tuesday the +25th April, the festival of St. Mark the Evangelist, I entered +into the ecclesiastical state on receiving minor orders in the +chapel of H.S.H. Monseigneur Hohenlohe at the Vatican. Convinced +as I was that this act would strengthen me in the right road, I +accomplished it without effort, in all simplicity and uprightness +of intention. Moreover it agrees with the antecedents of my +youth, as well as with the development that my work of musical +composition has taken during these last four years,--a work which +I propose to pursue with fresh vigor, as I consider it the least +defective form of my nature.-- + +To speak familiarly; if "the cloak does not make the monk" it +also does not prevent him from being one; and, in certain cases, +when the monk is already formed within, why not appropriate the +outer garment of one?-- + +But I am forgetting that I do not in the least intend to become a +monk, in the severe sense of the word. For this I have no +vocation, and it is enough for me to belong to the hierarchy of +the Church to such a degree as the minor orders allow me to do. +It is therefore not the frock, but the cassock that I have +donned. And on this subject Your Highness will pardon me the +small vanity of mentioning to you that they pay me the compliment +of saying that I wear my cassock as though I had worn it all my +life. + +I am now living at the Vatican with Monseigneur Hohenlohe, whose +apartment is on the same floor as the Stanze of Raphael. My +lodging is not at all like a prison cell, and the kind +hospitality that Monseigneur H. shows me exempts me from all +painful constraints. So I shall leave it but rarely and for a +short time only, as removals and especially journeys have become +very burdensome to me for many reasons...It is better to work in +peace at home than to go abroad into the world,--except in +important cases. One of these is awaiting me in the month of +August, and I shall fulfil my promise of going to Pest at the +time of the celebration of the musical fetes that are being got +up for the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the +Conservatoire. My Oratorio of "Saint Elizabeth" and the Symphony +of the "Divina Commedia" form part of the programme. + +Next year, if Your Highness still thinks of realising your noble +project of a musical congress at Lowenberg, I should be very +happy to take part in it, and place myself entirely at your +orders and service. + +Permit me, Monseigneur, to express anew to you my most grateful +thanks for the evidences of sympathy you have so generously +accorded to myself and to my works; and graciously accept the +homage of unchanging sentiments of most respectful devotion with +which I have the honor to be + +Your Highness's most humble and affectionate servant, + +F. Liszt + +Vatican, May 11th, 1865 + + + +40. To Breitkopf and Hartel + +Dear Herr Doctor, + +My old musical weaknesses have not left me! The weakest and worst +thing about them is perhaps that I never cease composing; but +such wondrous things go wandering about in my head that I cannot +help putting them down on paper. And I have wanted to hear +something about the fate of the manuscripts I sent you for +printing. Have the pianoforte scores of the Beethoven Symphonies +been published? How has the printing of the Concerto for 2 pianos +(in E minor) [Concerto pathetique] progressed? Would you kindly +let me have a few copies soon? + +With regard to the autographed orchestral parts of my "Symphonic +Poems," I should be glad if they could be out by the end of July. +Probably at the beginning of August I go to Pest, where several +of my compositions (more especially the "Dante Symphony") are to +be performed in connection with the festivities at the +Conservatoire. If the parts should be ready, please, dear Herr +Doctor, forward them to me to Pest. At present I do not require +them here; but should the "Preludes" be ready you would greatly +oblige me by sending all the orchestral parts, with four copies +of the quartet, if possible by the beginning of next month, to +Dr. R. Pohl (571, Hirschgasse, Baden-Baden). I have been asked +for the loan of them for some festival in Baden conducted by +Monsieur Reyer. + +Pray kindly excuse all the trouble I am giving you, and receive +the expression of my most sincere esteem. + +F. Liszt + +The Vatican, May 27th, 1865 + + + +41. To Dr. Franz Brendel + +Dear Friend, + +Your favorable accounts of the Tonkunstler-Versammlung in Dessau +delighted me greatly. Owing to the crooked way in which my works +have been listened to in past years, I have felt oppressed; and +in order that my freedom in my work might remain unaffected, I +was obliged wholly to disregard their outward success. Hence my +absolute distrust of performances of my own compositions, and +this was not to be accounted for by any exaggerated modesty on my +part. As to the "Battle of the Huns" I was specially doubtful; +the Christian significance of Kaulbach's picture--as represented +in the "Chorale"--seemed to me a stumbling-block in the way of +favorable criticism. Kaulbach had indeed suggested this +interpretation by having thrown a special light upon the +cross...yet there are neither mendicant friars nor bishops in the +picture...and, besides, at the time of the "Battle of the Huns" +the organ was not yet invented! This last sweeping argument was +triumphantly hurled at me in Weimar by the infallible censors. +Since then I have hesitated to allow the work to be performed, +and have remained satisfied with sending Kaulbach the arrangement +for 2 pianofortes. And in that form it was executed [Executirt.] +in his salon, whereupon, of course, there were loud lamentations +about my squandering my time upon such an abominable jumble of +sounds, when I might be charming people in a more agreeable +fashion with my piano-playing!...So if the Dessau Meeting really +derived some pleasure from the "Battle of the Huns" I feel richly +rewarded for my small amount of suffering. + +I beg you to present my best thanks to Fraulein Wigand. [Emilie +Wigand, studied under Prof. Gotze in Leipzig.] It is a good deed +of hers to have obtained willing ears for my Psalm--and if I am +in Germany again next year I shall want to hear it. + +I will with pleasure take Weitzmann's place as examiner of the +manuscripts sent in. Send them to me in parcel form to Rome; I +promise to look through them quickly and to let you have my good +or bad opinion of them. For such work I am always inclined, and +am, perhaps, not an awkward hand at it. + +.--. From the Committee in Pest I have not had any news for some +time past. I shall, however, hold myself in readiness to start +from here by the beginning of August. Meanwhile let nothing be +sent to me to Rome. As soon as I know anything definite about my +stay in Hungary I will let you know. + +With all friendly greetings to your wife, I am your sincerely +attached + +F. Liszt + +July 21st (Villa d'Este-Tivoli), 1865 + +Any probable performance of the "Elizabeth" in Coburg we can +discuss later. I should consider it advisable to have my name but +little mentioned in the programme of the next Meeting of the +Tonkunstler-Versammlung. As regards a larger work (one to occupy +a whole concert) it would be well for Gille to leave the choice +of it to the Duke. The local taste would be a very important +point in the matter, and, for my own part, I know only too well +that people do not want to know or to hear too much of me--in +Coburg as well as in many other places!-- + + + +42. To Abbe Schwendtner in Buda-Pest + +[Autograph in the possession of Frl. Therese v. Lavner in Pest.-- +Liszt became acquainted with the Abbe in 1865, and frequently +enjoyed his hospitality when visiting Pest, up to the time when +he himself became connected with the Musik-Academie there.] + +Right Reverend Sir and Friend, + +Having returned to my abode here, I cannot refrain from again +thanking you most heartily for all the goodness and kindness you +showed me in so unusually abundant a measure, during my stay in +the town-vicarage of Pest. The five weeks I spent there in the +pleasantest way--owing to your considerate care and attention-- +will remain an unextinguishable point of light in my life. You +admonish, and at the same time encourage and strengthen me, to +carry out further the artistic task that is set me. In the hope +that your Reverence will in the future continue to show me the +sympathy so kindly and generously expressed, I pray you to +implore God's blessing to keep me ever a good child of the State +and Church. + +May I add another request? On the 22nd October (my birthday) for +some years past a Mass has been read in the Franciscan Church in +Pest, and at the words: "Memento Domini" I [am] held in +remembrance...I would ask your Reverence to remember my wish that +this may be done also on the same day in the parish church. + +In sincere veneration and gratitude, I remain cordially and +faithfully + +Your Reverence's devoted + +F. Liszt + +The Vatican, September 20th, 1865 + +My respectful compliments to the amiable lady president of the +morning coffee--Fraulein Resi [A niece of the Abbe's.]--who +conducts and beautifies the real Magyar hospitality at the +Vicarage in an incomparably graceful manner. I shall take the +liberty one day of sending Fraulein Resi a few Roman trifles. +Bulow has undertaken to send you the medallion of my humble self, +a masterly piece of work by Rietschel. As you will know, +Rietschel is the sculptor who made the Lessing statue in +Brunswick, the Goethe and Schiller group in Weimar, etc.-- + + + +43. To Dr. Franz Brendel + +Dear Friend, + +Accept my best thanks for having admitted into your Neue +Zeitschrift Bulow's account of the Musical Festival in Pest. +These three articles are a masterly piece of work, and, as your +paper has for several years past followed the difficult process +of my development as a composer in so kind and careful a manner, +I wished specially that the very successful performances of the +"Elizabeth" and of the "Dante Symphony" in Pest should receive +confirmation in the Neue Zeitschrift. + +With regard to the "Elizabeth" I have received offers from Vienna +and a few other places; but it is in no way my intention to wage +war in a hurry with this work. I shall, therefore, decline the +invitations with thanks, and await an opportunity more convenient +to myself for the next performance. Whether this may be at the +Tonkunstler-Versammlung in Coburg I do not know, and, frankly +said, this will depend upon the Duke's bon plaisir. [It was not +performed at a Tonkunstler-Versammlung in Coburg.] For my own +part I am in no great hurry, as I have heard enough of the work +in Pest, and found no alterations to make in it. Then also there +is no hurry with regard to its publication, and my reply a short +time ago to a willing publisher (who, curiously enough, offered +me a respectable honorarium for it!) was, that only by next +summer could I decide whether to have it published or not. + +Gille has the kind intention of arranging a performance of the +"Elizabeth" in Jena as soon as possible. I don't want to enter +into a fuller correspondence with him on the subject; but please +tell him, in all friendliness, that I regret to be obliged +somewhat to check his admirable zeal. Apart from certain +considerations of propriety (which I will never disregard in the +slightest degree) there is an irremovable difficulty in the +matter of the performance itself. It cannot be given in Jena +without the co-operation of the Weimar performers. And why plague +our dear and excellent Weimar singers and artists, and how--with +their many theatrical engagements--could they find the necessary +time for studying the parts, for rehearsals?--etc., etc.-- + +Hence let us give a simple no as regards Jena, and put a sign of +interrogation? nay, even two or more??? as regards the +Tonkunstler-Versammlung in Coburg, for (as I told you in my last +letter but one) we shall there have entirely to submit to the +Duke's opinion concerning the larger (or longer) work which is to +fill the first day's programme. + +(N.B.--"Elizabeth" lasts about three hours, including the +intervals. Bulow's conductorship would be indispensable.) + +For ten days past I have again been back in the Vatican, and +think of remaining here over the winter. At the present moment I +am engaged in arranging the Pope's Hymnus, published last month +by Bote and Bock for pianoforte as a solo and in duet-form, for +chorus (with Italian words). I think something of this piece, for +which Kaulbach has made a splendid drawing. If it is performed +here you shall hear about it. As soon as possible I mean to set +to work with my "Christus Oratorio." Unfortunately I have had to +set it aside for a year, as the "Vocal Mass" and other smaller +works prevented my doing anything to it. I shall require from six +to eight months before I get the "Christus" finished, for I am +scarcely half-way through yet. + +My health is good, and I can unconcernedly allow people the +pleasure of referring to me as "physically broken down" and a +"decayed wreck" (as I have been described in the Augsburger +Allgemeine Zeitung). + +One favor do me at once, dear friend. Request Kahnt to purchase +for me the steel-plates (or woodcuts) of Schwind's "Elisabeth- +Galerie" in the Wartburg, published in Leipzig by Weigel or +Brockhaus, and let them be sent safely, quickly and correctly, +addressed to "Herr Baron Anton von Augusz--Szegzard" (Tolnaer +Comitat--Hungary). If I am not mistaken, the drawings are +published in two parts. The first part contains the pictures of +St. Elisabeth's arrival at the Wartburg, the miracle of Roses--up +to her death. The second part gives the medallions depicting her +works of charity. I wish to send the complete "Elisabeth-Galerie" +to Baron Augusz. The price is not high, and the money shall be +refunded to Kahnt as soon as I get the bill. + +By the way Kahnt would be doing me a favor by presenting +"Remenyi," through Roszavogli (Pest), with a copy of Pflughaupt's +arrangement for pianoforte and violin of my "Cantique d'amour" +and "Ave Maria"--and by granting my humble self a copy also, at +his convenience. Remenyi will be glad to play the pieces with +Plotenyi and thus make them known, and I would get Sgambati and +Pinelli [A Roman violin virtuoso (born 1843), was appointed in +1872 Director of the "Societa musicale romana," in Rome.] to do +the same here. + +With hearty greetings to your wife, + +Your unchangeably sincere and devoted + +F. Liszt + +The Vatican, September 28th, 1865 + +Let me know of the despatch of the "Elisabeth-Galerie," and also +send me a few copies of Bulow's three articles. + +Why have my organ-pieces (from Korner, Erfurt) not yet reached +me? Please remind Kahnt or Gottschalg of this. + + + +44. To Eduard Liszt + +Dearest Eduard, + +My heartiest thanks to you for remembering the 22nd October. The +day was celebrated quietly and happily like last year in my +former residence (Madonna del Rosario)--and you were present with +me in my inmost heart. + +Before I received your lines I had already answered Dunkl's and +Herbeck's letters relating to the "Elizabeth" Oratorio. You know +how much against my wish it is to put this work into circulation. +And, however flattering it may be to me (perhorrescised +composer!) to receive offers from various places about it, still +I think it advisable to avoid precipitancy, and not to expose my +friends so soon again to unpleasantnesses such as my earlier +works brought upon them. Lowy's empty stalls (with the Preludes) +are significant...and, considering the various kinds of abuse +which my works have had to endure, silence would seem to be most +becoming. + +Therefore be good enough, dearest Eduard, to tell those kindly +disposed "Musical Friends," emphatically that I cannot make up my +mind to the proposed performance of the "Elizabeth," and beg them +to pardon this small-mindedness in me. Besides the score is no +longer at my disposal, as I have sent it to Bulow, who requires +it for a performance desired by H.M. the King, for which I have +already invited Herbeck. Bulow is giving some concerts this month +and next in Berlin, Dresden, Prague, etc. Hence he cannot begin +rehearsing the Elizabeth till later. Of the Munich performance +you shall hear details when the time comes. + +With regard to your communication to the Princess, I assure you +again that as soon as and as often as it is possible for me to do +you a service, as certainly shall it be done. + +Kindest greetings to your wife from + +Your truly devoted + +F. Liszt + +[Rome,] November 1st, 1865. + + + +45. To Dr. Franz Brendel + +Dear friend, + +My answer to you has been delayed in order that I might at the +same time tell you of a variety of things. + +A) At the beginning of March I intend going to Paris. The Gran +Mass is to be given on March 15th in the Church of St. Eustache +at the anniversary "de l'oeuvre des ecoles" to which the Maire of +the 2nd Arrondissement, M. Dufour, sent me an official invitation +the other day. + +B) The report spread in various newspapers about the Hungarian +Coronation-Mass which I am to compose, is for the present only +officiously correct. Probably it may become true shortly. [This +did occur, as is well known.] + +C) At the opening of the Dante Gallery here at the end of the +month my "Dante Symphony" is to be performed. I enclose the +article from the Osservatore Romano in which this extraordinary +event is discussed in detail--also another number of the same +paper containing a short notice on the "Stabat mater speciosa" (a +very simple chorus from my "Christus Oratorio"), that was sung +last Thursday in the Franciscan Church Ara Coeli (on the +Capitol). + +D) I am quite determined to attend the Tonkunstler-Versammlung in +Coburg, and expect to hear from you shortly more about it. It is +to be hoped that Bulow will conduct. If there should be any +thought of giving the "Elizabeth," Bulow will be indispensable.-- + +As regards the Elizabeth, pray make my best excuses to Kahnt. I +did not reply to his friendly request, because I have made up my +mind not to have this work published meanwhile, and hold fast to +this negative determination. Do not let Kahnt take this ill of +me, and let him be assured of my sincere willingness to meet his +wishes in all other matters. + +.--. I am in want of a great many things, but most of all in want +of more time! + +With friendliest greetings, sincerely and devotedly yours, + +F. Liszt + +The Vatican, January 14th, 1866 + + + +46. To Dr. Franz Brendel + +Dear Friend, + +So there is to be no Tonkunstler-Versammlung this year; in place +of it war-cries, and symphonies of bayonets and cannon! Here, +probably, we shall remain in peaceful quietude under the +protection of France.--As regards my humble self, I mean to try, +during the second half of this 66th year, to overtake what I was +compelled to neglect during the first half of it. My "Christus +Oratorio" shall be finished by Christmas.--Prince Hohenlohe, with +whom I have been residing since April 1865, has been made +Cardinal and shortly leaves the Vatican. Last Sunday I returned +to my old quarters at Monte Mario, Madonna del Rosaraio, where I +am as comfortable as possible. Next year I think of going to +Germany, first to Munich. As you know, the King of Bavaria has +conferred upon me the title of Knight of the Grand Cross of the +Order of St. Michael. And the Emperor Maximilian that of the +Guadeloup order.-- + +My stay in Paris will not prove unfruitful. People may say of it +what they like.--I must mention to you the name of Camille Saint- +Saens in Paris, as specially deserving of notice in the Neue +Zeitschrft as a distinguished artist, virtuoso and composer. Last +year he was in Leipzig, so he told me, and played his Concerto at +the Gewandhaus there. But people could not make anything out of +him, and in dignified ignorance allowed him to pass. Langhans [A +Berlin musical composer and critic who died in 1892.] sees him +frequently and could give you fuller information about him for +the Zeitschrift. + +Give Kahnt my grateful thanks for carefully carrying out the +orders from Paris. I mean to wait another year before publishing +the "Elizabeth." I also want several illustrations for it, for, +as the work is dedicated to the King of Bavaria, I wish it to +present the choicest and noblest appearance. + +If Kahnt should be disposed to take it next year, I shall be glad +to come to some arrangement with him about it. Still I am +determined not to have the "Elizabeth" published till then; to +several publishers who have offered to undertake the publication +I have already replied,--may every kind of printing long be held +at a distance from this score.-- + +Allow me to recommend to your friendly interest a few other +things I have at heart. + +Ask Kahnt, in my name, not to be sparing in supplying Bulow with +copies of the Liszt-compositions he has published. I should more +especially like my Quartets for male voices circulated, and a few +complimentary copies from Kahnt would be useful in this respect. +No fear need be entertained of Bulow's making indiscreet demands, +and one may confidently grant him all he wishes. + +.--. Hartel will shortly be sending me some music. Please enclose +the last numbers of the Neue Zeitschrft in the parcel in order +that my ignorance on matters musical may be relieved. + +In sincere attachment I remain in unalterable friendship, + +Yours, + +F. Liszt + +Rome, June 19th, 1866 + +The score of the Gran Mass presumably reached Riedel safely (6 +weeks ago). The vocal parts I have meanwhile left with +Giacomelli. Later an edition of the choral and orchestral parts +will become a necessity. + + + +47. To Dr. Franz Brendel + +Dear Friend, + +Your last letter but one, the registered one, has reached me +safely. As it contained more in the way of answers than was +wanted I hesitated to write to you. As already said, I have made +up my mind to wait another year before publishing the +"Elizabeth." In the first place it is necessary that I should +correct the frequent errors in the copy of the score--a piece of +work that will take a couple of weeks.--Then, before its +appearance, I should like an opportunity of quietly hearing the +work once in Germany, and this perhaps might occur next year. +Meanwhile give Kahnt my best thanks for his ready consent, of +which, however, I cannot make use till later, provided that an +honorarium of a couple of thousand francs (which has been offered +me elsewhere) does not frighten him. .--. So far as one can plan +a journey nowadays, I intend to be in Germany again for a few +weeks during the summer of 1867.--Tomorrow I shall write to Dr. +Hartel and tell him that you have kindly expressed yourself ready +to discuss with him the small matter about the Draseke brochure. +It would please me greatly to hear that some amicable arrangement +had been made. + +With regard to the publications of the Allgemeine Deutsche +Musikverein, I would vote for the Overture by Seifriz. Likewise +for the continuation of the Chamber music performances in +Leipzig--and, of course, for the compensation from the Society's +purse due to you. + +Stade's article on the "Faust Symphony" I have not yet received. +My last number of the Zeitschrift is that of July 6th. I am glad +that Stade does not disapprove of these Faust-things.-- +Schondorf's Polonaise, Impromptu, etc., which Kahnt has sent me, +I have read through with pleasure and interest. With the next +sending to Rome please enclose the "Petrus" Oratorio by Meinardus +(the pianoforte score). In case the pianoforte score has not +appeared, then let me have the full score. And together with the +"Petrus" Oratorio please also send me the fragment of the +"Christus" Oratorio by Mendelssohn (published by Hartel). + +My "Christus" Oratorio has, at last, since yesterday got so far +finished that I have now only got the revising, the copying and +the pianoforte score to do. Altogether it contains 12 musical +numbers (of which the "Seligkeiten" and the "Pater Noster" have +been published by Kahnt), and takes about three hours to perform. +I have composed the work throughout to the Latin text from the +Scriptures and the Liturgy. After a time I shall ask Riedel for +his assistance and advice with regard to the German wording. + +Please give Alex Ritter my cordial thanks for his Amsterdam +report. + +I cannot, at present, promise you any literary contributions for +the proposed Annual of the D. M. If the instrumental Introduction +to the "Elizabeth" (for piano-forte) would suit you I would +gladly place it at your disposal, reserving the copyright for the +subsequent publisher of the score, that is, his right to publish +the same Introduction again. + +As far as I can foresee I shall remain here the whole winter. My +address is simply: To Commandeur Abbe Liszt--Rome. + +Fuller performances of the Beethoven Symphonies and of the Dante +Symphony are to be given next Advent in the Dante Gallery. +Sgambati is to conduct them, and I have promised to attend the +rehearsals. + +Heugel of Paris (Director of the Menestrel) is shortly to publish +a new edition of my Franciscus-legends. + +With friendliest greetings, your attached + +F. Liszt + +October 2nd, 1866 + + + +48. To Breitkopf and Hartel + +Much Esteemed Herr Doctor, + +It is very mortifying to me to have to confess that I have most +awkwardly come to a standstill with the transcription of the +Beethoven Quartets. After several attempts the result was either +absolutely unplayable--or insipid stuff. Nevertheless I shall not +give up my project, and shall make another trial to solve this +problem of pianoforte arrangement. If I succeed I will at once +inform you of my "Heureka." [Discovery (from a Greek word).- +TRANS.] Meanwhile I am occupied exclusively with the "Christus +Oratorio," which has, at last, advanced so far that all I have +now to do is to put the marks of expression in the score and the +pianoforte score. + +Pray kindly excuse me if a small piece of vanity leads me to +address you with a wish. My "Symphonic Poems" have, as you know, +had a regular deluge of halberds hurled at them by the critics. +After all these murderous and deadly blows that have been aimed +at them, it would be very gratifying to me if the analyses of +these "Symphonic Poems" in which, a few years ago, Felix Draseke +discussed them severally in the Anregungen [Notices] could now be +published by you all together in the form of a brochure, for they +are written with a thorough knowledge of the subject, yet in a +kindly spirit. + +On this account I begged Dr. Brendel to discuss the matter with +you, and now take the liberty of addressing you personally on the +subject of my wish. + +With much esteem, yours sincerely, + +F. Liszt + +Rome, October 4th, 1866 + +Will you kindly send Cantor Gottschalg in Tieffurt a good copy of +my pianoforte scores of the nine Beethoven Symphonies? 49. To Dr. +Franz Brendel + +Dear Friend, + +My heartfelt sympathy in the grievous loss which you have +sustained. [On November 15th, 1866, Dr. Brendel lost his wife, +Elizabeth nee Trautmann (born in St. Petersburg 1814). She was a +pianist and a pupil of Field and Berger. Dr. Brendel survived her +only two years.] It is an immeasurable sorrow on which one can +only be silent!-- + +Let us pass over to the business part of your letter. Our Grand +Duke informs me that there is to be a Wartburg Festival this +summer (a Jubilee in celebration of the 800th year of the +Wartburg's existence). And for this fete he wishes a performance +of the "Elizabeth-Legend" under my personal direction. I have +agreed to this, for, as the occasion is an exceptional one, I too +am enabled to make an exception to meet his commands. Now as the +Duke is Patron of the Tonkunstler-Verein, it seems to me +appropriate that this year's T. K. Versammlung should be brought +into some connection with the Wartburg Jubilee. Think the matter +over and discuss it with Gille. The date of the Wartb. Festival +has not been announced to me, and will probably not be settled +till later. As for myself I could not promise to remain more than +one month in Germany. Hence it would be agreeable to me +personally if the T. K. Versammlung were not kept apart from the +Wartburg Jubilee, and were arranged for about the same date; I +could then attend both. In case Bulow cannot undertake to act as +conductor, those to be mentioned as substitutes would be, no +doubt, Seifriz, Riedel, Damrosch, Lassen.-- Seifriz's hesitation +with regard to the publication of his Overture I consider to be +scrupulous beyond measure, and am of the opinion that he should +not hold to it any longer. Gille's circular (of December 9th) I, +of course, agree with, only the compensation of 50 thalers [about +71 British pounds sterling, 0s., 0d.] is somewhat too modest. I +should like to see an 0 added to the 50.-- + +The full score and pianoforte score of the "Elizabeth" contain a +mass of errors. The revising will take me a couple of weeks. At +the beginning of February I will send you the manuscript for +Kahnt's disposal, that is, if he is willing to comply with my +conditions about the publication (which I will write out +carefully for you). You know that I should have preferred to +postpone the publication of the "Elizabeth" for some time longer- +-still I understand Kahnt's difference of opinion, and desire to +prove myself willing, provided that you approve of my +willingness. + +.--. Kindly, when you have an opportunity, remind Hartel about +sending the dedication-copy of my pianoforte scores of the +Beethoven Symphonies to Bulow. The copy ought to be properly +bound (in three volumes--3 Symphonies in every volume), and +addressed to Bulow, Johanniss-Vorstadt 31, Basel. + +With sincere thanks and hearty good wishes for the year 1867, I +remain in unchanging friendship, yours, + +F. Liszt + +Rome, January 6th, 1867 + +The Neue Zeitschrift has not come for more than six months. + + + +50. To Doctor Cuturi, Pisa + +[From a rough copy of Liszt's in possession of Herr Alexander +Ritter in Munich] + +Sir, + +I am told that you would be good enough to take into +consideration my recommendation of Mr. Alexander Ritter. I hasten +therefore to assure you of the sincere esteem in which I hold his +remarkable talent as a violinist and his capability as an +orchestral conductor. His very extensive musical knowledge, his +frequent and close connection with virtuosi and celebrated +composers, and his practical experience of the best-known works +and orchestras qualify him in a high degree for the post that +would be offered to him at Pisa. The best judges discern in Mr. +Ritter not merely a brilliant virtuoso, able to obtain everywhere +applause and approbation, but also--which is more rare--a +consummate musician, endowed with the most noble feeling for Art, +and possessing the most perfect understanding of the works of the +great masters. + +Besides this, sir, I am sure that you will find much pleasure in +your personal relations with him. All who know him bear testimony +to his honorable character as well as to his gentlemanly manners; +and I will merely add that amongst all my German friends there +are few of whom I preserve so affectionate a remembrance. + +Pray accept, Monsieur le Docteur, the expression of my esteem and +distinguished consideration. + +F. Liszt + +Rome, January 22nd, 1867 + + + +51. To Julius von Beliczay in Vienna + +[Hungarian composer, living in Budapest since 1871] + +Dear Sir, + +Accept my sincere thanks for your very friendly letter and for +the dedication of the Beethoven Cadenza. It sounds well and is +pleasant to play. Of course somewhat more might have been made of +the thing, and a different key taken at the outset than C minor. +But it is easier for me to play the critic than to do things +myself, and so today I will merely thank you and assure you of my +interest in your efforts and your success. + +Very truly yours, + +F. Liszt + +Rome, April 29th, 1867 + + + +52. To Madame Jessie Laussot + +Dear Madame, + +I cannot tell you how your generosity of mind and heart touches +me. The favorable reception you have obtained at Florence for the +"Beatitudes" and the "Pater noster" is a link the more in the +chain of my musical obligations to you, dear and valliant +Maestra. Will you kindly convey my best thanks to your co- +operators. .--. + +As a slight musical indication observe that in the "Pater noster" +I simply modulate and develop somewhat,--in the somewhat confined +limits of a sentiment of trusting and pious submission,--the +Gregorian intonation as sung in all our churches-- + +[Figure: Musical score excerpt setting the words "Pater noster +qui es in coelis"] + +following the traditional intonations for each verse. This +framework was naturally adapted to the arranging of my Oratorio-- +"Christ",--in which I employed two or three other intonations of +the plain-song, without considering myself guilty of a theft by +such a use. + +You know that the rehearsals of the "Christ" have begun. With the +help of our dear and admirable Sgambati it will be able to be +given here at the end of June. I shall invite you to come and +hear it, and shall send you shortly the programme of the whole +work, which is going to be published previously. + +But since you interest yourself with so rare a zeal in my poor +works and in making them known, I am tempted to propose to you +the 23rd and 137th Psalms for your Florence programmes. The +latter has been sung here this winter with some success. It is +not very troublesome to study; provided that the singer +understands what she has to say the rest goes of itself. The +accompaniment is limited to four instruments,--Harp, Violin, +Harmonium and Piano; and, as in the Magnificat of the Dante +Symphony, the chorus is written for Soprano and Alto voices +(without Tenors or Basses). The text is excessively simple, and +is reduced to the one word, Jerusalem! + +Perhaps you may also meet with a kind soul who is willing to +translate into Italian the Chorus of Reapers ("Schnitterchor") +from the Prometheus, which could be performed quite simply with +piano accompaniment. + +I will permit myself to send you the two Psalms next week by Mrs. +Pearsoll (of New York), to whom I have sung your praises, a +matter in which I yield to no one. Happily the opportunity for +practising this recurs often: Mme. d'Usedom (whom I met the other +evening at Bn. Arnim's) will speak to you of it. .--. + +As soon as I receive positive tidings about the coronation at +Pest you shall know. I shall certainly not stir from Rome this +time without coming to spend some hours with you at Florence. + +Continue your friendship to me, and believe in mine, very cordial +and grateful. + +F. Liszt + +Rome, May 24th, 1867 + +The success of Bronsart's Trio delights me. You will give him +great pleasure if you will write him a couple of lines, which you +must address simply "H. v. B. Intendant des Hoftheaters. +Hannover." Tell him about Sgambati and his Trio at Rome and +Florence. I, on my side, will write to Bronsart as soon as my +summer plans are fixed. + + + +53. To Eduard Liszt + +Very dear Eduard, + +You know that the Coronation Mass has met with the most kind +reception. [At its performance at Ofen (Budapest)] None of my +works up to the present time had been so favorably accepted. I +have begged Franz Doppler in particular to let you know about it, +knowing that you would like to hear me praised, even with some +exaggeration, by a friend as competent as he is affectionate. +Since the performance of the "Gran Mass" Doppler has always shown +the kindest feelings towards me. Tell him that I am very +sincerely grateful to him. I am anxious to thank Schelle [Musical +critic of the Vienna Presse, since dead] for his excellent +article in the Presse, and send you herewith a few lines which +you will be good enough to give him... + +The rehearsals of my Oratorio "Le Christ" are progressing. It +will probably be performed in the early part of July, and I will +have the programme sent to you. + +Towards the end of July I shall go to Weimar. The "Wartburg +Festival" is fixed for the 28th August. On that day the Elisabeth +will be heard in the hall of the Minnesingers. A fortnight before +that the concerts of the Tonkunstler-Versammlung will take place +at Meiningen. Possibly you may be able to come and look me up in +the course of this same month of August. + +Yours ever from heart and soul, + +F. Liszt + +Rome, June 20th, 1867 + + + +54. To William Mason in New York + +Dear Mr. Mason, + +Your kind letter gives me a very cordial pleasure, and I beg you +to be assured of the continuance of my very affectionate +feelings. I frequently hear your success in America spoken of. +You deserve it, and I rejoice to know that your talent is justly +appreciated and applauded. Your compositions have not yet reached +me, but I am fully disposed to give them a good reception. In +about a fortnight I shall start for Weimar. The Tonkunstler- +Versammlung is to take place at Meiningen this year from the 22nd +to the 25th August. I shall be present at it, as also at the +Jubilee Festival at the Wartburg, at which my Oratorio "Saint +Elizabeth" will be performed on the 28th August. Perhaps I shall +meet there Mr. Theodore Thomas and Mr. S.B. Mills, of whom you +speak. I have heard the highest praises of the capability of Mr. +Thomas, whom I have to thank particularly for the interest he +takes in my Symphonic Poems. Artists who are willing to take the +trouble to understand and to interpret my works cut themselves +off from the generality of their fraternity. I, more than any +one, have to thank them for this, therefore I shall not fail to +show my thanks to Messrs. Thomas and Mills when I have the +pleasure of making their acquaintance. + +The news which reaches me from time to time about musical matters +in America is generally favorable to the cause of the progress of +contemporaneous Art which I hold it an honor to serve and to +sustain. It seems that, among you, the cavillings and blunders +and stupidities of a criticism adulterated by ignorance, envy and +venality exercise less influence than in the old continent. I +congratulate you on this, and give you my best wishes that you +may happily pursue this noble careerof an artist,--with work, +perseverance, resignation, modesty, and the imperturbable faith +in the Ideal, such as was indicated to you at Weimar, dear Mr. +Mason, by your very sincerely affectionate and attached + +F. Liszt + +Rome, July 8th, 1867 + + + +55. To E. Repos, director of the "Revue de Musique sacree" in +Paris + +[Autograph of all the letters to Repos in the possession of Herr +Dr. Oscar von Hase in Leipzig.] + +Dear sir, + +I am very much obliged to you for the kind feelings you express +to me, and beg to assure you of my desire to correspond to them. +By your activity and the character of your publications our +interests are naturally similar; I will take care to make them as +agreeable as possible to you. + +The day after tomorrow I will send you four or five small pages +which, if I mistake not, will suit you,--and which may be +propagated. It is a simple and easy version for Organ of the hymn +"Tu es Petrus," lately performed here on the eighteen-hundredth +anniversary of St. Peter. I hope you will find an organist in +Paris who is willing to appropriate this piece and by his talent +to make it worth hearing. + +As I am anxious that your edition should be perfectly correct I +beg that you will send me the proofs. Address them to me, from +the loth to the 30th August, at Weimar, Grand Duke of Saxe- +Weimar, Germany. The performance of my Oratorio "Saint +Elizabeth," at the jubilee Festival of the Wartburg on the 28th +August, calls me into those parts of Thuringia which "Saint +Elizabeth" has illustrated. + +I shall start from here in about a week. Will you therefore defer +what you are so kindly intending to send me until my return to +Rome (end of October)? Accept, dear sir, my best thanks, together +with the assurance of my very distinguished and devoted +sentiments. + +F. Liszt + +Rome, July 12th, 1867 + +Here, as in Germany, my name is enough without any more detailed +address. + + + +56. To Prince Constantine Czartoryski + +[From a rough copy in Liszt's own handwriting enclosed in the +following letter. The addressee, President of the Society of the +Friends of Music, died in 1891 in Vienna, where he was Vice- +President of the Herrenhaus.] + +My Prince, + +The two letters which you have done me the honor to address to me +at Rome and Munich have reached me at the same time. I cannot but +feel myself highly flattered at your kind proposition with regard +to the performance of my Oratorio "Saint Elizabeth" at one of the +concerts of the musical society over which you preside. The great +renown of these concerts, the rare capability of their conductor +Mr. Herbeck, the talent of the artists who take part in them, and +the care that is taken to maintain the traditions of the musical +glory of Vienna, make it very desirable for every serious +composer to take a place in their programme. Thus I am most +sincerely grateful to you, my Prince, for procuring me this +honor, which however, much to my regret, I should not be able to +accept without some delay. + +It would be wearisome to enter into many details; one fact alone +will suffice: the score of the "Elizabeth" is to be sent back to +be engraved, and I promised the editor not to let it go anywhere +else before its publication. Besides this the voice and +orchestral parts which were used at the Wartburg are no longer +available. + +Kindly pardon me therefore that I cannot in this matter satisfy +your favorable intentions as I should like. "What is deferred is +not lost," says a proverb to which I prefer to attach myself +today, while begging you to accept, my Prince, the expression of +the sentiments of high esteem and consideration with which I have +the honor to be + +Your Highness's very humble and devoted servant, + +F. Liszt + +Munich, October 14th, 1867 + + + +57. To Eduard Liszt + +Dearest Eduard, + +My hearty thanks to you for your letter. It almost made me +determine to send Prince Czartoryski an answer in the +affirmative; but when I came to think the matter over more fully +it did not seem suitable, considering my peculiar position. +Enclosed is a copy of my letter to Czartoryski; I hope you may +not disapprove of it; let me give you a few more reasons. + +1st. I really cannot at present send off the only existing copy +of the score of the "Elizabeth", for it is required for printing. +Nor should I care to have the orchestra and chorus parts from +Munich used, and this I wrote to Prince Cz. It was for this very +same reason that I declined offers respecting performances of the +"Elizabeth" from Dusseldorf, Leipzig, Dresden, etc. + +2nd. I do not share your rosy hopes of this work proving a +success in towns where my earlier works not only met with little +appreciation, but even received unseemly rebuffs. In Vienna, +Leipzig, Berlin and even larger cities, the hisses of half a +dozen stupid boys or evil-disposed persons were always sufficient +to delude the public, and to frustrate the best intentions of my +somewhat disheartened friends. In the newspaper criticisms these +hissing critics are sure to find numerous supporters and pleasant +re-echoes as long as the one object of the majority of my judges +of this species is to get me out of their way. The improvement, +which is said of late to have shown itself in regard to my +position, may be interpreted somewhat thus: "For years in his +Symphonic Poems, his Masses, Pianoforte works, Songs, etc., Liszt +has written mere bewildering and objectionable stuff; in his +"Elizabeth" he appears to have acted somewhat more rationally-- +still, etc., etc."--Now as I am in no way inclined to cry peccavi +for all my compositions, or to assume that the castigations they +received were just and justifiable, I do not consider it +advisable to subscribe to the supposed extenuating circumstances +of the "Elizabeth". I well know the proverb: "Non enim qui se +ipsum commendat, ille probatus est," and do not think I am +sinning against it. However it is possible that my resolute +friends may, in the end, be right in asserting that my things are +not so bad as they are made out to be!--Meanwhile what I have to +do is to go on working quietly and undismayed, without in the +smallest degree urging the performance of my works-nay in +restraining some friendly disposed conductors from undertaking +them. + +3rd. After having two years ago excused myself to Herbeck about +allowing a performance of the "Elizabeth" in Vienna, I cannot now +immediately accept the friendly offer of Prince Czartoryski. It +might be somewhat different had Herbeck attended the Wartburg +performance, as I invited him to do through Schelle. But much as +I appreciate and admire Herbeck's talent as a conductor, still I +cannot know in advance whether he likes my work or not, or how +far he agrees with my intentions. At all events I should have to +come to some personal understanding with him on the subject +before a performance is given in Vienna, just because this is a +matter of importance to me, and the performance ought not to be a +dementi of the preceding ones. It is much more to my advantage +not to have my works performed at all, than to allow them to be +performed in a half-and-half or unsatisfactory manner.--I may say +quite frankly that it would certainly be very agreeable to me to +stand in a somewhat better light in Vienna as a composer than I +have hitherto done. But the time has not come for that--and if it +should ever come, half a dozen of my compositions, for instance +the 13th Psalm, the Faust and Dante Symphonies, some of the +Symphonic Poems, and even, horribile dictu! the Prometheus +Chorus, would have to be introduced to the public in proper +style. Three concerts would be necessary for this, and would have +to be announced beforehand, arranged and rehearsed, and there the +"Elizabeth" might also then find a place among them. Herbeck +would be an excellent one to arrange and conduct these concerts, +provided he were not too much afraid of the obligations due to +criticism. My personal position will not permit of my taking any +part in them as a conductor; nevertheless I should not care to be +altogether idle on the occasion, and hence should like, first of +all, to have a careful discussion with Herbeck about various +points that must absolutely be given thus and in no other way. It +was in this sense that I wrote to Czartoryski that: "Ce qui est +differe nest pas perdu" ("Aufgeschoben ist nicht aufgehoben") +["Put off is not given up."]--and so I may possibly come to +Vienna--in the winter of '69. + +First of all, however, I need several quiet months in Rome in +order again to take up the work that has been interrupted for so +long. The Bulows have persuaded me to spend my birthday with +them. The Munich Musik-Schule is in full activity and seems as if +it were likely to outstrip the other Conservatoires. Bulow is +assuredly justified in saying, "Go and do likewise"!-- + +Before the end of the month I shall be back in Rome. All hearty +good wishes to you and yours, from your faithfully attached, + +F. Liszt + +Munich, October 16th, 1867 + +P.S.--Before long you will receive a visit from August Rockel. +This name will probably call up to your imagination--as it has +done in many other cases--an ultra-revolutionary agitator; in +place of which you will find a gentle, refined, kindly and +excellent man. I should like you to cultivate his acquaintance, +and can cordially recommend him to you. His daughter (at the Burg +Theater) you are sure to know--and you will also know of his old +friendship with Wagner and Bulow. It was not till I came here +that I became acquainted with Rockel and learned to value him. + +Have you read in the Augsburger Allgem. Zeitung the extremely +kind notice of my stay in Stuttgart? Best thanks also for sending +me your article on the "Wanderer." + + + +58. To Eduard von Liszt + +Dearest Eduard, + +By some mistake I did not receive your letter of the 16th till +today. From my last you will have clearly seen that I do not wish +any further performance of the "Elizabeth" before the score is +published. As I told you, I have declined the offers from +Dusseldorf, Dresden and other towns. Even as regards Leipzig, +where I am under special obligations to Riedel (for he has on +several occasions got his Society to give excellent performances +of the "Gran Mass," the "Prometheus" choruses, the "Seligkeiten," +etc.), I shall endeavor to defer the promised performance of the +"Elizabeth." The matter would be one of special importance to me +as regards Vienna,--and for this very reason I am anxious not to +be in too great a hurry. Hence I most gratefully accept your +mediation with Prince Czartoryski. Be my kind mediator and point +out to him my peculiar position, so that there may not be any +sort of vexation--and let the "Elizabeth" remain unperformed. I +think I have clearly stated my reasons for this passive, or, if +you prefer it, this expectative mode of action. + +It would interest me to know how the "Coronation Mass" was +performed and received in Vienna. Ask Herbeck in my name not to +drag the tempi; the "Gloria," more especially, must be taken the +more rapidly as it proceeds--the time to be beaten throughout +alla breve. Send me word about this to Rome. + +To please the Bulows I shall remain here till October 24th,--and +be back in Rome, at latest, on the 30th. + +If Bulow goes on working here for a couple of years, Munich will +become the musical capital of Germany. In addition to my interest +in all musical matters here, my stay has offered many other +points of interest and pleasure by my intercourse with Kaulbach, +Liebig, Heyse, Geibel, Redwitz, etc.-- + +Cordially yours, + +F. Liszt + +Munich, October 20th, 1867 + +Enclosed is a tolerably good photograph of my humble self. + + + +59. To Peter Cornelius in Munich + +Dearest Cornelius, + +I am grieved not to have met you yesterday, so as to have thanked +you at once for the indescribable pleasure your poem gave me. The +little interpreter Lulu [Daniela, the eldest daughter of H. v. +Bulow, now married to Prof. Dr. Thode] recited it twice admirably +without the smallest error or stumbling. I most sincerely wish +that all your works may find such interpreters as Lulu, so fully +able to grasp your sentiments that your audience has nothing to +do but to weep--as was our feeling yesterday with Cosima, when we +both wept like children! + +With all my heart, your + +F. Liszt + +Wednesday, October 23rd, 1867 [Munich] + + + +60. To Eduard von Liszt + +Dearest Eduard, + +The enclosed letter from Chordirector Kumenecker [The Director of +the Altlerchenfelder Kirchenmusik-Verein, in Vienna, had +requested Liszt to grant him permission to give a performance of +the "Coronation Mass."] I received only on my return to Rome +(November 6th). Be so good as to pay the writer of it a visit in +my name, and ask him kindly to excuse my not complying with his +request. Also tell him that I have not got either the chorus or +the orchestral parts of the "Coronation Mass." The only existing +copies are those belonging to the Court orchestra of Vienna; +hence these parts would have either to be obtained or to be +copied if a performance of the work is to be given elsewhere, and +this I should not care either to advise or disadvise. + +The Mass fulfilled its object in Pest on the Coronation Day. If +it should be given on any future occasion, I would recommend the +conductor to take the tempi solemnly always, but never dragging, +and to beat the time throughout alla Breve. And the "Gloria," +more especially towards the middle and before the commencement of +the "Agnus Dei" up to the Prestissimo, must be worked up +brilliantly and majestically. Whether and when the "Coronation +Mass" is to appear in print I do not know. Dunkl (Roszavoglyi) in +Pest had intended to publish it, but the honorarium of 100 ducats +seems to make him hesitate, and I will not accept any smaller +sum. Two movements from it (the "Offertorium" and "Benedictus") I +have transcribed for the piano, and these may be bought +separately, which will be an advantage to the publisher. And the +pianoforte arrangements for one or two performers are to appear +simultaneously with the score.--It is of no importance to me to +have the work published immediately. If you should meet Carl +Haslinger and have an opportunity, ask him whether he would risk +100 ducats upon it. As he has already published a number of +Masses, this one might suit him as well. If not, it is all the +same to me. Only I cannot make any alteration about the +honorarium I have now fixed upon. [The "Coronation Mass," like +the "Gran Mass," was published by Schuberth, Leipzig.] + +Yours, + +F. Liszt + +Rome, November 6th, 1867 + + + +61. To E. Repos + +Dear Sir, + +Pray excuse me for replying so late to your kind and cordial +letter. Various matters detained me in Germany longer than I +expected, and I have only been back three days at my house at +"Santa Francesca Romana," where I shall spend the winter. Your +publications will be excellent company to me here. I accept with +gratitude the Gradual and Vesperal [Gradual--a portion of the +Mass. Vesperal--book of evening prayer] (in--12) that you are +kind enough to offer me, and beg you to let me have them shortly. +What can I on my side send you that will be agreeable to you? +Something will be found, I hope, for I sincerely desire to +satisfy you. + +It seems to me that it would not be of any use for you to +undertake to publish now one or two large works of my +composition. In order to be somewhat accredited, they must first +of all be performed and heard, not en passant, but seriously and +several times. For this I have no support in France, and should +even expose myself to unpleasant dispositions and interpretations +if I in the least endeavored to bring myself forward there. It is +only in Germany, Hungary, and Holland that, in spite of frequent +and lively opposition, my name as a composer has acquired a +certain weight. In those countries they continue performing my +music by inclination, curiosity, and interest, without my asking +anybody to do so. You have probably heard of the favorable +reception that the "Legend of St. Elizabeth" met with at the +Festival of the Wartburg at the end of August. For two years past +this work has been performed several times at Pest, Prague, +Munich, and I have recently been asked for it from Vienna, +Dresden, Leipzig, Aix-la-Chapelle, etc., but as the score has to +be sent to be engraved I have not been able to lend it further. I +shall give myself the pleasure of sending you a copy towards +Easter.-It is also in Germany (probably at Munich) that my +Oratorio "Le Christ" will be first given: now, as it is important +to me that the first complete performance (for the one in Rome on +the occasion of the centenary of St. Peter was only a tentative +and partial one) should be as satisfactory as possible, I must be +present at it. Consequently it will not take place till the +winter of '69--if I am still in this world then,--it being my +intention not to leave Rome for a year. + +Pardon me these details, dear sir. As the cordiality of your +letter assures me that we shall have long business relations with +one another, it is better to put you at once in possession of the +facts of my musical situation. It prescribes to me duties +attached to many restrictions which my ecclesiastical capacity +increases still more. "Providemus enim bona non solum coram Deo +sed etiam coram hominibus."-- + +To return to your publications. Palestrina, Lassus, the masters +of the 16th and 17th centuries, are your models par excellence. +You have plenty of work for years to come to edit their admirable +works, and to put yourself on a par with the collection published +(cheap) at Ratisbon under the title of "Musica divina." Moreover +there is nothing to prevent you from adding many a composition +more or less modern. Dispose of my few, as you are pleased to +admit them. You might begin with the "Credo" (from the +"Coronation Mass"), and the "Te Deum" in plain song [cantus +planus] of which you speak. Later on a tolerably simple Mass, +with organ accompaniment only, might perhaps find a place. Then, +two excerpts from the Oratorio "Christ,"--"the Beatitudes" and +the "Pater noster"--which have already appeared at Leipzig, might +reappear in Paris, especially if there were any favorable +opportunity of getting them heard. As to the Oratorio entire, it +will be better still to wait awhile longer. + +"Expectans expectavi"...and let my biographical notice which you +have in view also wait. In order to make it exact and +comprehensive, it would be necessary for me to give some data to +the writer who would undertake the task of representing me today +to the public. Many things have been printed about me in a +transient way. Amongst the most remarkable articles that of Mr. +Fetis, in his "Biographie universelle des Musiciens" (second +edition), of which you tell me, takes the foremost place. +Nevertheless, however much disposed I am to acknowledge the +conscientious and kind intentions towards myself of the +illustrious and learned man, and even whilst really thanking him +for raising the importance of my works which he connects with +"one of the transformations of Art," I shall not have the false +humility of accepting some of his valuations as definitive +judgments. Of all the theorists whom I know, Mr. Fetis is the one +who has best ascertained and defined the progress of harmony and +rhythm in music; on such chief points as these I flatter myself +that I am in perfect accord with him. For the rest he must excuse +me for escaping in different ways from the critical school whose +ways he extols. According to his theory Art ought to progress, +develop, be enriched, and clothed in new forms; but in practice +he hesitates, and kicks against the pricks,--and, for all that, +would insist that the "transformation" should take place without +in the least disturbing existing customs, and so as to charm +everybody with the greatest ease. Would to Heaven that it might +be so! Between this and them, pray accept, dear sir, my best +thanks, together with the expressions of my very distinguished +and devoted sentiments. + +F. Liszt + +Rome, November 8th, 1867--Santa Francesca Romana + +P.S.--My sincere congratulations for the cross of St. Sylvestre. +People outside are quite mistaken in thinking that they are +lavish with decorations here. + +I have informed the Princess W. of your kind arrangements +relative to the edition of the work that Monseigneur de Montault +mentioned to you. + + + +62. To Madame Jessie Laussot + +Dear Maestra, + +No one knows better than you how to relieve the virtue of +obligingness by the most cordial kindness. You make a point of +persuading your friends that you are in their debt for the +services you render them. In so far as they give you the +opportunity of exercising your fine qualities you are perfectly +right, but further than that you are not; and for my part I beg +you to be as fully assured of my sincere gratitude as of my +entire devotion. + +I am not going to set about pitying you much for the difficulties +and contradictions that your artistic zeal encounters. The world +is so formed that the practice of the Good and the search for the +Better is not made agreeable to any one; not in the things of +Art, which appear the most inoffensive, any more than in other +things. In order to deserve well one must learn to endure well. +The best specific for the prejudice, malice, imbroglios and +injustice of others is not to trouble oneself about them. It +seems that such and such people find their pleasure where we +should not in the least look for it: so be it, reserving to +ourselves to find ours in nobler sources. Besides, how could we +dare to lament over difficulties that run counter to our good +pleasure? Have not the worthiest and most illustrious servants of +Art had to suffer far more than we?...This consolation has its +melancholy side, I know; nevertheless it confirms the active +conscience in the right road. + +This a propos of the prelude extra muros of your last concerts. +Let us pass on to the programmes of them, dear and victorious +Maestra. + +The "Panis Angelicus," [By Palestrina.] the Schumann Quintet and +the sublime Prelude to "Lohengrin" are works which a well- +brought-up public ought to know by heart. You will do well +therefore to reproduce them often. There is no criticism +admissible on this subject; and, if you absolutely exact it that +I should make one at all, it would only be on the adjective +"celebrated," appended to the Schumann Quintet, which would do +without it without disadvantage. Pardon me this hairsplitting.- + +As to the "Beatitudes" I entirely approve of your not having +exhibited them a second time. You know, moreover, that I usually +dissuade my friends from encumbering concert programmes with my +compositions. For the little they have to lose they will not lose +it by waiting. Let us then administer them in homoeopathic doses- +-and rarely. + +I am delighted with what you tell me of Wilhelmj. Please assure +him of my best regard and of the pleasure I shall have in showing +it to him with more consequence. The Concerto for which he asks +has already been begged for several times from me by Sivori and +Remenyi. I don't know when I shall find time to write it. There +is not the least hurry for it, as long as criticism constrains +violin-virtuosi to limit themselves to a repertoire of four or +five pieces, very beautiful doubtless, and no less well known. +Joachim naively confessed to me that after he had played the +Beethoven and Mendelssohn Concertos and the Bach Chaconne he did +not know what to do with himself in a town unless it were to go +on playing indefinitely the same two Concertos and the same +Chaconne. + +Sgambati and Pinelli announce six matinees of Chamber Music every +Wednesday, beginning the day after tomorrow. The audience will be +more numerous this year than formerly. People are beginning to +talk about these matinees in the aristocratic salons in which it +is often de bon ton not to listen to good music.-- + +Towards spring Sgambati will bring you his new laurels, and will +also tell you about his future prospects. The deciding of his +marriage will influence all the rest: it might almost be +regretted that our friend should abandon himself to an excess of +honorable feeling! + +Without offending any one, the famous saying about the Chassepot +rifle may be applied to the Chickering Piano; it is doing wonders +at Rome. Everybody talks to me of it, and wants to see and hear +it. One of my archeological friends calls it "the Coliseum of +Pianos"! + +My affectionate respects to your mother;--sympathetic +remembrances to Miss Williams; a friendly shake of the hand to +Callander;--admiring chirps to Bocage;--warmest compliments to +the Pearsolls, and + +Very cordially yours, + +F. Liszt + +Rome, January 13th, 1868 + + + +63. To Dr. Franz Brendel + +Dear Friend, + +My hearty congratulations upon our Falcon-colleagueship [Brendel +had received the Weimar Order of the Falcon of Watchfulness +(Falkenorden der Wachsamkeit)] and henceforth always, "Vigilando +ascendimus." + +As I was expecting parcels and news from Leipzig I delayed +answering your friendly letter. I have not yet received either +the Almanack, or the corrected proofs of the "Elizabeth". How did +the performance in the Pauliner Church [Riedel had arranged a +performance of the "Elizabeth" in Leipzig.] go off? Ask Kahnt to +let me have one or two of the notices of it--especially the +unfavorable ones. Remind him also to write to Otto Roquette about +the translation of the Latin chorus at the end, to which I +referred in my last letter to him. + +Berlioz's "Requiem" is the corner-stone of the programme for the +Altenburg Tonkunstler-Versammlung. I have often speculated about +the possibility of having this colossal work produced. +Unfortunately the Weimar churches were not sufficiently spacious, +and in Brunswick, where the Egidien church would be a magnificent +place for musical festivals of any kind, other difficulties stood +in the way. Probably Altenburg also does not possess any building +sufficiently large to hold an orchestra for the "Dies Irae", and +Riedel will have to reduce the 16 drums, 12 horns, 8 trumpets and +8 trombones to a minimum. But, even though it should not be +possible to give a performance of the whole work, still there are +portions of it--such as the "Requiem Aeternam," the "Lacrymosa +and Sanctus"--that are extremely well worth hearing and +appreciating. + +The sketch of the programme furnishes an excellent antidote to +Berlioz's Requiem, in Handel's "Acis and Galatea"; and some +smaller things of Draseke, Lassen and my humble self might be +introduced in between. + +Sgambati's co-operation will depend upon my journey. I am unable +as yet to say anything definite about it. Not till June can I +decide whether I can come or not. To speak frankly it will be +difficult for me to leave Rome at all this year. + +With regard to your personal affairs I can but again assure you +that I take the liveliest interest in them. The modesty of your +claims, dear friend, is very much out of proportion with the +importance of the services you have rendered. One rarely meets +with demands that are as just and as unpretending as yours. Be +assured of my sincere readiness to promote your interest in +higher quarters, and to do what I can to satisfy you. + +With warmest thanks and kindest greetings yours, + +F. Liszt + +Rome, January 26th, 1868 + +Sgambati's matinees for Chamber-music are better attended than +ever this winter. They include all that is musically interesting +as regards Rome. + + + +64. To Walter Bache + +Dear Mr. Bache, + +I thank you cordially for your kind letter, and beg you to rely +always on my feelings of sincere affection and esteem. + +It would certainly be a great pleasure to me to see you again in +London this summer, yet I could not venture to promise or to keep +my promise, and must abstain from either. + +Please therefore to make my excuses to the Secretary of the +Philharmonic Society, and to thank him for his kind intentions +towards me. If an opportunity of realising them should occur +later on,--without disappointment or disagreeableness to any +one,--I should be much pleased. As regards the present time it is +superfluous to give any thought to the proposition you transmit +to me, in view of the obligations which will retain me elsewhere. +I am even doubtful whether it will be possible for me to accept +the invitation of my German friends to the Tonkunstler- +Versammlung at Altenburg in July.-- + +The good news you give me of Klindworth is very pleasant to me. +May he remember me sufficiently well to know how much I +appreciate him and what an affection I have for him. + +Sgambati is very much in fashion this winter, and the fashion is +perfectly right in this. He sends you a thousand affectionate +greetings, and Lippi, [A Roman pupil of Liszt's] Mdlle. Giuli +[Liszt's best lady-pupil in Rome] and the other patients of the +"Scuola" [School] hold you in warm remembrance. + +Accept also, dear Mr. Bache, the assurance of my very sincere +devotion. + +F. Liszt + +Rome, January 30th, 1868 + +The performance of my symphonic works in London must, like the +concert of the Phil. Society, be postponed. Your zeal in this +matter touches me much. I would not wish tosuppress it, and only +beg you to moderate it so that it may be all the more fruitful. + + + +65. To Dr. Franz Brendel + +Dear Friend, + +I have nothing to find fault with in the sketch of the Altenburg +programme except that my name occurs too often in it. I am afraid +of appearing obtrusive if several works of mine are produced at +every Tonkunstler-Versammlung. Certainly the repetition of the +13th Psalm might be permissible and even advantageous to myself, +as you kindly remark; also I should not care to raise any protest +against the chorus "An die Kunstler," and simply because it has +hitherto been more screamed at than heard, for it has been +accounted one of my most culpable heresies to have set these +words of Schiller's to music after Mendelssohn, and indeed +without copying Mendelssohn and without humoring the customary +taste of Vocal Societies. Parenthetically be it said that +Schiller and "Manhood's dignity" forbade me to make this +composition any pleasanter. I dreamt a temple and not a kiosk!-- + +If you run the risk of giving this Artists' Chorus in Altenburg I +must beg the conductor to take all possible care in rehearsing +it--and to aim at the most dignified composure in the +performance. Like reverberating marble-pillars must be the effect +of the singing!-- + +Please thank Stade [Director of the Court orchestra, and Court +organist in Altenburg (born 1817); he was a friend of Liszt's for +many years.] most warmly for his friendly intention to play one +of my Organ pieces. He will probably choose either the Variations +on the Basso continuo of Bach's Cantata "Weinen, sorgen, seufzen, +klagen" ("Weeping, grieving, sighing, lamenting")--or the BACH- +Fugue. + +Discuss the matter again with Riedel and Stade, as to whether 3 +items by Liszt on the programme are not too much. I will gladly +yield to your decision, and wish only there were more prospect of +my being able to attend this Tonkunstler-Versammlung. However I +cannot say anything definite about it till June. + +Sgambati gives a concert next week in Florence. On his return at +the end of April it will be decided whether he can undertake the +journey to Altenburg or will have to remain here all summer. + +Sgambati is decidedly not an artist for a watering-place, +although as a virtuoso his talent is extraordinary and +undoubtedly effective. He plays Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, +Schumann, and my most troublesome things with perfect +independence and in a masterly style. His artistic tendencies and +sympathies are altogether "new-German." This winter we heard two +of his larger works: a Pianoforte-Quintet and a Nonet for +strings. Both of these deserve to be brought out by our Musik- +Verein. + +Ad vocem of the dedication of Seifritz's Overture, you have come +to the right resolution in dedicating the 2nd year's issue of the +Almanack to Prince Hohenzollern. I likewise approve of the +following numbers being dedicated to the Princes in whose +capitals the Tonkunstler-Versammlungen are held. + +The first number of the Almanack seems to me very successful. But +the historical Calendar might gain in interest by omissions and +additions. Mediocre local celebrities such as "H.S. in E., T.D. +in B., L.A. in L.," etc., etc., do not need to figure as +historical. As little do a couple of first performances that were +given in Weimar under my conductorship. See to it, dear friend, +that more important data are collected in good time, and that +superfluous data are rejected. + +As I told you in Leipzig, the Grand Duke has determined to have +me in Weimar for a couple of months during the winter (towards +the beginning of '69). Perhaps I may go somewhat sooner. + +With the next sending of proofs please ask Kahnt to enclose the +manuscript of the 18th Psalm ("The Heavens declare the glory of +God") for male voices. It is written on very large sheets of +music-paper and bound in boards. But in order that the parcel may +be made a more convenient size let the boards be removed and the +manuscript paper doubled up. Kahnt will remember that I left him +this manuscript seven years ago. + +With hearty greetings, yours most sincerely, + +F. Liszt + +March 3lst, 1868 + + + +66. To Johann von Herbeck + +Dear Friend, + +My cousin Eduard will bring you the score of the 18th Psalm +intended for the Mannergesang-Verein [Vocal Society for Men's +Voices] in Vienna. Allow me at this opportunity again to offer +you my sincerest thanks for the kindly feelings you have always +entertained for me. The further fate of the Psalm forwarded to +you I leave wholly in your hands. You will have to decide whether +it is suitable for being performed at the Jubilee Festival of the +Mannergesang-Verein. If you think it is I shall be glad; still I +beg you not to make it any special consideration, and if you +think it more advisable not to burden the Festival-programme with +it, I shall be quite content, feeling convinced, dear friend, +that you will know best what is most to my advantage. + +Otherwise the study of it would give no trouble. The Psalm is +very simple and massive--like a monolith. And, as in the case of +other works of mine, the conductor has the chief part to play. +He, as the chief virtuoso and artifex, is called upon to see that +the whole is harmoniously articulated and that it receives a +living form. In the rhythmical and dynamical climax, from letters +B to E (repeated from H to L), as also in some of the ritenuti; +especially in the passage: + +"The law of the Lord is perfect, +Converting the soul; +The testimony of the Lord is sure, +Making wise the simple, etc.," + +you will find substance to prove your excellence as a conductor. + +Well, dear friend, you know what it is brilliantly to arouse a +flaming spirit out of dead notes. + +Accept the assurance of my sincere esteem and affection. + +F. Liszt + +Rome, June 9th, 1868 + + + +67. To Dr. Franz Brendel + +[This is the last of the many letters Liszt addressed to Brendel, +who died a few months afterwards.] + +Dear friend, + +As might have been foreseen, I must unfortunately give up all +thought of paying you and my friends of the Tonkunstler- +Versammlung a visit this year. Were it possible for me to get +away from here, I should today start for Munich, in honor of the +"Meistersinger" which is to be performed next Sunday--and thence +I should go to Weimar and Altenburg. In place of this I have to +remain here till the end of the month. After that I mean to go to +the neighborhood of Ancona for some sea baths. Please send me at +once, in a wrapper, the notices of the Altenburg Musical Festival +that have appeared in the Neue Zeitschrift. + +Sgambati asks me to send you his kindest excuses. He would have +much liked to wander to Germany, but he too is nailed here for +this summer. His concerts in Florence with Wilhemj a few weeks +ago were very successful. Sgambati is quite a phenomenal pianist +for Italy, and is certain to do himself credit elsewhere on +account of his sterling qualities, and his rare excellence as a +virtuoso is combined with a personality of the greatest +amiability and reliable artistic feeling. There is some talk of +his getting an appointment in St. Petersburg. + +A fortnight ago I heard from Paris that Berlioz was failing in +health and suffering greatly. When I saw him last (in the spring +of '66) he was then already physically and mentally broken down. +Our personal relations always remained friendly, it is true, but +on his side there was somewhat of a gloomy, cramped tone mixed +with them... + +Neither Schumann nor Berlioz could rest satisfied at seeing the +steady advance of Wagner's works. Both of them suffered from a +suppressed enthusiasm for the music of the future. + +I shall not be able to decide about my proposed stay in Weimar +till the end of the year. Till then I shall keep quiet here or in +the neighborhood, the extreme boundary to which is indicated by +the sea baths of Ancona. Several other invitations have had to be +courteously declined. But next year a considerable change may +take place in my outward circumstances, and may again draw me +closer to Germany. How this last chapter of my life will shape +itself I cannot yet foresee. + +The Vienna Mannergesang-Verein have kindly asked me to provide a +composition for their Jubilee Festival. This is the reason why I +asked Kahnt for the score of the 18th Psalm ("The Heavens declare +the glory of God"), which has at last come, and was despatched to +Vienna the day before yesterday [published by Schuberth, +Leipzig]. Kahnt has no doubt also received the corrected +pianoforte score of the "Elizabeth." And there happily remains +only the full score to do, the proofs of which I am expecting +now. + +During the winter my innumerable social duties rendered it +absolutely impossible for me to write any longer compositions. +This enforced idleness vexes me extremely--and I intend to assume +an air of rudeness to rid myself of a great many people. It is +more especially intrusive correspondents who are a vexatious +waste of time to me. Since the "Coronation Mass," I have in fact +only written one solitary work: a "Requiem" for male voices with +simple organ accompaniment [published by Kahnt, Leipzig]. + +How much I should like to hear Berlioz's colossal Requiem in +Altenburg!--Think, when there, in all friendliness of + +Your sincerely attached + +F. Liszt + +Rome, June 17th, 1868 + +Again I beg you to send me regularly the programmes and the +notices of the Altenburg T.K.V. in the Neue Zeitung. + + + +68. To E. Repos + +Dear Sir, + +As you are kind enough still to remember about the "Ave Maris +Stella" it would be inexcusable of me to forget it. My first +manuscript having gone astray I spent the whole of yesterday in +rewriting this very simple song, of which you will receive two +versions at once by the next possible occasion; one for +mezzosoprano voice with Piano or Harmonium accompaniment, the +other for 4 male voices with a little Organ accompaniment. In +this latter please excuse my very bad writing, over and above +whatever there may be defective in the composition. I cannot, +here, have several copyists at my disposal as in Germany. The +only one whom I can employ is ill--and I have not time to wait +till he gets well, for from tomorrow I undertake my pilgrimage to +Assisi and Loretto--after which I shall make a villeggiatura of +at least six weeks at Grotta-mare (near Ancona, on the shores of +the Adriatic). + +I depend on your kindness to send me the final proofs of the "Ave +Maris Stella" to the address which I will give you shortly. + +How shall I manage to get you my biographical notice published in +1843 in the voluminous collection of the Biographae Pascallet? I +really do not know. This notice is both the most exact, the best +edited, and the kindest of all that have appeared about me in +French. Mr. Fetis quotes it in my article of the Biographie univ. +des Musiciens, and I have asked Mr. le Chanoine Barbier de +Montault to look for it at Angot the editor's.--The entire +collection of the Biographaie Pascallet must be, amongst others, +in the library of Mr. Emile de Girardin, but the illustrious +publicist has so many great matters to attend to that I should +scruple to trouble him about such a trifle. + +In any case it will be easy to unearth our unhappy little Opus in +question in the Bibliotheque imperiale, where, if necessary, it +can be copied for the use of Mr. le Ch. de Montault. + +Please, dear sir, count on my very sincerely affectionate and +devoted sentiments. + +F. Liszt + +Rome, July 1st, 1868 + +A thousand thanks for your kind sending of the Repertoire of St. +Sulpice, which is this moment come. + + + +69. To Prof. Carl Riedel in Leipzig + +[1827-88, founder and director of the celebrated Riedel Verein in +Leipzig, and after Brendel's death President of the Allgemeine +Deutsche Musikverein.] + +Dear Friend, + +My sincere congratulation upon your glorious accomplishment--the +performance of Berlioz's Requiem in Altenburg, and also my +kindest thanks for all the trouble and care you have bestowed +upon the "Elizabeth" and the "13th Psalm." I hope to hear +Berlioz's "Requiem" next winter in Leipzig, and also some of +Bach's contrapuntal "feste Burgen." My ears thirst for them! + +Meanwhile let me ask Frau Professor Riedel kindly to accept me +herewith in effigy as an inmate. + +With sincere esteem, I remain, dear friend, + +Your gratefully attached + +F. Liszt + +Grotta Mare, August 12th [1868] + + + +70. To E. Repos + +Dear Sir, + +By the same post I return you the proofs of the "Ave Maris +Stella," which reached me yesterday. Will you be kind enough to +have the various errors of these first proofs corrected on the +plates. Exactitude in editions is a duty of the profession, too +often neglected. + +I will send you, by the first opportunity, a short "Offertoire" +(of some 40 bars) for men's voices. The text forms part of the +service of St. Francis--"Mihi autem adhoerere Deo bonum est," and +I composed it lately at Assisi.--In about a week's time I shall +be back in Rome, where I left my manuscripts; amongst others a +"Requiem" for men's voices with Organ accompaniment. The style of +it is very simple, and whatever goodwill one brings to it the +execution will also be very simple. If it would suit you to +publish this "Requiem" (of about some thirty small pages of +print) I will send it you with the "Offertoire" of St. Francis. + +Accept, dear sir, the expression of my distinguished and devoted +sentiments. + +F. Liszt + +Grotta Mare, August 26th, 1868 + +Address Rome.--I have not received any letter from you for +several months. + + + +71. To Prof. Dr. Siegmund Lebert in Stuttgart + +[The addressee was a distinguished pianoforte teacher (1822- +1884), co-founder of the Stuttgart Conservatoire, co-editor of +the Grosse Clavierschule (Lebert and Stark), and of the +instructive edition of Classical pianoforte--works published by +Cotta, in which Liszt, Bulow and Faisst took part. It is to these +last-mentioned works that the letters here given refer.] + +Dear Friend, + +To satisfy rational and righteous people is the better part of my +life. I am very glad that you approve of the letter to the French +edition of your Method, and that you find it appropriate. I have +simply said what I think. I pledge myself always to be true in +speech and action, however many annoyances and misinterpretations +may be hurled at me in return. In confidence I will tell you what +is the rule of my whole existence; it consists of the daily +prayer: "O veritas Deus, fac me unum tecum in perpetua +caritate!"-- + +Excuse the delay in the return of the 3rd part of the Method. I +thought of making use of some favorable opportunity of sending it +to Stuttgart to save you the expense of postage; but no such +opportunity has presented itself, and so this concluding volume +of the Method was despatched to you through the agency of Herr +Kolb (Wurtemberg consul in Rome). The added notes are very +unimportant, because, in fact, I had no other weightier remarks +to make. While playing through the Etudes I found myself put into +a thorough good humor, and this must be my excuse for the few bad +jokes which my mischievous pencil scribbled down. Please do not +let them go further; such jests must be kept quietly to +ourselves. + +In Grotta mare I wrote about 20 pages of the technical exercises. +Unfortunately a host of correspondence prevents my making +progress with the work I have already begun and which is finished +in my head. The Italians say: Give time, time ("dar tempo al +tempo"), which often provokes me utterly!-- + +First of all I shall set to work at the Weber and Schubert +edition, which I hope to send you by the beginning of November. + +Please present my best thanks to Baron Reischach for his kind +letter. The business point of it (the Weber and Schubert edition) +I herewith answer; that I shall redeem my promise by the +beginning of November; and that with an easy conscience I shall +then give proof of my gratitude by writing to Baron R. myself. + +In sincere and friendly collaboratorship, I am + +Yours most sincerely, + +F. Liszt + +Rome, September l0th, 1868 + + + +72. To E. Repos + +Dear Chevalier and Friend, + +Your last letter interests me much, and I thank you very +sincerely for the confidence you show me. Certainly I should ask +nothing better than to reply to it as you wish; but there is the +difficulty. Shall you reproach me with "claudicare in duas +partes"? No, I do not think you will, for I do not intend to have +any hitch; it is simply that the small influence which, in +certain given circumstances, I could exercise, is paralysed by +other circumstances that now predominate. I should be obliged to +explain various things to make you understand my extrinsic +inaptitude, and consequently my obligatory abstention on some +points which touch me closely. I prefer not to enter into these +details in writing; perhaps we shall have an opportunity of +speaking about them: as to the present time the following is my +reply, reduced to the most concise terms: + +I entirely approve of your two projects of the competition of +sacred Music, and of the definitive, normal and really Catholic +edition of the Plain-Song of the Church. These two enterprises +are opportune and desirable, and may be carried out to your honor +and advantage. All the same I am not in a position to serve you +efficaciously utraque. Therefore I ought not to be mixed up with +it,...unless any contingency as unforeseen as decisive should +supervene. + +You will have read in the Correspondance de Rome that the work of +M. Sre. Alfieri has remained in suspense. It is not a posthumous +obstacle with which your edition would have to contend, but +another, which might also be called Legion. + +The "Requiem" and the "Offertoire of St. Francis" shall be sent +to you in a fortnight. Before sending them to you I want +carefully to look through the copy, so as to save the engraver as +many corrections as possible. + +I shall not leave Rome till Christmas; from January till the end +of March I shall be at Weimar.-- + +Pray accept, dear Chevalier and friend, the assurance of my +affectionate devotion. + +F. Liszt + +September 19th, 1868 + +When will the 1st volume of your publication of the History of +the Popes and Cardinals come out? I shall be much obliged if you +will send it me. + + + +73. To C.F. Kahnt, the Musical Publisher + +[Facsimiles of this and No. 99 appeared in the Neue Zeitschrift +fur Musik, June 18th, 1890.] + +Dear Sir and Friend, + +The delay in the receipt of your letter did not in any way lessen +the very welcome news it contained, for which I thank you +cordially. Herewith also my warm congratulations in regard to the +little red-colored Altenburg volume. + +Of the gracious acceptance accorded to the dedication copy of the +"Elizabeth" I have already received a full report, which is +altogether satisfactory. The second copy de luxe please to keep +for the present. I should like to present it to our Grand Duke ad +honorem of the Wartburg Library. + +Your intention of sending the third copy next Easter to the +Exhibition of the German Products of the Printing Press, I, as +the author, consider both very appropriate and a pleasant piece +of news. + +As I am expecting corrected proofs of the "Elizabeth" score, I +beg you to enclose Wieseneder's "Kindergarten Lieder-Buchlein" +[Book of Kindergarten Songs]. Probably this will be your last +sending to Rome for the year '68, as I shall be in Weimar again +by the beginning of January. I shall, therefore, leave all +further discussions in extenso till then. Meanwhile there is +scarcely anything positive or to the point to write about. + +My friendly greetings to Brendel; he knows how much it is my wish +to obtain reliable support and some profitable advantage for the +endeavors of the A. D. Musik-Verein. Rest assured of this, dear +friend, and count upon my sincere and unalterable attachment. + +F. Liszt + +Rome, September 20th [1868] + +Be quick with and out with the 69th Almanack!-- + + + +74. To E. Repos + +Dear Monsieur Repos, + +Here is the Requiem. If you think it would be well to publish the +five parts separately (Requiem, Dies irae, Offertoire, etc.) in +the 5 numbers of the Revue de Musique sacree, I have not the +slightest objection to it; and will only ask you to announce the +complete edition, to be had by itself, at the same time as the +detached pages appear. + +The copy is very distinct and correct; please beg the engraver +not to add any wrong notes of his own composition, and send me +the proofs to Rome. + +I should be glad if the "Offertoire" of St. Francis (added to the +book of the Requiem) could come out at once. The manuscript is +only two pages,--and I do not think I shall be infringing too +much St. Francis's rule of poverty by reserving to myself, for +this Offertoire as well as for all my compositions that you +publish, author's rights for Germany and Italy, in order to keep +my promise to several publishers. + +Accept, dear Monsieur Repos, the expression of my very +distinguished and devoted sentiments. + +F. Liszt + +Rome, September 22nd, 1868 + + + +75. To Prof. Dr. S. Lebert + +Dear Friend, + +Today I deserve a little praise. The Weber task is finished, and +hence I have kept my promise a few weeks in advance. + +How I have understood my task you will see from the short Preface +on the first page of the various readings to the "Conzertstuck." +The printer will have to act in strict conformity with what is +there stated, and to give the necessary letters and signs. +Unfortunately I cannot help giving this unusual trouble, for two +kinds of letters and signs are positively indispensable. + +My responsibility with regard to Cotta's edition of Weber and +Schubert I hold to be: fully and carefully to retain the original +text together with provisory suggestions of my way of rendering +it, by means of distinguishing letters, notes and signs,--and +these I beg you will again have fully explained to the printer. + +In the various readings you will probably find some things not +inappropriate;--I flatter myself that I have thus given +performers greater licence, and have increased the effect without +damaging or overloading Weber's style. Get Pruckner, who is +acquainted with my bad musical handwriting, to play the various +readings to you. + +N.B.--They must be printed in small notes throughout the whole +edition. + +The parcel containing the "Conzertstuck," "Momento capriccioso," +4 Sonatas of W[eberj (and the 2 Beethoven ones of the Bulow +edition) will be despatched to you tomorrow by Kolb. Send me, at +your early convenience, Weber's 2 Polonaises (Hartel's last +edition), which must not be omitted in Cotta's edition; also let +me have all Schubert's Dances (Valses, Landler, Eccossaises, in +Holle's edition revised by Markull). And as I have now got into +the way of revising, I should like at once to prepare the +Schubert volume and submit to you, before the end of November, +the result of many years of most delightful communion with +Weber's and Schubert's pianoforte compositions, with fingering, +marks for pedal and expression, and various readings. + +The Schubert volume I shall limit to 3 or 4 Sonatas, the great +Fantasia, some 8 Impromptus, the Moments Musicals, and all his +Dances. A few other pieces as duets may follow later, more +especially his Marches and the Hungarian Divertissement. + +Let me hope that my work may prove intelligible, temperate and +satisfactory, and also of some service to ordinary pianists. + +Any remarks and objections you may have to make in connection +with these, I shall be quite willing to consider. + +With friendly greetings and thanks, + +Yours most sincerely, + +F. Liszt + +Rome, October 19th, 1868 + +P.S.--Let me hear from you at once, as soon as you receive the +parcel. + + + +76. To Richard Pohl at Baden-Baden. + +Rome, November 7th, 1868 + +.--. My very kind biographer La Mara writes me a few charming +lines telling me that she is shortly sending me her volume +"Studienkopfe" ["Studies of heads"]. "Das junge Volk hat Muth," +["Young folk have pluck"] as you say, and I quite approve of +their not letting themselves be intimidated. Courage is the vital +nerve of our best qualities; they fade away when it is wanting, +and unless one is courageous one is not even sufficiently +prudent. To examine, reflect calculate and weigh are assuredly +necessary operations But after that one must determine and act +without troubling too much about which way the wind blows and +what clouds are passing. .--. + + + +77. To Johann von Verbeck + +Much esteemed Friend, + +I have just answered the invitation of the "Musikfreunde," and +trust you will agree with what I have written. I am quite aware +that the performance of the "Elizabeth" in Vienna--which is +considered a mark of honorable distinction to me--I owe to you. +My not having complied with your offer before was mainly due to +my desire to spare you any embarrassments in connection with the +performance, embarrassments which I, owing to my peculiar +position and my distance from active circles of the Press, can +readily ignore without the slightest "bitterness of feeling." + +Well, let us hope that your favorable augury will prove true. +Your earlier letter I have not received. But I was heartily +delighted with your last. Shortly before receiving it I had been +hearing a number of excellent things about the composer, +conductor and friend Herbeck, all of which tallied perfectly with +what I remembered and of what I myself feel convinced. You will +guess who communicated all this to me. + +To return to the "Elizabeth" performance in Vienna; I should like +to be present. The Committee of the Musikfreunde name two days in +March; the last mentioned would be the most convenient one for +me. I must tell you beforehand, in confidence, that on this +occasion I should not be able to remain in Vienna beyond a couple +of days, and that I wish especially to keep quiet while there, +and to meet as few people as possible. It is no longer in any way +appropriate that I should appear anywhere in person; [Liszt had +been requested to conduct his "Elizabeth", a request he declined +(probably in consideration of his having taken holy orders).] it +suits me much better, when necessary, to be trodden down an +effigy by all the different chatter. And as you, much esteemed +friend, are the one and only person who shall conduct the +"Elizabeth" in Vienna, I wish to leave the distribution of the +vocal parts entirely to your care. I would merely remind you that +my two compatriots Bignio and Fraulein Rabatinsky (now in Vienna) +sang splendidly in the parts of the Landgrave Ludwig and the +spiteful Landgravine Sophie, at the first performances of the +Oratorio in Pest. Hence, if no categorical objections are raised +against them by the worthy theatrical potentates, it would seem +advisable and well to secure these singers for parts for which +they have already proved themselves competent. + +As an unnecessary remark let me add that the small Magyar +Cantilena of the Magnate (in the first number) requires a +powerful voice. + +In sincere esteem, I remain yours in all friendliness, + +F. Liszt + +Villa d'Este, December 1st, 1868 + +P.S.--I am expecting the promised manuscript of the +"Tanzmomente." [Composed by Herbeck for orchestra; transcribed by +Liszt for the pianoforte] By the beginning of January I hope to +be in Weimar. + + + +78. To Prof. Dr. S. Lebert + +Dear friend, + +The annotations to Schubert's Sonatas demanded more time than I +had anticipated. For some weeks past I have been working +industriously at them--now they are finished ad unguem. + +Our pianists scarcely realise what a glorious treasure they have +in Schubert's pianoforte compositions. Most pianists play them +over en passant, notice here and there repetitions, +lengthinesses, apparent carelessnesses, and then lay them aside. +It is true that Schubert himself is somewhat to blame for the +very unsatisfactory manner in which his admirable piano-forte +pieces are treated. He was too immoderately productive, wrote +incessantly, mixing insignificant with important things, grand +things with mediocre work, paid no heed to criticism, and always +soared on his wings. Like a bird in the air, he lived in music +and sang in angelic fashion. + +O never-resting, ever-welling genius, full of tenderness! O my +cherished Hero of the Heaven of Youth! Harmony, freshness, power, +grace, dreamings, passion, soothings, tears and flames pour forth +from the depths and heights of thy soul, and thou makest us +almost forget the greatness of thine excellence in the +fascination of thy spirit!---- + +Let us limit our edition of Schubert's pianoforte compositions to +2 Sonatas, the G major Fantasia (a Virgilian poem!), the splendid +"Wanderer"-dithyramb (C major Fantasia), 2 books of Impromptus, +Moments Musicals and all his Valses (among which there are gems +of the first water). All this will be sent to you forthwith; and +in addition Weber's Polonaises. + +In the Sonatas you will find some various readings, which appear +to me tolerably appropriate. Several passages, and the whole of +the conclusion of the C major Fantasia, I have re-written in +modern pianoforte form, and I flatter myself that Schubert would +not be displeased with it. + +The pianoforte Duets of Schubert (Holle's edition) please address +to Weimar, as I have no time left for revisings in Rome. Send me +also a copy of the "Aufforderung zum Tanz" ["Invitation to the +Dance"] that is so drummed at everywhere. You forgot to let me +have this piece of salon-fireworks with the other music, and I +too did not remember it at the time; years ago I had to play this +"Invitation" over and over again, times innumerable--without the +smallest "invitation" on my part--and it became a detestable +nuisance to me. However, such a show-piece must not be omitted in +Cotta's edition of Weber. + +Your visit to Weimar, dear friend, will be very welcome and +agreeable to me. When there we shall be able to discuss, weigh +and settle a number of things very conveniently. + +With sincere thanks, I remain + +Yours in all friendship, + +F. Liszt + +Villa d'Este, December 2nd, 1868 + +P.S.--I have not received the French translation of your Method. + + + +79. To Eduard von Liszt + +Dearest Eduard, + +Your promotion [Eduard von Liszt had been appointed +Oberstaatsanwalt (Chief State attorney) in Vienna.] is a real and +great joy to me. It does my heart good to see your continual +services receive recognition, and to know you about to enter a +more promising sphere. Your new position does not, indeed, free +you from all effort and exertion, but you have long since become +accustomed to bear the yoke on work-days like a man, and although +the yoke may not appear altogether enviable, still it is always +the most honorable and most secure. + +I wish only that you may ever remain true to yourself, and by +perfectly satisfying your own conscience you may deeply feel +God's unfailing promise "Dominus non privabit bonis eos qui +ambulant in innocentia."-- + +.--. From the President and the Vice-President of the Society of +Musikfreunde, Drs. Egger and Dumba, I received a very friendly +letter inviting me to fix upon one of the three day--2lst +February, 7th or 23rd March--for the performance of the +"Elizabeth" in Vienna, and to undertake to conduct the work. To +do the latter is absolutely impossible to me, for reasons that +you know; hence I shall decline to fix upon a date. My answer +conveys to the above-named gentlemen my thanks for this +distinguishing mark of their good-will, and, at the same time, I +express my wish to attend the performance, and mention that the +end of March would be the most convenient time for me. + +I also wrote to Herbeck pretty fully, saying that he, and he +alone, should conduct this performance; it is to be hoped that +under his direction the whole thing will run a successful course. + +Hearty greetings to all yours, and I look forward to seeing you +again soon. + +F.L. + +December 6th, 1868 [Villa d'Este] + + + +80. To Johann von Herbeck + +Very dear Friend, + +Although I feel absolutely sure that you will conduct the +"Elizabeth"-performance in a perfect and brilliant style, I +gladly comply with your wish that I should be in Vienna a few +days beforehand. As I have already said, it would be more +convenient to me to leave here towards the end of March. +Meanwhile present my most gracious thanks to the Committee of the +"Musikfreunde," with the request that they will in future regard +me as quite inadmissible as a conductor. Your question whether I +attach "any special importance" as to how the different parts +should be filled, I answer simply thus: arrange things wholly and +entirely as you think best. The few indefinite suggestions in my +last letter are of importance only in so far as they agree with +your competent arrangement, otherwise in no way. One point only I +should like adhered to in the Vienna performance, namely that no +foreign singers be engaged for it. To have one's own house in +good order is always the wisest and safest plan. + +I have heard much in praise of Fraulein Ehnn [A singer at the +Royal Opera House in Vienna]; and should feel specially indebted +to her if she would undertake the Elizabeth: the part does not go +against the grain, and should Fraulein Ehnn wish any alterations +I should be quite willing to consider them. + +With warm thanks, yours most sincerely, + +F. Liszt + +Rome, December 29th, 1868 + +The "Tanzmomente" are still dancing on their way here, for they +have not yet come. + + + +81. To Edvard Grieg + +[Published in Gronvold "Norwegische Musiker" (Norwegian +Musicians, Warmuth, Christiania).--The addressee was the clever +leader of the Young School of Northern Composers. He was born at +Bergen in 1843, and educated at Leipzig.] + +Sir, + +I am very glad to tell you what pleasure it has given me to read +your Sonata (Op. 8). It bears testimony to a talent of vigorous, +reflective and inventive composition of excellent quality,--which +has only to follow its natural bent in order to rise to a high +rank. I am pleased to think that in your own country you are +meeting with the success and encouragement that you deserve: +these will not be wanting elsewhere either; and if you come to +Germany this winter I cordially invite you to stay a little at +Weimar, in order that we may thoroughly get to know each other. + +Pray receive, sir, the assurance of my sentiments of esteem and +very distinguished regard. + +F. Liszt + +Rome, December 29th, 1868 + + + +NEXT SECTION: WEIMAR.--PEST.--ROME. + + + +82. To Commerzienrath Carl Bechstein in Berlin + +[Head of the famous pianoforte-manufactory; our "Beflugler," as +Bulow and Tausig called him (A play on the word Flugel, which +means both a "grand piano" and "wings.")] + +Very Dear Sir, + +Accept a seven-octaved chromatic scale of thanks for your +kindness in sending your magnificent piano for the Grand-Ducal +Hofgartnerei in Weimar. I hope you will on some occasion allow me +to have the pleasure of convincing you, de visu et audaitu, how +glorious the instrument looks and sounds here. + +According to report we are shortly to see Tausig again in Weimar. +Tell him he may be sure of a hearty welcome from me. + +With sincere esteem and grateful thanks I remain + +Yours most sincerely + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, January 19th, 1869 + +P.S.--Enclosed are a few lines for Tausig, which kindly forward +to him. + + + +83. To Johann von Herbeck + +Very Dear Friend, + +Fraulein Ehnn's amiable readiness to undertake the part has +greatly pleased me, and I beg you to convey my sincerest thanks +to our "Elizabeth." The part will not cost her any immoderate +effort; all possible alterations, pauses, dotted notes, +ornamentations, shall be left ad libitum and entirely to the +pleasure of the gracious singer. Do not write to me further on +this subject, and endeavor merely to get Fraulein Ehnn to feel +herself comfortably and pleasantly at home with my poor tone- +melodies. + +Friend Remenyi, whom I do not need now to introduce to you, will +be the bearer of these lines to you. He has delighted and +captivated every one here, the Court as well as the public, and +this is verily no small matter, for in Weimar we are accustomed +to the most distinguished violin-virtuosos. I requested him to +tell you how grateful I feel to you for your idea of a concert of +Liszt's compositions. + +But, in order to avoid every appearance of indiscretion or +forwardness, I consider it well and advisable to keep exclusively +to the Elizbeth on this occasion. + +Hold fast, therefore, to two points: + +a. all parts of the Elizabeth to be filled by native talent. +b. Critics to be worried only with this one work. + +[At the performance of the Elizabeth in the "ausserordentlichen +Gesellschafts-Concert" (Company's special concert) on April 4th, +1869, Liszt met with a genuine triumph. Herbeck writes: "After +every number, and at the end of every part, there was no end to +the calls for Liszt." The performance was repeated on April 11th, +and received with even greater enthusiasm.] + +I have also requested Remenyi to ask you about the apartments I +shall require. My stay in Vienna will be limited to eight or ten +days, which I should like to spend in as quiet and peaceable a +way as possible, and not within the circle of disturbing +visitors. + +With sincere esteem and friendly attachment yours, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, January 27th, 1869 + + + +84. To E. Repos + +Dear Sir and Friend, + +A thousand sincere thanks for the kind zeal and love that you +bestow upon the publication of my poor works. In order that the +edition of the "Requiem" may be entirely correct, I will beg you +to send me again proofs of the "Offertoire," "Sanctus" and "Agnus +Dei," either to Weimar before the 18th March, or to Vienna from +the 25th March to the 12th April. My address in Vienna is c/o Mr. +Herbeck, Court conductor, etc., etc. Graben, Trattnerhof. Vienna. +Austria. + +I shall spend two or three days at Ratisbon towards the middle of +April, in order to hear the Cathedral choir there, which has a +great reputation in Germany. There also I shall find a manuscript +of the highest interest, and one which up to now has been almost +unknown: it is the opus musicum magnum of Orlandus Lassus. It is +composed of more than five hundred pieces of music. + +Are you in touch with Mr. Pustet, the most considerable publisher +of religious music at Ratisbon?-- + +Your visit to Rome will be extremely agreeable to me. I expect to +be back at the end of April and to pass the summer at Santa +Francesca Romana. + +Your very affectionately devoted + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, March 3rd, 1869 + +Probably I shall profit by your kind proposition, and shall send +you shortly a Mass (for 4 voices, with a simple Organ +accompaniment). + + + +85. To Laura Kahrer, in Vienna + +[Now married to Concertmeister Rappoldi in Dresden, and one of +the lady-professors at the Conservatoire there. The above note, +which was accompanied by a silver pen for composing, Liszt sent +her after having been present at her first public appearance at a +charity-concert in the Royal Opera House in Vienna. In 1870 she +became a pupil of his in Weimar, and was soon considered one of +the most distinguished lady-pianists; since 1879 she has enjoyed +the title of Kammervirtuosin (Court pianist) of Saxony.] + +Dear and astounding Artiste, + +Accept this small remembrance of the hour when your extraordinary +talent so joyfully surprised me, and be assured of the sincere +and friendly devotion of yours, + +F. Liszt + +Vienna, April 15th, 1869 + + + +86. To Franz Servais + +[Composer; conducted the Wagner performances in the Theater de la +Monnaie, Brussels, in 1890-91.] + +Dear Monsieur Franz, + +The sincere pleasure caused me by your letter, which reached me +at Pest at the end of April, is completed by the one you have +addressed to me here. I am delighted to hear that my prophecy has +been realised and that you enjoyed yourself at Munich. At this +time you would not find anywhere else an ensemble of ideas, +works, acts and instruction so suited to your artist-nature, and, +consequently, so favorable to the full development of your fine +powers. Thanks to M. de Bulow and his prodigious activity, on a +par with his intelligence, Munich is becoming the new musical +capital of Germany. You will therefore do well to stay some time +there, in order vigorously to prepare yourself for the task which +has devolved on you elsewhere. + +Perhaps I may see you again this summer, for if, as announced, +"Rheingold" is performed there on the 25th August I shall come to +it. + +Meanwhile I thank you for having so well listened to the +"Elizabeth"; that is a presage to me that we shall meet more than +once on the same path, in which I wish you the most complete +success. .--. + +Believe, dear Monsieur Franz, in my very devoted affection. + +F. Liszt + +Rome May 21st, 1869 + + + +87. To William Mason + +Rome, May 26th, 1869 + +Dear Mr. Mason, + +Mr. Seward has given me your kind letter and several of your +compositions. These give me a double pleasure in that they prove +that you have not lost your time at Weimar, and that you continue +to make good use of it elsewhere. + +The Etude de Concert (Op. 9) and the Valse Caprice (Op. 17) are +of a distinguished style and make a good effect. I shall also +sincerely praise the 3 Preludes (Op. 8) and the two Ballades, but +with some reservation. The first Ballade appears to me somewhat +cut short; it wants I know not what at the beginning and towards +the middle (page 7) of something needed to make the melody stand +out; and the pastorale of the 2nd Ballade (page 7) figures like a +too-cheap piece of "padding."... And, since I am in the vein for +criticising, let me ask why you call your "Ah! vous dirai-je, +Maman"--"Caprice grotesque?" Apart from the fact that the +grotesque style should not intrude into music, that title is +unjust to the clever imitations and harmonies of the piece, very +charming by the way, and which it would be more suitable to +entitle "Divertissement" or "Variazione scherzose."-- + +As to the Methode, you won't expect me to make a deep study of +that. I am much too old for such a thing, and it is only in self- +defence that I still work sometimes at the piano in view of the +incessant botherations and indiscretions of a heap of people who +imagine that nothing would be more flattering to me than to amuse +them!-- + +Nevertheless, in looking through your Methode I find some +exercises much to be recommended, namely, the "interlocking +passages" page 136 to 142;--and all the "accentual treatment" of +Exercises. [The italics (here in quotations) in this sentence are +written in English and in italics by Liszt.] + +May your pupils and the editor obtain from them all the profit +that I wish them! + +A thousand thanks, dear Mr. Mason, and count on my very +affectionate and devoted sentiments of old. + +F. Liszt + + + +88. To the Composer Heinrich Schulz-Beuthen + +[Printed in Gottschalg's "Chorgesang," 1890.--Schulz-Beuthen was +born in 1838.] + +Very dear Sir, + +That you have dedicated your 42nd and 43rd Psalms to me I feel to +be an honor in the artistic sense, for which I am sincerely +grateful. It is long since any new composition has given me the +impression of intellectual strength and musical completeness such +as I find in yours. And this work stands even above eminent +compositions of the kind. It appears to me even more fully +rounded, pregnant and powerful than your 29th Psalm, which I +justly recognised as a distinguished work upon first reading it +through. The grand impression produced by your 29th Psalm on the +occasion of the Tonkunstler-Versammlung in Dessau confirmed my +predictions, and I am convinced that wherever the 42nd and 43rd +Psalms are heard every person with any depth of soul will feel +their sublime beauty, and offer you something more valuable than +mere ordinary applause. Do not look for word-making from me; I +never knew much about it, and I can still less try my hand at it +now in my old age. But allow me, very dear sir, to tell you quite +frankly and briefly this:-- + +You must not hold yourself aloof and at a distance; your splendid +works must be performed, printed and circulated. And although-- +owing to the idle and impudent chatter of many leaders of the +press--my influence in musical matters has been reduced to a +minimum, still I hope shortly to arrange a performance of your +Psalms in one or two places. + +With sincere esteem I remain yours very truly, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, June 18th, 1869 + + + +89. To Franz Servais + +Dear Monsieur Franz, + +.--. Although older than you, yet my enthusiasm for "Tristan" is +not second to yours.--I am delighted that the performance has +come off so well, but I should not wish this marvellous chef- +d'oeuvre to become for you a sort of upas tree under the shadow +of which you would go to sleep.--Great manifestations of genius +ought to do the part of the sun,--to illuminate and fertilise. + +Believe in my sentiments of devoted affection. + +F. Liszt + +Rome, July 4th, 1869 + + + +90. To Madame Jessie Laussot + +Dear Maestra, + +I do not know why the name of Boccherini always recalls to me the +valley of Tempe. There could be nothing more flattering and more +salutary for me than to be admitted into so fortunate an abode, +and you have certainly made the stroke of a Maestra in +introducing me there (a little bit in a contraband way!).--I hope +Mr. Delatre will be kind enough to send me under cover the first +number of the paper containing La Mara's article [The Liszt- +sketch from the first vol. of the "Musakalischen Studienkopfe," +which the authoress had translated into Italian.]; directly +afterwards I will subscribe to the Boccherini, so that I may get +the whole of the biography regularly. + +A thousand thanks for your intelligent solicitude; I entirely +approve of the word tedesco being left out on the title-page; +"tradotto dall' Autore" is evidently the better indication, and I +guarantee you that the authoress will be perfectly satisfied and +will add her thanks to mine, without thinking of making the +slightest observation or difficulty about anything whatever. When +you are passing through Leipzig I will make you acquainted with +my very amiable panegyrist. + +I am certainly intending to be present at the first performance +of "Rheingold," announced for the 25th August; but I doubt +whether they will be in a position to give this work so soon. Mr. +de Bulow absolutely must take some rest after the Conservatoire +examinations; the Servais are pressing him much to settle down +with them for the months of August and September at Hal (in +Belgium); I want him to accept their invitation, and he will, I +hope, decide to do so. Now without him "Rheingold" at Munich +seems to me at least problematical. I will let you have positive +tidings, which I myself shall receive shortly. Please tell me +where to address you. + +I have set to work again, and with the exception of the fortnight +at Munich, in honor of "Rheingold," I shall remain here, or else +in the neighborhood, until next spring. + +Sgambati kisses your hands. Pinelli is at the baths of Lucca, +where Buonamici [Giuseppe Buonamici, pupil of Liszt and Bulow, +now one of the most celebrated pianists of Italy. Lives at +Florence] will probably join him. + +Very cordially yours, + +F. L. + +I will write two words of thanks to Delatre and beg you to give +me his address. + +In your walks at St. Gall make my salutations to the concert room +in which were heard, some 10 or 12 years ago, the "Symphonie +Heroique" conducted by Wagner, and two Symphonie Poems, conducted +by your very humble servant. Szadrowski was at that time +conductor at St. Gall; since then he is settled in the Grisons +(at Graubunden); if you should go that way do not fail to see +him; I recommend him to you as one of our friends. + +Rome, July 16th, 1869 + + + +91. To Camille Saint-Saens in Paris. + +[The celebrated French composer, pianist and organist (born in +Paris 1835) was, as is well known, in sympathy with the New +German School, and fosters, amongst others, the genre of +"Symphonic Poems" made known by Liszt.] + +Very honored Friend, + +Your kind letter promised me several of your compositions; I have +been expecting them, and, while waiting, I want to thank you +again for your second Concerto, which I greatly applaud. The form +of it is new and very happy; the interest of the three portions +goes on increasing, and you take into just account the effect of +the pianist without sacrificing anything of the ideas of the +composer, which is an essential rule in this class of work. + +At the very outset the prelude on the pedal G is striking and +imposing: after a very happy inspiration you do wisely to +reproduce it at the end of the first movement and to accompany it +this time with some chords. Among the things which particularly +please me I note: the chromatic progression (last line of the +prelude) and that which alternates between the piano and +orchestra (from the last bar of page 5--repeated then by the +piano alone, page 15); the arrangement of thirds and sixths in +demisemiquavers, charmingly sonorous, pages 8 and 9, which opens +superbly on the entry of the subject fortissimo; the piquant +rhythm + +[Figure: Musical score excerpt of the rhythm in 6/8] + +of the second subject of the Allegro scherzando, page 25. +Possibly this would have gained somewhat by more combination and +development, either of the principal subject or of some secondary +subject; for instance, a little anodyne counterpoint, it seems to +me, would not be out of place on pages 26, 27. etc., etc., and so +on. Item for pages 50 to 54, in which the simple breadth of the +period with the holding on of the accompaniment chords leaves +rather a void; I should like there to be some incidence and +polyphonic entanglement, as the Germanic Polyphemuses say. Pardon +me this detailed remark, dear Monsieur Saint-Saens, which I only +venture to make while assuring you in all sincerity that the +total of your work pleases me singularly. I played it again the +day before yesterday to Sgambati, of whom Plante [Francis Plante +(born 1839), the exquisitely refined Pianist] will speak to you, +as of an artist above the common run and even more than +ordinarily distingue. He will let the public hear your Concerto +next winter, which ought to meet with success in every country. + +When is the performance of the "Timbre" ["Le timbre d'argent" +(the silver bell), an Opera] to be? I wish it to give you +abundantly all the satisfaction that you deserve, and shall only +regret that I cannot be present at the performance of it. At my +age the role of young composer is no longer suitable--and there +would not be any other for me at Paris, as I cannot continue +indefinitely that of an old disabled pianist. Thus I have +judiciously made up my mind not to trouble myself about my +compositions any further than the writing of them, without in the +least thinking of spreading them. Supposing that they have any +value it will always be found out soon enough either during my +life or afterwards. The sympathy of my friends (a very well +chosen sympathy, I flatter myself) amply suffices me; the rest of +the world may talk in its own way. As to the "Elizabeth" I do not +think it is adapted to the Parisian taste. I am moreover very +tired of that score through the performances at the Wartburg, +Pest and Vienna; and the difficult task of a suitable French +translation, plus the rehearsals with a set of artists little +disposed to take trouble, frightens me. I much prefer to employ +my time in a manner less ungrateful and more agreeable; +consequently I shall not put out anybody in Paris, which I shall +not visit; and invite you to come and see me in Rome. Here, dear +Monsieur St. Saens, we can talk and musiquer [make music] at our +ease. Try and procure me this great pleasure soon, and believe +fully in my sentiments of high esteem and devoted affection. + +F. Liszt + +Rome, July 19th, 1869 + + + +92. To Camille Saint-Saens + +Very honored Friend, + +At last your compositions have come, and I spent all yesterday in +their amiable society. + +Let us speak first of the Mass: this is a capital, grand, +beautiful, admirable work--so good that, among contemporary works +of the same kind, I know perhaps of none so striking by the +elevation of the sentiment, the religious character, the +sustained, adequate, vigorous style and consummate mastery. It is +like a magnificent Gothic Cathedral in which Bach would conduct +his orchestra! + +After having read your score three times I am so thoroughly +imbued with it that I venture to risk a few remarks. + +In the Gloria one should, I think, preserve the literal text +entire: "Gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam."-- +Consequently add four or five bars. + +At the beginning of the Sanctus it would be better to continue +the voices, and to complete by them the sense of the orchestra; +similarly it would be advantageous to interlace, by means of an +alto solo, the text of the Benedictus (which you have omitted) to +the Organ melody, pages 77 and 78 after the Hosanna, as well as +to add the chorus to the final phrase of the "Dona nobis pacem," +pages 88 and 89. + +You will find all these small matters carefully noted down on +your score, which I will venture to return to you, begging you to +let me have it back again soon, for I must possess this +extraordinary work, which has its place between Bach and +Beethoven. + +Bear with one more liturgical question, and, in addition, a +proposition boldly practical in the Kyrie, the spire of your +Cathedral. The inspiration and structure of it are certainly +admirable..."omnia excelsa tua et fluctus tui super me +transierunt." Nevertheless, during these 300 bars, about, of a +slow and almost continuous movement, do you not lose sight of the +celebrant, who is obliged to remain standing motionless at the +altar? Do you not expose him to commit the sin of impatience +directly after he has said the confiteor?...Will not the composer +be reproached with having given way to his genius rather than to +the requirements of the worship? + +In order to obviate these unpleasant conjunctures it would be +necessary for you to resign yourself to an enormous sacrifice as +an artist, namely, to cut out 18 pages! (for church performance +only, for these 18 pages should be preserved in the edition to +your greater honor as a musician, and it would suffice to +indicate the "cut" ad libitum, as I have done in several places +in the score of the Gran Mass). + +Sacrifice, then, 18 pages as I said, and put the "Christe +eleison" on page 6, instead of the "Kyrie eleison," + +[Here, Liszt illustrates with a 3-bar musical excerpt at the +point where the words "Chri-------------ste e-le------" are +sung.] + +concluding pp on page l0. From the musical point of view +exclusively, I should blush to make such a proposition; but it is +necessary to keep peace, especially in the Church, where one must +learn to subordinate one's self in mind and deed. Art, there, +should be only a correlative matter, and should tend to the most +perfect concomitance possible with the rite. + +Be assured, dear Monsieur Saint-Saens, of the sentiments of high +esteem and great sympathy which I entertain towards you. + +Your very devoted + +F. Liszt + +Rome, August 4th, 1869 + + + +93. To Madame Jessie Laussot + +I have had to write a great many notes this last week. Pardon me +for being so late in thanking you for your friendly lines, and +kindly tell Mademoiselle Alexandrine Ritter how sincerely I feel +for her in her affliction. Her mother expressed in a rare degree +and in her whole personality the high and sweet dignity of the +human soul. Respect attached itself to her naturally,--and she +inspired the noble serenity of it. + +In a few days a little surprise will reach you in the form of an +"Ave Maria" written for the Cherubim Society, and dedicated to +the society's dear Maestra. However simple these few bars may be +(in which there is not a single repetition of a word, nor +ornamenting of any kind) I hope they will not be unpleasing to +you, and I beg you to play them in the form of a prayer for + +Your very affectionate + +F. Liszt + +Rome, October 7th, 1869 + +In acknowledging the receipt of the "Ave Maria" tell me when you +expect Bulow, of whom I have had no tidings since Munich. + +Sgambati returned here last week. + + + +94. To Dr. Ludwig Nohl + +[The well-known writer on musical subjects (1831-1885)] + +Dear Friend, + +Let my best thanks for your letter be, to take it to heart--and +to comply with it. Meanwhile this much is certain--that we shall +see each other in Weimar next May, and that at the Tonkunstler- +Versammlung there you will officiate as the worthy biographer of +Beethoven. + +In spite of too modest a remark in your letter I am convinced +that you are peculiarly well qualified for thoroughly grasping, +and making others comprehend, the question of the "more modern +style of Art." Proofs of this have been gathered recently from +all the admirable things you have said in your brochure on +Wagner; for instance, in regard to the "refined, firm and proud +position held by Music," its "most expressive physiognomy," and +"that spirit of love which Music has created for itself"--and +also, if you will allow me such presumption in contrast to your +modesty, on p. 63, where you say, "The logos alone regulates the +thought and gives life to the risings and fallings of the poetic +idea"-- + +Sic vos non vobis-- + +Innumerable interruptions prevent my beginning the Beethoven +Cantata today. But I have at last secured quiet: I shall remain +all the winter at the Villa d'Este (3 or 4 hours out of Rome), +and take care that I do not lose an immoderate amount of time. + +With sincerest thanks and in all friendliness yours, + +Villa d'Este, November 17th, 1869 + +F. Liszt + + + +95. To the Princess Caroline Sayn-Wittgenstein + +[According to the Weimarer Zeitung it was printed as follows, +fragmentarily, in the Leipziger Tageblatt of December 6th, 1888.] + +November 27th, 1869. + +.--. The death of Overbeck reminds me of my own. I wish, and +urgently entreat and command, that my burial may take place +without show, and be as simple and economical as possible. I +protest against a burial such as Rossini's was, and even against +any sort of invitation for friends and acquaintances to assemble +as was done at Overbeck's interment. Let there be no pomp, no +music, no procession in my honor, no superfluous illuminations, +or any kind of oration. Let my body be buried, not in a church, +but in some cemetery, and let it not be removed from that grave +to any other. I will not have any other place for my body than +the cemetery in use in the place where I die, nor any other +religious ceremony than a quiet Mass in the Parish Church (not +any kind of Requiem to be sung). The inscription on my tomb might +be: "Et habitabunt recti cum vultu suo.".--. + + + +96. To Franz Servais + +Your kind letter has given me very sincere pleasure, dear +Monsieur Franz. I hope your health is quite re-established, and +that you are plunging into Bach to your heart's content,--that +admirable chalybeate spring! I will bear you company, and have +given myself, for a Christmas present, the little 8vo edition of +Peters of the two "Passions," Masses and Cantatas of Bach, whom +one might designate as the St. Thomas Aquinas of music. Kahnt, +who sends me these scores, tells me of his earnest desire to get +Cornelius settled at Leipzig, in the position of editor-in-chief +of the Neue Zeitschrift, founded, as you know, by Schumann, and +bravely carried on by Brendel. It is the sole paper which has, +for thirty years past, sustained with steadfastness, knowledge +and consistency the works and the men of musical progress. If, as +I wish, Cornelius undertakes Brendel's task, I think you would do +well to follow out your project of staying again in Leipzig.--In +any case I hope to see you again this spring at Weimar; I shall +arrive there towards the middle of April, and shall stay till the +end of June. During the winter I shall abstain from all +travelling, and shall not leave my retreat at the Villa d'Este +except to stay a few days in Rome. Many people have very kindly +invited me to go to Paris; I have excused myself from doing so +for reasons of expediency which you know. Henceforth it is not +myself that I have to bring forward, but simply to continue to +write in perfect tranquillity and with a free mind. To do this +obliges me to seclude myself, to avoid the salons, the half- +opened pianos and the society drudgery imposed by the large +towns, where I very easily feel myself out of place. + +Thank you cordially for your propaganda of the "Missa Choralis;" +I shall be much obliged if you will write me a couple of words +after the performance. Will you also please tell M. Brassin that +I thank him much for not having been afraid of compromising his +success as a virtuoso by choosing my Concerto? Up to the present +time all the best-known French pianists--with the exception of +Saint-Saens--have not ventured to play anything of mine except +transcriptions, my own compositions being necessarily considered +absurd and insupportable. People know pretty well what to think +by what they hear said, without any need of hearing the works. + +How did the orchestra go with the piano in the Concerto? Had they +taken care to have enough rehearsals? There are several passages +that require minute care; the modulations are abrupt, and the +variety of the movements is somewhat disconcerting for the +conductor. And, in addition to this, the traitor triangle (proh +pudor!) [Oh shame!], however excited he may be to strike strong +with his cunning little rhythm, marked pianissimo, provokes the +most scandalous catastrophe... + +Notwithstanding all the regrettable parleying, for in such a +matter all sensible people ought to be of the same opinion, I +presume that Mr. Godebski's bust of Chopin will shortly be placed +in the lobby of the theater at Warsaw. Certainly Chopin well +merits this mark of honor, which moreover need in no wise prevent +people from busying themselves about a larger monument to +Lemberg, and from collecting a sufficient sum for that purpose. + +At Weimar we will talk of Hal and the pleasure it will be to me +to pay you a visit there. Pray present my respectful thanks to +your mother, and my affectionate remembrances to Madame +Godebski,--and believe me, dear Monsieur Franz, your sincere +friend, + +F. Liszt + +Villa d'este, December 20th, 1869 + +(Address always Rome.) + + + +97. To Dr. Franz Witt in Ratisbon + +[Like all the subsequent letters to Dr. Witt, this letter is +without date or ending, as printed in Walter's biography of Witt +(Ratisbon, Pustet, 1889).--Dr. Witt (1834-80) was a distinguished +musical scholar, also a composer, the founder and first general +president of the Cacilien-Verein [St. Cecilia Society], and died +as a clergyman in Landshut.] + +[Rome, towards the end of 1869.] + +Very Dear Sir and Friend, + +Before I had the honor of knowing you personally the manuscript +of your "Litaniae lauretanae" aroused in me sincere interest and +religious sympathy towards you. This first impression is now +increased by my deeper knowledge of the substantial value of your +compositions and my fuller appreciation of the great services you +have rendered to Church Music. That you act as admirably in +practice as in precept is evident in other of your works, but +especially in the Mass and the Te Deum which were performed here +on the Emperor of Austria's name-day in the Church of the Anima +under the leadership of our dear friend Haberl [On the 4th +October, 1869] Both of these works are of rare value--and, what +is still more rare, both are equally devoted to Art and the +Church. The "Litaniae lauretanae" breathes also a spirit of +nobility of soul, and diffuses its pleasant aroma notwithstanding +the necessary musical limitation. The collective character of the +invocations shows uniformity; and yet the lines of melody are +very finely drawn; especially touching to me is + +[Here, Liszt writes a 2-bar musical excerpt where the words "Sa-- +lus infirmo---rum Refugium peccatorum, Conso-la-trix afllicto--- +rum" are sung] + +My hearty thanks for the dedication, my very dear friend; it +brings me justifiable and joyful pride, which your own +exaggerated modesty should dispel.--Next summer I will again come +to you for a few days on my way to Szegzard (Hungary), where my +Mass for male voices (2nd very much corrected edition,--now +published by Repos, Paris) is to be performed. A few months after +my visit you will I hope receive most satisfactory news (through +Haberl) about the Cacilien-Verein [Haberl had endeavored, through +the intervention of the Bishops assembled in Council in Rome, to +obtain the Pope's approbation of the Cacilien-Verein, and his +efforts met with success.], to which, in fullest conviction, I +remain firmly attached--as well as to its much esteemed +President. + + + +98. To Prof. Dr. Siegmund Lebert + +Dear Friend, + +The proofs of Weber's and Schubert's Sonatas were despatched to +Stuttgart in two parcels by rail the day before yesterday. This +is the cheapest and quickest way of sending things, and I beg of +you in future to send parcels in this way, as packages sent by +spediteur come slowly and cost a great deal. N.B.--The parcels +must not be too thick, and must have the address written on the +wrapper. As soon as you send me the D minor Sonata, that is still +wanting, and Weber's Conzertstuck, I will revise them at once; +ere long you will receive Schubert's Impromptus, Valses, etc. + +My endeavor with this work is to avoid all quibbling and +pretentiousness, and to make the edition a practical one for +teachers and players. And for this reason at the very last I +added a goodly amount of fingering and pedal marks; kindly get +the printers to excuse this, and I trust that the trouble it +causes will not prove superfluous.--With regard to the deceptive +Termpo rubato, I have settled the matter provisionally in a brief +note (in the finale of Weber's A flat major Sonata); other +occurrences of the rubato may be left to the taste and momentary +feeling of gifted players. A metronomical performance is +certainly tiresome and nonsensical; time and rhythm must be +adapted to and identified with the melody, the harmony, the +accent and the poetry...But how indicate all this? I shudder at +the thought of it. + +Also kindly excuse me from writing a preface, and write it +yourself, dear friend. For you know exactly what I should wish to +say, and you would say it much more clearly than I could, for my +very small amount of pedagogism is, for the most part, confined +to the words of St. Paul: Littera occidit, spiritus vivificat! + +Your success delights without surprising me. It is only what +ought to be, that Lebert and Stark's Pianoforte Method should +meet with general acceptance, and that the Stuttgart +Conservatoire should continue to prosper. Both of these points of +merit I took the opportunity of mentioning with due honor to H.M. +the Queen of Wurtemberg--on the occasion of her visit to the +Villa d'Este here. + +Best thanks for sending the Bach Fugue, the 2 Etudes (separate +edition) and the last volume of the Method, which I found to +contain many, to me, new and praiseworthy items, among others the +Etudes of Hiller and Brahms. + +Ever, in all friendship, yours + +F. Liszt + +Villa d'Este, January l0th, 1870 + +I shall remain here till the end of April, and then go direct to +Weimar. + + + +99. To C. F. Kahnt, the Music Publisher + +Dear Friend, + +The life's object of the Neue Zeitschrift remains firmly to stand +by the colors of Rheingold and the Nibelungen, and unfailingly to +represent the interests of the Deutsche Musikverein. This +embraces all essential consequences for us. + +At the end of next week I will send you the piano-forte score of +the Beethoven Cantata, and write full particulars to Riedel. + +By the middle of April I hope to reach Weimar. Best thanks for +sending the Ave maris stella--and in all friendliness I remain +yours, + +F. Liszt + +Rome, February 14th, 1870 + + + +100. To Herr Gille, councillor of justice + +Dear Friend, + +The best thing I have to tell you today is that we shall soon see +each other again. At the beginning of April I shall visit Bulow +in Florence, and then go direct to Weimar. + +Last week I had a correspondence with Riedel about matters of the +Tonkunstler-Versammhung. The most important points are as +follows:--The utmost economy that is possible to making a +perfectly suitable orchestra and chorus. The spaces at our +disposal in Weimar (churches, theater and refreshment room) will +not allow of any great expenditure as regards the personnel. It +is to be hoped that Muller-Hartung can obtain a respectable +contingent for the Beethoven Mass, which will lessen the number +of outside co-operators; and I in like manner reckon chiefly on +the Weimar Vocal Union for the more important numbers of the +concert programme-Psalm by Schulz-Beuthen, Prometheus by Saint- +Saens, my Beethoven Cantata, etc. The arrangement of the +orchestra is to be as it was at the Carl August Festival and at +the Tonkunstler-Versammlung of '61--10 first violins, 6 to 7 +double basses, etc. Riedel conducts Beethoven's Mass; Lassen the +concerts in the theater; and Muller-Hartung my Cantata. +Conzertmeister David and Director Hellmesberger will preside over +the 1st violins. Both gentlemen will also determine about the +performance of the Beethoven Quartet. Any other special violin +virtuoso would be superfluous this time. Riedel must arrange the +distribution of the solo parts of the Beethoven Mass according as +he thinks best. Milde only requires, in my Cantata, + +"Dieser Brave sei verpflichtet +Das zu thun, was wir gedichtet." + +["May this brave one be constrained +That to do which we ordained."] + +(Schober, 49. Goethe-Feier.) + +I flatter myself, by-the-bye, that Milde will also find a +pleasure in the "Sternen-Cantabile"-- + +[Here, Liszt illustrates with a musical score excerpt where the +words "Viel tau-send hal-ten nach-tig" ("Vide the accompanying +page") are sung. It contained the Cantabile in question for Milde +from Liszt's Beethoven Cantata.] + +Riedel asks me who shall play the pianoforte? + +If our meeting were at Jena I should decidedly invite Bulow to do +it; he is the veritable Beethoven player and interpreter, the one +who knows and who can do [Kenner und Konner]; but unfortunately +the shades of Dingelstedt and Gutzkow warn him from Weimar's +doors... + +Meanwhile there is no hurry about the choice of a pianist (he or +she). Only arrange the principal things in a suitable manner, the +chorus, orchestra, solo singers and the Beethoven Quartet; all +the rest will soon be arranged after my arrival at Weimar in the +middle of April. + +Yours most faithfully, + +F. Liszt + +Villa d'Este, February 26th, 1870 + +The piano arrangement of my Cantata must be written out again, +and cannot therefore be sent off for 8 or 10 days. The entire +work lasts about three-quarters of an hour. I am so far ready +with it, that there are only two or three more passages to be +instrumented. + + + +101. To the Baroness E. M. Schwartz in Crete + +[Autograph in the Liszt Museum at Weimar.--The addressee was +widely known as the writer Elpis Melena.] + +My winter villeggiatura at the Villa d'Este is drawing to its +close; the day after tomorrow I return to Rome, and when you +receive these lines I shall be at Weimar. Address to me there +till the middle of June. + +When will your Cretan volume, crowned [Untranslatable pun on the +words "cretois" and "crete."] with erudition and philhellenism, +be finished? Shall you return this summer for its publication? I +hope you will, and I will confess to you without any compliments +that you are among the very small number of my friends whose +absence I feel to be a privation. Now, to accustom one's self to +this kind of privation does not become easier with age. + +You doubtless know the novel of your great historical friend, +published now by the "Gaulois" (if I am not mistaken) under the +title "La Domination du Moine" (or "Clelia.") I question whether +another of your friends--less historical although very +distinguished--M. St. Rene Taillandier, recently appointed +Secretary General to the Minister of Public Instruction, would +subscribe to many copies of G.'s novel for the Imperial +libraries; but he will have a fine opportunity of ministerial +revenge when the biographer of the hero of l'unita italiana (not +the "cattolica," relegated to Turin) brings out "la Crete," in +which the Cretans will at last be relieved from the anathema of +their Epimenides narrated in St. Paul's Epistle to Titus,-- +"Cretenses semper mendaces, malae bestiae, ventres pigri."--In +the matter of "mendaces" and "ventres pagri" there would be a +tremendous competition with the rest of Europe. + +My plans for the spring and summer remain always the same. +Weimar--from the 10th April till the 20th June--with the +Tonkunstler-Versammlung (which has the honor of counting you +amongst its illustrious members); then in the last week of May I +should be very much tempted to be present at the famous "Passion +Play" at Ober-Ammergau; at the end of August I shall go to my odd +friend August at Szegzard (Hungary), who is anxious that a new +Mass of mine should be performed on the day of the dedication of +a church (29th September); and in October I shall return to Rome. + +I suppose you receive the Allgemeine Zeitung. It gives but too +much news, and little edifying, about serious things here by its +"Roman Letters," no less widespread than badly put together. If +you want to obtain complete information on these difficult +questions you must read l' Univers and the letters of Veuillot, +or at least l'Unita cattolica; but it would be exacting too much +from your impartiality. Moreover you have better things to do +than to read; your chief duty is to make yourself read, +consequently to write and to write again;--in a secondary manner +occupy yourself a little with your beautiful vines, and, above +all, don't forget to bring soon some samples of their excellent +product, which will enliven our material and intellectual +"substantials," at which, hoping to participate again in the year +of grace 1870, I am, + +Your very affectionate and very devoted servant, + +F. Liszt + +Villa d'Este, March 15th, 1870 + +As handy gossip I send you the following: they say that Odo +Russet [sic] will shortly go to England for his wife's +confinement, and will not return to his post in Rome. It is also +said that Schlozer will pay a visit here in the spring;--and that +the daughter of Countess Garcia is to marry a nephew of Cardinal +Antonelli, and will bring a fortune of ten thousand pounds +sterling. + +Tarnowski will return to his Penates in Gallicia at Easter, and +will write to you. Wider continues to be president of the German +circle. Next door to one another, there are many concerts given +at the Sala Dante, and our friend Sgambati is acquiring more and +more the reputation of a great artist, which he merits. Remenyi +spent the winter in Hungary. I should very much like to invite +him to come to the Tonkunstler-Versammlung at Weimar; but our +programme is already over-full. In any case I shall meet Rem. +again at Szegzard. + + + +102. To Camille Saint-Saens + +Dear Friend, + +The rehearsals of your "Noces de Promethee" (Marriage of +Prometheus) are proceeding well at Weimar and Jena; we shall pay +particular attention to the 4 harps, the saxophones, etc. But +what is of the greatest consequence is yourself. I have announced +your coming at the Court and in the town. A revoir then! Try to +be here on the 24th, [Saint-Saens came to Weimar for the +Tonkunstler-Versammlung of the "Allgemeine Deutsche Musik- +Verein," with which the Beethoven Centenary was simultaneously +celebrated; and for the first time, on the 27th May, 1870, Saint- +Saens' name appeared on the programme of these concerts. He also +appeared as a pianist, and Liszt played with him at a Matinee on +two grand pianos.]--and believe me yours ever in sincere +friendship, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, May 12th, 1870 + + + +103. To Johann von Herbeck + +Very dear friend, + +Being perfectly convinced of your genuine friendship I am quite +willing to follow the instructions you will briefly give me +concerning the Beethoven Festival [For the benefit of the +Beethoven Memorial. It took place in Vienna on the 18th March, +1877. Liszt played the E-major Concerto and the pianoforte +Fantasia (with chorus), and accompanied the Scotch songs sung by +Caroline Bettelheim.] in Vienna. Whether, and in what way, I may +be able to take part in it will be decided when we have discussed +the subject. Meanwhile I most modestly determine to consider +myself unusable. [There is here a play on the word bescheiden, +the German being ich bescheide mich bescheidenst, which is +untranslatable.] + +About the beginning of August I shall pay you a visit in Vienna, +whence my road leads onwards to Szegzard. My earlier halting +points will be: 3rd July, Leipzig--performance of my Missa +choralis; 13th and 17th July, "Rheingold" and the "Walkure" in +Munich; and after that the Passion Play at Oberammergau. + +The favorable reception accorded to the Coronation Mass [By +Liszt] is essentially due to your having conducted it. My best +thanks for this. The score is to be printed shortly, and I must +ask you to hand over to the publisher Schuberth the manuscript +which I gave you in Munich last summer. Schuberth is going to +Vienna in a few weeks. + +With sincerest esteem, I remain your ever gratefully devoted + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, June 20th, 1870 + + + +104. To Sophie Menter + +[The favorite and most distinguished of Liszt's lady-pupils, of +whom he wrote to Navratil on 29th September, 1881, that he had +"for many years past regarded her as the most brilliant and +accomplished of the lady-pianists of the day." Since 1874 she has +held the appointment of Court pianist at the Imperial Court of +Austria.] + +Dear and Very Honored One, + +A telegram from Abranyi informs me that an invitation, addressed +to Capellmeister O.B. in Salzburg, has already been sent to you +to ask you to take part in the Sangerfest in Pest. Hence, after +having triumphantly played in the Mozarteum on the 18th, your +triumphs are to be continued forthwith in Pest on the 20th. Baron +Augusz and your humble servant expect you there from the 19th. +Kindly let me know (per telegram) by which train you will arrive, +and--a few days afterwards--my rigidly adhered-to plan of +carrying you off to Szegzard shall be brilliantly fulfilled. +Here in this house you will find rest, comfort, friendly sympathy +and harmless affability, and, in addition, music too, and that +not of the worst kind, for we shall arrange it ourselves. + +Your sincerely attached and devoted + +F. Liszt + +Szegzard, August 11th, 1870 + + + +105. To Sophie Menter + +Your hearty and humorous little note closes delightfully with the +promise that you are soon coming to Szegzard. You will not find +here any vestige of all the artistic enjoyments and glories of +the Mozarteum; the whole symphonic contingent of Szegzard is +limited to half a dozen gypsies with instruments out of tune and +harmonising in pell mell fashion one with the other; the choruses +are free and performed in the open air, namely: soprano and alto- +-flocks of geese; tenor and bass--cattle;--so that a conductor +like O.B. would have nothing further to do than to pose as a +mythological figure... + +Nevertheless I promise you, dear kind patroness, many pleasant +and befitting things in this restful, genial and refined home of +our mutual friend Baron Augusz. + +You will be most heartily welcome to us all--especially to your +most sincerely attached + +F. Liszt + +Szegzard, August 29th, 1870 + +Between the middle and the end of September Remenyi, Mosonyi and +Mihalovich will be staying here. + + + +106. To Kornel von Abranyi in Budapest + +[Autograph in the possession of Herr E. von Mihalovich in +Budapest.--The addressee was a musician, writer and critic +there.] + +Dear Friend, + +The death of Mosonyi puts our hearts in mourning. [Michael +Mosonyi, the friend of Liszt, and to whose sudden death the +latter here refers, was famous in Hungary as a composer, teacher +and author.] It makes us sorrow also for Music in Hungary, of +which Mosonyi was one of the noblest, most valiant and +praiseworthy representatives. One might be proud of walking side +by side with him in the right road. In truth his name had not its +due eclat and renown abroad; but he did not trouble himself the +least about that, and possibly he did not even take enough +trouble about it,--as much by wisdom as by contempt of equivocal +and vulgar means, which were repugnant to the elevated rectitude +of his soul. He felt what esteem was due to him, and thought of +nothing but real glory; that which is attained by conscientious +perseverance in the Good and the Beautiful. + +Let us honor his memory by setting ourselves to make his examples +and teaching bear further fruit!-- + +Many of the published compositions of Mosonyi deserve to be more +and better known; others, still in manuscript,--his last great +dramatic work "Almos" in particular--will soon be spread abroad, +I hope. + +We will talk about this shortly at Pest. For today I wish merely +to share with some friend, such as yourself, dear Abranyi, the +grief at the loss which we have sustained. Yours from my heart, + +F. Liszt + +Szegzard, November 2nd, 1870 + + + +107. To Sophie Menter + +Dear Patroness, + +Your dear little notes joyfully alarm the whole household. All +beg you urgently to come as soon as possible, and I all the more +urgently as I have to go to Vienna at the end of April. + +Your bewitching description of the "Ambrosia-Concerto" makes me +most inquisitive: be sure not to forget to bring the tremendous +manuscript with you; we will arrange an historically memorable +performance of it in the salon of the Town-Vicarage. + +Hearty greetings, and in all friendliness yours, + +F. Listz + +Pest, March 22nd, 1871. + +In musical matters as follows: this evening and Friday concerts +by Remenyi; next Sunday and on the Wednesday before Easter +Philharmonic concerts;--in between a grand concert at the Musik +Academie of Ofen, and on Good Friday a performance of the Stabat +Mater, etc., etc. + +Our programme shall be arranged here, forthwith, by word of +mouth, at any quarter of an hour that my dear patroness Sophie +may feel disposed to appoint. + + + +108. To Edmund von Mihalovich in Budapest + +[Composer of several operas and large orchestral works (born +1842), now director of the Music Academy in Budapest.] + +.--. Augusz, in his last letter, speaks of fresh proposals on the +subject of my settling in Hungary. I answer him, as before, that +I am quite disposed to show myself accommodating, devoted, +useful, obedient and grateful. The only condition that I make +relative to my return to Pest next winter is--a place to live in; +for, on the one hand, the modesty of my income forbids me to +increase my expenses, and, on the other hand, politeness demands, +as it seems to me, that if they seriously want me they will also +show me that they do, by sparing me the onerous trouble of having +to find a home. On the four occasions on which I have stayed at +Pest since 1865 Schwendtner has shown me the utmost and most +cordial hospitality. I feel a most true gratitude to him, but +should be afraid of showing it ill by taking too great advantage +of his kindness to me. + +.--. Mme. de Moukhanoft [The cultivated musical friend of Liszt +and Wagner, to whom the latter dedicated his "Judenthum in der +Musik," whilst Liszt dedicated an Elegic to her memory] writes, +"Has Mihalovich received my letter of tender invectives and +entreaties to make him come to Weimar?" + +It will be difficult to persuade her that walks on the shore at +Ostend ought to be preferable to the charm of the talks on the +"Goethe Platz," and even at the "Erb-Prinz," which she will again +favor with her presence towards the middle of June, I hope. +Tausig also promises me to spend a fortnight here. + +Mlle. Brandt sang several songs admirably yesterday morning at +the "Hofgartnerei" I shall accompany her in yours tomorrow. + +Yours in cordial friendship, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, May 29th, 1871 + +Till the end of June address--Weimar. + + + +109. To Marie Lipsius + +Dear and kindest Biographer, + +Again an excellent suggestion; follow it without hesitation and +present us ere long with a pleasantly powerful and characteristic +portrait of Tausig. [Liszt's great pupil (born in 1841) had died +in Leipzig on the 17th July, 187l.] In what year of the fifties +his father brought him to Weimar, I do not now recollect; but I +do remember how greatly astonished I was at his extraordinary +talent when I first heard him play. The intellectual claws and +pinions were already giving signs of mighty power in the youth +who was scarcely 14 years of age, and somewhat delicate in +appearance. I felt some compunction in undertaking to give him +further instruction, determined not to undertake the task, and +therefore informed the father that in the case of such a +stupendous organisation the wisest plan was to leave it free, +independent development without a teacher. However Tausig +insisted upon remaining with me. He studied immoderately; as a +rule kept very much to himself while in Weimar, and got into +various little scrapes in consequence of his quick, ironical +humor. I was accused of being over-indulgent with him, and of +thus spoiling him; but I really could not have acted otherwise, +and I loved him with all my heart. On various occasions when I +had to undertake short journeys in connection with the +performances of my works he accompanied me; among other places to +Dresden, Prague and Vienna. Subsequently he lived in Vienna for +some length of time, and got up some concerts there with the view +of having some Symphonic Poems performed which he himself +conducted--but he was unable to get a proper start. He had to +struggle on and to endure many privations before attaining the +success he deserved. His brilliant vocation did not become firmly +established till a few years ago, in Berlin, Leipzig, etc. + +In the spring of '69 I met Tausig in Paris (after the +"Tannhauser" scandal), and returned with him to Weimar for the +Tonkunstler-Versammlung. Bulow conducted the Faust Symphony by +heart (at the rehearsals most accurately mentioning the +letters!), and Tausig played the A major Concerto marvellously. +Since then I have seen him only twice: last May at the +Tonkunstler-Versammlung in Weimar (where he played Beethoven's E- +flat major Concerto) and now... + +Countess Krokow could give you the most reliable information +about him, and our friend R. Pohl may also be of use to you in +your work. As far as I know, no one has understood Tausig's +genius, his demoniacally ideal nature, with so quick a +perception, so refined and--I might say--with such womanly +intuition, as Frau von Moukhanoff (nee Countess Nesselrode). +Unfortunately the two letters in which she wrote me full +particulars about Tausig are in Rome. Tausig dedicated his two +lately published Etudes, Op. 1, to her, and she was ever a highly +appreciative and kindly patroness of his. Remember to mention her +specially in your delineation of his character. + +Of Tausig's publications those chiefly deserving the highest +praise are his masterly transcriptions of the Beethoven Quartets, +the Toccata and Fugue of Bach (D minor), Schubert's March; the +three pieces from "Tristan and Isolde," the pianoforte score of +the "Meistersinger," of the Kaisermarsch, the "Nouvelles Soirees +de Vienne" and his two last original Etudes. Recommend also, for +the good of pianists, and as a very saleable work, an early +publication of his very admirable and well-sustained arrangement +of Chopin's first Concerto (E Minor). + +Accept the expression of my sincere esteem and gratitude. + +F. Listz + +Schloss Wilhelmsthal, Sunday, July 23rd, 1871. + +In the middle of this week I return to Weimar and remain there +till the 5th-10th of August. + + + +110. To Franz Servais + +Dear Franz, + +In spite of the proverb "Every road leads to Rome" I shall not be +able to return there by way of Hal this time. Will you give my +very affectionate respects to your mother and tell her how much I +regret to be unable to be present, except in thought, at the +beautiful family fete at the time of the inauguration of the +monument to your father, on the 10th September.--Shall you not +invite the Prince de Chimay (the present governor of Mons, I +believe)? He would have a right there owing to his sincere +interest for Art and his very distinguished musical talent. + +I am persuaded that Lassen will express in noble music the +inspiration of this fete intended to perpetuate the memory of an +illustrious and sympathetic artist. But however successful may be +his composition, it does not absolve you from yours, which filial +affection demands of you and will dictate to you. Write it +without delay, and afterwards take advantage of your leisure at +Hal to fulfil the praiseworthy programme indicated in your +letter: + +a. To work hard at the Piano. + +b. To help towards your independence by making yourself capable +of cutting a good figure as conductor. + +c. To venture on the performance of your "Macbeth" sorceries and +other of your compositions, with the reservation of not hearing +yourself immediately proclaimed king by the sorcerers of +criticism. + +Shall you make your appearance at the composition competition +next year? I invite you to do so. + +You know that H. Richter has been appointed conductor to the +National Theater of Pest, and will conduct "Lohengrin" there at +the end of September. He will find, I trust, honor and +satisfaction in more firmly implanting in his country the sublime +works of Wagner, and in making the orchestra, the stage and the +public profit by the exemplary rules and practices of M. de Bulow +at Munich. Needless to say that I shall endeavor to make +Richter's task as easy as possible to him. + +Count Tyszkiewicz, in passing lately through Weimar, was kind +enough to explain to me his new system of musical mathematics, +and to show me his tables of figures honored with commendatory +letters from Mr. Gevaert and several notabilities. If, by means +of his figures and measures, Tysz. succeeds, as you claim for +him, in demonstrating that X...is a "pyramid," this will be a +more pyramidal glory even than the system. + +Next Thursday I go to Eichstatt (Bavaria), where the (German) St. +Cecilia Society meets. Its founder and president F. Witt--a much +respected ecclesiastic, conductor of the Cathedral, composer and +editor of two newspapers of sacred music published by Pustet at +Ratisbon--gives evidence of a great capacity and a persevering +zeal in endeavoring seriously to improve the uses and customs of +Church music, and, by continuous publications, to propagate the +old works of repute as well as the new ones of this class that +are deserving of recommendation.--A pamphlet by Witt, which +appeared in the spring, "uber das Dirigiren der Kirchenmusik" +["about the conducting of Church music"], corrects some grievous +errors and furnishes much profitable instruction. + +I shall be much obliged if you will send me a printed account of +your fete of the 10th September; on that day I shall be in Rome, +and shall not return thence till toward the end of October, to +settle at Pest for the winter. + +Remember me most kindly to your brother Joseph, [The excellent +Violoncellist Joseph Servais, who died in 1885 at the age of 35] +to Godebski and his wife, and believe, dear Franz, in my +steadfast feelings of devoted affection. + +F. Liszt + +Wilhelmsthal, August 25th, 1871 + +Address Rome, Santa Francesca Romana, Campo Vaccino. + +What are Joseph's and your plans for the winter? + + + +111. To Walter Bache + +Dear Mr. Bache, + +Your kind remembrance of the 22nd October has given me sincere +pleasure, for which I thank you cordially. Please excuse me for +not telling you oftener by letter my constant feelings of +affection for you; the hindrance of occupations and cares drives +me, alas! into an extreme parsimony as regards letter writing +with my best friends, but I think that is my only omission +towards them. To see M. de Bulow again was a real joy to me. His +health is improving, and his prodigious maestria at its height. +He is going to make a concert tour this winter in Vienna, Pest, +Prague, Berlin, etc., and will come to London in May. I hope that +the people there will be able to appreciate his superiority in +its entirety. Bulow, more than any contemporary artist, takes the +lead in celebrity. He is not only a very great virtuoso and +musician, but also a veritable sovereign of music. Mme. Laussot, +who has the genius of nobility of the heart, also came to fete me +on Sunday. I shall see her again at Florence in a fortnight, on +my way to Pest, where, as you know, I am henceforth fixed, by +royal and national favor. Whether there or at Weimar, I hope we +shall meet again next summer, dear Bache, in perfect harmony. + +Your very cordially affectionate and devoted + +F. Liszt + +Rome, October 25th, 1871 + +Bravo and thanks for your concert programmes, which I beg you to +continue sending me. + + + +112. To Marie Lipsius + +Dear Patroness, + +To your .--. sketch of Tausig only a single objection could be +raised; namely, that you bestow too high praise upon me. Pardon +me if I cannot argue about it, and accept my cordial thanks for +this new tribute of your generous kindness. + +Last Sunday (22nd October) I had the great pleasure of a visit +from Bulow. He is going to remain in Florence till the New Year, +and he then begins a categorical concert tour in Vienna, Pest, +Prague, Berlin, Leipzig, and at the end of April goes to London. +His perfect mastery as a virtuoso--in the finest sense of the +word--is in its zenith. To him one might apply Dante's words: "A +master to those who know." + +Again my hearty thanks, and wishing you an increase of La Mara's +.--. writings, I remain with much esteem, + +Yours very sincerely, + +F. Listz + +Rome, October 25th, 1871. + +In a fortnight's time I travel to Pest. + + + +113. To Breitkopf and Hartel + +Dear Sirs, + +In order justly to decide the question of plagiarism between +Messrs. Altschul and Joseffy, [Both were pupils of Liszt; the +former is now in Buda-Pest, the latter in New York.] one would +need first of all to compare the manuscripts of the two +disputants. Altschul was kind enough last winter to play me his +version in thirds and sixths of Chopin's "Valse" (in D-flat +major); the other, questionable, version by Joseffy I do not +know. If you think it advisable to send me both versions I am +quite ready to let you have my opinion on the subject. Meanwhile +I will only remark that the multifarious forms of passages in +thirds and sixths--upwards, downwards, to the right, to the left, +or crossing, split up, etc., etc.--admit of a variety of forms of +transcription in thirds and sixths of the Chopin Valse, and hence +Herr Joseffy might quite innocently, in his love of sport as a +virtuoso, have shot down his own bird even within Herr Altschul's +range. + +But whether two birds existed must be proved by the "corpus +delicti." + +With highest esteem I remain, dear sirs, + +Most truly yours, + +F. Liszt + +Buda-Pest, November 22nd, 1871. (Palatingasse 20.) + +P.S.--Herewith is my yearly contribution to the "Bach- +Gesellschaft."-- + +Allow me to reply, later on, to your kind inquiry in regard to a +pianoforte piece. + + + +114. To Madame A. Rubinstein in St. Petersburg + +Madame, + +Your talent of observation is as incontestable as your very +charming amiability. With a sagacious eye you observed my +predilection for the silent "compatriot," apparently rather +sombre, but of excellent composition at bottom. [A box of +caviare, which Madame Rubinstein had sent to Liszt.] Doubtless +the advantages which appertain to it in its own right were +peculiarly enhanced by the charm of your salon, where I hope to +see it again and often. Meanwhile, since you are good enough to +favor me with its uninterrupted company, I beg to assure you that +I shall appreciate it even beyond its specific merits, which are +moreover very real. Will you be so good as to renew to Rubinstein +the expression of my old and admiring friendship, and accept, +Madame, the most affectionate thanks and respects of your very +devoted servant, + +F. Liszt + +Pest, Tuesday, January 9th, 1872 + + + +115. To Edmund von Mihalovich + +Very Dear Friend, + +Your new Song "Du bist wie eine Blume" ["Thou'rt like a tender +flower"] is most welcome, and you have succeeded perfectly with +it. It only remains to add a ninth to this No. 8, so that the +volume may contain the number of the Muses. I hope that you will +shortly bring me this No. 9 yourself, for we want you at the +Tonkunstler-Versammlung (also the ninth), which will be held at +Cassel from the 26th to the 30th June. Your "Geisterschiff" +figures on the programme of the first concert, and Riedel (our +President) will write to you officially to invite you to fill the +post of pilot and captain of your "phantom ship," in other words, +to conduct the orchestra. At the same concert Volkmann's Overture +"Richard III.," Raff's "Waldsymphonie," Rubinstein's Overture to +"Faust" and a new Violin Concerto of Raff will be performed. +Wilhelmj will play the violin part, and I hope that other +soloists of renown will also lend us their assistance. The +programme of this year's Tonkunstler-Versammlung contains, +besides these, a new old piece of goods--the "Elizabeth;" and an +antiquated new one--"The Seven Words of O[ur]. S[aviour]., +composed by Schutz at the end of the sixteenth century, and the +manuscript of which was recently discovered at Cassel itself. + +The "Elizabeth" will be given at Erfurt on the 2nd May, and on +the 8th Riedel gives Berlioz's "Requiem" at Leipzig, for the +benefit of our "Beethoven Scholarship." It goes without saying +that I shall be present at these two performances. + +.--. Schuberth has been very ill at New York, and is not yet +sufficiently well to set out on his journey. I am expecting him +here towards the middle of June: he will come to Cassel, where we +will settle the little matter of your manuscripts in five +minutes. + +Yours in all friendship, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, April 18th, 1872 + +My most affectionate thanks to Count Albert Apponyi for his kind +remembrance, with the assurance of my cordial reciprocity. + +P.S.--Augusz would give me great pleasure if he would send me a +small provision of Hungarian tobacco (to smoke), for my old +Weimar friend Grosse, the celebrated Trombonist. + +Shall you not go to Bayreuth for the 22nd May? I shall invite you +to do so. + + + +116. To Johanna Wenzel + +[The lady here addressed was a pupil of Liszt's at the time, and +subsequently married Jules Zarembski, and is at present one of +the teachers of the pianoforte at the Brussels Conservatoire.] + +My Dear Young Lady, + +In reply to your friendly lines I beg of you earnestly no longer +to think of having the barbarous operation performed upon your +fingers; rather all your life long play every octave and chord +wrong than commit such a mad attack upon your hands. + +With best thanks, I subscribe myself yours respectfully, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, June l0th, 1872 + + + +117. To Wilhelm von Lenz + +Very Honored Friend, + +I owe you thanks in the 24 major and minor keys for the +remembrance you keep of me, and the ardent style in which you +publish it to the world. Your pamphlet ["Die grossen Pianoforte- +Virtuosen unsrer Zeit" The Great Pianoforte Players of our Day.] +draws down upon itself a capital reproach; it is that you make me +out too grand and too fine. I am far from deserving it, and I +confess it without any false modesty; but since you have been +pleased thus to overwhelm me I can but bow in silence,--and press +your hand. + +No one possesses less than myself the talent of talking with the +pen, and the necessity of receiving more than a hundred letters a +month (not counting bills, and the numerous sendings of +manuscript or printed works which I have to read) makes +correspondence again more than difficult for me. It is all I can +do to get through the necessary epistolary work imposed upon +me...Moreover the greater part of the things which are easily +said is indifferent to me, and those that I wish to say resist +ordinary language. On this subject some one well said to me: + +"Words seem to me to intercept feeling rather than to express it; +and actions, alas! seem to me sometimes like a thick veil thrown +over our soul: looks even seem to be trammelled by phantom +barriers, and souls which seek one another across the sufferings +of life only find one another--such is my belief--in prayer and +in music."-- + +What wit, what sallies and what brilliant sparks in your "Quartet +of Pianist Virtuosi!"--Don't let us forget the etymology of the +word "Virtuoso," how it comes from the "Cicerone" in Rome--and +let us reascend to Chopin, the enchanting aristocrat, the most +refined in his magic. Pascal's epigraph, "One must not get one's +nourishment from it, but use it as one would an essence," is only +appropriate to a certain extent. Let us inhale the essence, and +leave it to the druggists to make use of it. You also, I think, +exaggerate the influence which the Parisian salons exercised on +Chopin. His soul was not in the least affected by them, and his +work as an artist remains transparent, marvellous, ethereal, and +of an incomparable genius--quite outside the errors of a school +and the silly trifling of a salon. He is akin to the angel and +the fairy; more than this, he sets in motion the heroic string +which has nowhere else vibrated with so much grandeur, passion +and fresh energy as in his "Polonaises," which you brilliantly +designate as "Pindaric Hymns of Victory." + +No need to tell you that I fully share in your admiration and +sympathy for Tausig and Henselt. Do you know Wagner's epigraph +"Fur Carl Tausig's Grab"? + +"Reif sein zum Sterben, Des Lebens zogernd spriessende Frucht +Fruh reif sic erwerben, In Lenzes jaherbluhender Flucht--War es +dein Loos, war es dein Wagen: Wir mussen dein Loos wie dein Wagen +beklagen." + +[For Carl Tausig's Grave:--"Ripe for Death's harvest, The fruits +of life long tarrying, Full early to pluck them In the fleeting +bloom of spring--Was it thy lot, was it thy bourn? Thy lot and +thy destiny both must we mourn."] + +Allow me to be particularly grateful to you for one very +comprehensive expression in your pamphlet (page 4)--"es war +thematisch" [it was thematic]--and accept, dear Lenz, the +expression of my old and very cordial devotion. + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, September 20th, 1872 + +In three weeks I return to Hungary, and shall stay there for the +winter. The remainder of my existence will be divided henceforth +between Pest and Weimar. When you return to Berlin (in the +summer) I invite you to come this way. Are you in touch with the +musical young Russia and its very notable leaders--Messrs. +Balakireff, Cui, and Rimski-Korsakoff? I have lately read several +of their works; they deserve attention, praise and propagation. + + + +118. To Otto Lessmann in Charlottenburg + +[Lessmann, a pupil of Bulow's and F. Kiel's, was at one time a +teacher in Tausig's School for the Higher Instruction in +Pianoforte Playing, and is now well known as editor of the +Allgemeine (deutsche) Musikseitung, representing the party of +musical progress with energy and success.] + +Very Dear Sir and Friend, + +My best thanks for presenting me with your admirable edition of +Bach's "Preludes." Such works are among the pleasant signs of the +musical Present; inasmuch as they will drive away the old jog- +trot style of pianoforte playing. Bulow's edition of Beethoven +outweighs in the matter of instruction a dozen Conservatoires. +And the editions by Kroll and Lebert also deserve praise and +ought to be widely circulated; and to your Bach Preludes I wish +plentiful successors in the "Suites," "Inventions" and +"Variations" (especially the 30 in G major) of grand old Herr +Johann Sebastian--of Eisenach. + +Allow me also to add that reading over your Songs enables me more +and more thoroughly to enjoy them when I hear them--intelligent +singers shall be found for them--and accept, dear friend, the +expression of my sincere esteem and affection. + +F. Liszt + +Eisenach, September 26th, 1872 + + + +119. To Eduard von Liszt + +Horpacs, November 6th, 1872 + +Dearest Eduard, + +My stay here has been somewhat prolonged, and I shall not reach +Pest till next Sunday. + +Szechenyi's [Count Szechenyi was Austrian ambassador in Berlin up +to 1892.] residence here is most decidedly pleasant and +convenient, without noise. In the chapel attached to the house, +the house-chaplain (a cultured and estimable priest) daily reads +Mass. At table an old house-physician, Dr. M., contributes a good +deal to the entertainment. Among other amusing things he said one +day: "As to the cholera, no one knows anything definite about it +yet except myself, for I have fathomed its nature. And its nature +consists solely and wholly...of nothing but cholera!" + +The day before yesterday we drove with Szechenyi and Mihalovich +to Raiding, [Liszt's birthplace.] in less than two hours. A Herr +Wittgenstein (probably an Israelite), who lives in Vienna, now +rents this Esterhazy estate, and sublets it again. I found no +perceptible changes in the house where I was born since my last +visit there 24 years ago. The peasants recognised me at once, +came to pay me their respects at the inn, and rang the church +bell as we drove away. + +.--. I wrote to Kahnt from here that he was to send you +immediately the 9 "Kirchen-Chorgesange" and my Mass for men's +voices ("Editio nova"). + +The three Patronatsscheine [tickets of membership] for the +Nibelung performance in Bayreuth (Bayern. N.B.--The King has +commanded that henceforth Baiern [Bavaria] shall be spelt with a +y), and your letter to Herr Feustel, please attend to without +delay. + +All cordial greetings to you and yours--from your faithfully +attached + +F. Liszt + +Augusz I shall meet in Pest-Ofen. + +Give Bosendorfer my friendly greetings, and at the same time tell +him how I praise the excellent piano upon which I have been +practising a little here. + +If Zumbusch goes to Vienna, commission him--as we arranged--to +make a bust of me in marble and a pedestal for Bosendorfer. + + + +120. To Princess Caroline Sayn-Wittgenstein + +[Printed by "order" in the Signale, 1873 (after the death of +Napoleon), in which form the letter is reproduced here, as the +original could not be procured. This letter does not indeed show +us Liszt as a far-sighted politician, but simply as a man of +noble impulses.] + +Pest, January 10th, 1873 + +Napoleon III. is dead! A great soul, an all-embracing +intelligence, experienced in the wisdom of life, a gentle and +noble character--with a disastrous fate! He was a bound and +gagged Caesar, but still closely related to the Divine Caesar who +was the ideal embodiment of earthly power. In the year 1861, when +I had a pretty long interview with Napoleon, he said, "Sometimes +it seems to me as if I were over a hundred years old." I replied, +"You are the century yourself, Sire!"--And, in fact, I honestly +believed at the time, and do so still, that Napoleon's reign was +the one most in keeping with the requirements and advances of our +era. He has set noble examples, and accomplished or undertaken +great deeds: amnesties which were more complete under him than +under other governments; the protection of the Church in Rome and +in other countries; the rejuvenescence of Paris and other great +cities in France; the Crimean war and the Italian war; the great +Paris Exhibition, and the rise of local exhibitions; the earnest +attention paid to the lot and to the interests of the country +people, and of the working classes; the generosity and +encouragement to scholars and artists,--all these things are +historical facts, and are things in which the Emperor took the +initiative, and which he carried out in spite of all the +difficulties that stood in his way. + +These things will not be eclipsed by the misfortunes that befell +him, however terrible these may have been, and, on the day of +judgment, France will fetch the coffin of Napoleon III. and place +it in all honor beside that of Napoleon I. It can be affirmed +without adulation that throughout life the Emperor unswervingly +practised those great virtues which are in reality one and the +same thing and are known by the names of benevolence, goodness, +generosity, nobility of mind, love of splendor and munificence. +One of the fine traits of his character that he is acknowledged +to have possessed, was his never-failing kindheartedness and his +deep gratitude towards those persons who had ever done him a +service. In all humility and lowliness of spirit I will imitate +him in this, and begin with himself by blessing his memory and +addressing my prayers for him to the God of Mercy who has so +ordered things that nations may-recover from their wounds. .--. + + + +121. To Eduard von Liszt + +Dearest Eduard, + +Long since you ought to have heard from me...However, I have not +been altogether idle, and during the last weeks have been busy +blackening some sheets of music paper which you shall see in +print and hear me play. Bosendorfer heard some of it last night, +and will bring you word about it to Pest. Be good enough to pay +Zumbusch a visit, and beg him to have my bust done in good +marble, and to have it finished and ready by the 2nd April +(Franciscus di Paula). I intend to spend this name-day of mine +with you quietly, [This was an established custom of Liszt's for +many years, and one to which--even after his cousin's death--he +adhered, and spent the day with the family up to the time of his +death.] and to take the bust to Bosendorfer "in persona." + +I am told that the Gran Mass is to be performed on Easter Sunday +in Pressburg. If so, we will go there together to hear it, with +your wife, Marie [Eduard von Liszt's daughter, now Baroness Saar +in Vienna.] and Franz. + +As to the Bayreuth affair, I have already told you what my wish +and will is. It must remain thus. .--. + +Probably Cosima will be going to Vienna in February. + +God's blessing abide with you and yours. Thine, with all my +heart, + +F. Liszt + +Pest, January 13th, 1873 + + + +122. To Dr. Emil Thewrewk von Ponor, Professor at the University +of Budapest. + +[A classical philologist who published a little Hungarian work +entitled "Die ungarische Rhythmik," the German edition of which +was to be dedicated to Liszt. The two men differed in their +opinion respecting the origin of Hungarian music; however, in +consequence of Von Ponor's contribution to the subject, Liszt did +in the end agree with the proof Von Ponor brought forward--with +this reservation, that "the gypsies did bring harmony into +Hungarian music," a point which--Ponor thinks--"may readily be +conceded."] + +Much-Esteemed and Dear Herr Professor, + +I regret that my reply to your request about the Elizabeth-motive +can only be somewhat unsatisfactory. It was sent to me together +with some others--referring to Saint Elizabeth--about 13 years +ago, by Mosonyi and Baron Augusz, and the Hungarian text is +published in the concluding notice to the score of my Oratorio. A +copy of the "Lyra Coelestis" I did not need; probably this (to me +unknown) printed work will be readily found here, and is sure to +be in the Library of the Martinsberg monastery. + +If not inconvenient to you I should be glad to receive the honor +of a visit from you; it would interest me greatly to hear of and +to become acquainted with your researches concerning Hungarian +rhythmic forms. + +Meanwhile I thank you warmly for your friendly lines, and for +communicating the Volkslied in the 5/4 time:-- + +[Here, Liszt illustrates with a musical score excerpt] + +Yours with much esteem and sincerely, + +F. Liszt + +Pest, January 14th, 1873 + + + +123. To Dr. Franz Witt + +January 20th, 1873 + +Much-Esteemed Friend, + +At New Year I sent you a copy of the Stabat Mater by Palestrina +"for the lecture arranged by R. Wagner." The inaccuracies and +errors of this copy I have carefully corrected, for in such a +masterly and exemplary arrangement every iota is of importance. +Wagner gave me his manuscript 18 years ago in Zurich, and forgot +afterwards where it was. As regards its publication, which is +much to be desired, it is not for me to interfere in the matter +in any way, and I beg you to come to some understanding with +Wagner about it. If he should wish to correct his old manuscript +(the paper of which has become rather yellowish) I will gladly +place it at his service. + + + +124. To Eduard von Liszt + +Dearest Eduard, + +Having considered the matter about the certificate of death which +Rothschild wished to have, I shall not make use of Belloni in +connection with it. If Emile Ollivier were still in Paris it +would be his place to procure the certificate. My dear good +mother died in his house (Rue St. Guillaume, Faubourg St. +Germain) at the beginning of January 1866. He looked after her +and took tender care of her for several years; and finally had +her body taken to the Church of St. Thomas d'Aquin for the +funeral service, and followed it thence to its last resting-place +in the cemetery of Montparnasse. This noble conduct and his +speech at the grave I cherish in my innermost heart. + +Since the winter of 1866 I have never been back in Paris, and my +relations with trustworthy persons there are as good as entirely +broken off. Hence I yesterday went and got good advice from +friend Augusz, and have accepted his proposal, namely, to address +a request to Count Alexander Apponyi--son of and Secretary to the +Austrian ambassador in Paris--to procure the certificate of death +of my mother and to send it to you. Let Rothschild know of this +matter, which, let us hope, will soon be satisfactorily settled. + +Many thanks for the trouble you are taking about the bust by +Zumbusch, and which I very much wish personally to present to +Bosendorfer in Vienna as an Easter egg. I know I can rely wholly +upon your ever faithful and incomparable readiness to do me a +favor. + +Allow me one other request, which will cost you only half an +hour's time and a visit. The visit is to an extremely +interesting, learned and distinguished man--Dr. Ambros, formerly +Imperial Solicitor-General in Prague, now professor and +referendary to the Officielle Zeitung in Vienna, always an +eminent writer on aesthetics, history, the history of music, a +polygraphist, composer--in fact, a good friend of mine. Be kind +enough to tell him that I am awaiting his answer in the +affirmative, respecting a lecture by him on Robert Franz at the +extra Soiree arranged in honor of and for the benefit of Robert +Franz; Dr. Ambros was at my request respectfully invited by Herr +Dunkl ("Firma Roszavolgyi") to give us his assistance. I take +part too as pianist, collector and arranger of the Soiree, and +hope that Dr. Ambros--who is so specially competent for the task, +owing to his eloquent and valuable treatise on Robert Franz--will +give us brilliant assistance, and give us a speech there without +talking himself out. The warmest welcome and appreciation will +await him on all sides. But obtain his kind consent as soon as +possible, together with a written yea to Dunkl (Musikverlag +Roszavolgyi, Christoph-Platz, Pest). + +Heartiest greetings to your wife and children, and au revoir on +the 2nd April. + +Thine, + +F. Liszt + +Pest, January 28th, 1873 + + + +125. To Eduard von Liszt + +My Dearest Friend, + +Zumbusch's letter seems to me pretty comforting, and if you would +have the kindness to write to him again I hope the bust will +reach Vienna by April 1st. Have you asked what it costs? If not +do so in your next letter. Of course I do not mean to bargain +with Zumbusch (that is a thing I do only in case of dire +necessity--and even then am a bad hand at it). We must simply pay +what he asks, and leave ourselves to his friendly feelings of +moderation, which will not fail... + +In spite of all your endeavors and persuasive powers Dr. Ambros +is not coming to the Robert Franz Soiree in Pest. He wrote to +Dunkl that he is unusually busy in Vienna with urgent affairs +connected with the Zeitung--and hence cannot find any time to +prepare an address--and besides this is afraid of taking cold on +the journey...To all this we can raise no remonstrance, so I must +just accept this refusal of Ambros, much as I should have liked a +different answer. Some day I will tell you the preliminaries of +this business. Last week I received from Freiherr Suttner, +President of the Vienna Singakademie and Imperial Chamberlain, an +invitation to play a few pianoforte pieces in the concert +arranged for Robert Franz's benefit. I replied that an interval +of 25 years separated me from my last public appearance as a +pianist, andthat I considered it advisable for me to remain +within the interval. As I told you last October, it is not my +intention to officiate in any way this winter in Vienna. + +Herewith I send you an extract from the sitting of the Chamber of +the day before yesterday, the result of which is almost as +unexpected as it is important. The deputies of the conservative +party and of the opposition voted almost unanimously in favor of +raising the funds for establishing a new Musik-Akademie. And an +unusual honor was conferred upon me on the occasion,--for, +although I have never come forward in the matter, it was +nevertheless brought forward in my name, and this certainly puts +rather a heavy burden upon me. I will endeavor conscientiously to +do justice to the honor as well as the burden. For the last +couple of days a stupid feverish cold in the head has kept me in +bed. Tomorrow, however, I shall be up and about again. + +Faithfully thine, + +F. Liszt + +Pest, February 10th, [1873] + + + +126. To Eduard von Liszt + +My Dear Friend, + +Bosendorfer brings you tidings of the Robert Franz Soiree of +yesterday. [At this soiree Liszt played Beethoven's A-flat major +Sonata, Op. 26, No, 4; his own "Soirees de Vienne" (after F. +Schubert); Schumann's "Wie aus der Ferne"; and R. Franz's +"Lied."] In a fortnight's time I shall have a similar work before +me as pianoforte player, at a charity concert which Countess Anna +Zichy is patronising. Then follows, further, a matinee of the +Liszt-Verein at the Stadtpfarrei [The town parsonage], and the +performance of Witt's Mass, of which I undertake the conducting +on the 25th March (in the church). At the beginning of April I +shall be with you. + +Heartfelt greetings to you and yours from your faithful + +F. Liszt + +[Pest] March 3rd, 1873 + + + +127. To Madame Jessie Laussot + +Dear, Excellent Friend, + +Your ideas are always very wise, practical and noble; I +participate in them beforehand, and esteem myself happy to have +them communicated to me direct. With regard to Robert Franz's +little capital, I presume that his zealous friends have already +taken decisive measures; on my return to Weimar (before the end +of April) I will learn whether it is possible to carry out your +idea...You know that a thousand thalers have been sent from here, +the result of a soiree arranged in Franzs honor. Perhaps I shall +find an opportunity to send him more soon.-- + +Walter Bache writes me word of his "Ninth Annual Concert" in +London, with my 13th Psalm. Bache behaves "eroicamente" with +regard to me, and takes rank in the very small group of my +friends who are the most determined to show the public--in spite +of the contrary opinion, much believed by influential papers-- +that my music is not absolutely void of sense. I should like to +make the task of these friends a little easier, and I try not to +increase the merit of their devotion by my faults. + +Enclosed is the programme of the concert of our friend Mihalovich +yesterday evening. "Romeo and Juliet" was encored, and the +"Geisterschiff" did not founder. The audience, very aristocratic, +was more select than numerous, which is a good sign for our +friend. Item the squashing of some learned articles in the +papers. + +Will you kindly give my grateful acknowledgments to Mr. +Hillebrand for his friendly remembrance, and for sending me his +new volume on the French? I had read bits of it in the Augsburg +Gazette, and shall take a double pleasure in reading the entire +work. Hillebrand, like Alexander von Humboldt, has a passionate +attachment to France;--I am proud to feel that I am in accord +with him also on this point. + +The day after tomorrow I shall be in Vienna, and shall spend a +fortnight with my near relative and friend Eduard Liszt. After +that I return to Weimar, and hope to see you there in the summer. +I will write to you in good time about the performance of the +Oratorio Christus... + +Respectful homage and cordial friendship, + +F. Liszt + +Pest, March 30th, 1873 + + + +128. To Casar Cui + +[Russian composer and musical critic.] + +Sir, + +Pray excuse my delay in thanking you for your very kind letter +that Mr. Bessel brought me with the piano score of your Opera +William Ratcliff. It is the work of a master who deserves +consideration, renown and success, as much for the wealth and +originality of the ideas as for the skilful handling of the form. +As I am persuaded that all intelligent and honest musicians will +be of this opinion, I should like to add to it some assurance on +the next performance of your Ratcliff in Germany. It should be +done at once at Weimar were I in active function at the theater +as in the preceding years (from 1848 to '59); but since my +retirement I am not any longer in a position to take definite +steps, and must confine myself to recommendations--more often +counteracted than followed. + +Accept, sir, my sincere thanks, and with every expression of high +esteem I am, yours truly, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, May, 1873 + + + +129. To Franz Servais. + +Dear Monsieur Franz, + +My best wishes accompany you "into your cage." [This usually +means "in durance vile," but the word "cage" is preserved here on +account of the context.--Trans.] You do well to put yourself +there, and, if the flight of your genius should find itself +somewhat trammelled, for the time being, before the tribunal of +counterpoint and fugue, it will soar all the more proudly +afterwards. I hope you will come out of your cage glorious and +crowned; in case of bad luck do not be too much disappointed; +more skilful and more valuable men than you and I, dear Franz, +have had to have patience, and to have patience yet again. M. de +Buffon, when he said "genius is patience," did but make the +mistake of an incomplete definition; he took a part for the +whole; but that part is absolutely necessary in the practice of +Art, as in that of earthly life. + +Please remember me very affectionately to your mother; give a +shake of the hand to your brother from me,--and depend ever on my +devoted and affectionate feelings. + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, June 5th, 1873 + + + +130. To the Canoness Adelheid von Schorn + +Dear Excellent One, + +My little travelling plans have been upset by a letter from +Cosima. I did not stop either at Salzungen (where I had arranged +to meet Schuberth) or at Meiningen, and came straight here on +Saturday, in accordance with an invitation from Cosima to a +little fete of the workpeople of the theater of the Nibelungen. + +Many idle and gossiping people everywhere are troubling their +heads about this theater, and are asking when and how it will be +finished building. Instead of descanting foolishly or maliciously +about it (the two things sometimes go together), it would be +better to get a "Patronats-Schein" [a receipt of membership], and +thus to join in the grandest and most sublime work of art of the +century. The glory of having created, written and published it is +Wagner's intact; his detractors have only to share the disgrace +of having thwarted it and delayed the bringing of it to the full +light of day, by performance.-- + +Next week I go to Schillingsfurst, and towards the middle of +August I shall be back at Weimar. + +A thousand very cordially affectionate and devoted regards. + +F. Liszt + +Bayreuth, July 30th, 1873 + + + +131. To Eduard von Liszt + +Dearest Eduard, + +After an absence of 3 weeks I returned here yesterday. I remained +first to days in Bayreuth, from August 26th to September 5th, +[The dates here ought certainly to be from July 26th to August +5th--as Liszt's letter is dated the 19th of August.] and then the +same length of time in Schillingsfurst (with Cardinal Hohenlohe) +and at Langenburg (with Prince Hermann Hohenlohe), whither I had +the honor of accompanying the Cardinal. + +Cosima, Wagner and the five children are in the best of health. +The building of the Nibelungen-Theater is progressing famously; +if the necessary sum of 300,000 thalers [some 45,000 pounds] of +which as yet only about 130,000 have been forthcoming, is got +together in time, the performance of the "Festival +Drama"--"The Ring of the Nibelung"--is to take place in the +summer of '75. + +.--. Simultaneously with his theater, Wagner is building a +beautiful and exquisitely situated house close to the Hofgarten. +The King of Bavaria has given him 20,000 thalers [some 3,000 +pounds] for this. Next spring Wagner will take up his abode +there. + +My intercourse with Cardinal Hohenlohe is always pleasant. He +leads a very retired life in Schillingsfurst, receives but few +visits and pays only a few, and occupies himself principally in +building and arranging a large schoolhouse and an institution for +girls under the superintendence of a Benedictine Sisterhood. + +Great festivities are being arranged here in honor of the +marriage of the Hereditary Grand Duke. On September 6th the entry +of the bridal pair, on the 7th a Court concert, on the 8th a +Festival-play by Devrient in the theater and a performance of +Beethoven's 9th Symphony, etc., etc. I have undertaken to conduct +the Symphony and also to play a couple of pianoforte pieces at +the Court concert. A second Festival-play, entitled "The Bride's +Welcome to the Wartburg," written by Scheffel and set to music by +me, is to be given on September 2lSt in the Minnesanger Hall in +the Wartburg, where you heard the "Elizabeth" Oratorio. + +A few days after this I shall travel to Rome, and remain there 3 +or 4 weeks. Before the end of October I shall come to you again +for a couple of days before returning to Pest on November 1st. + +The dedication-copies of the "Szoszat" and the "Hymnus" for Count +Andrassy are not yet ready, it seems. Roszavolgyi (Dunkl) has +sent me only a fete ordinary copies of the pianoforte version, +and not one of the score. I shall therefore have to wait till +November before sending or presenting it to Count Andrassy. + +From the Grand Duchess I received 1,000 thalers--but these +together with your 500 have all been spent. Be so good as to send +me another 300 thalers next week! For my journey to Rome I shall +probably, towards the middle of September, again have to ask you +for a note of 500 francs. Although I do not go in for any +luxuries, money vanishes quickly and readily in my hands. + +Heartiest greetings to your wife and children, and au revoir in +Vienna at the end of October. + +Faithfully thine, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, August l0th, 1873 + + + +132. To Franz Servais + +Dear Victorious One, + +Your letter had been travelling several days in Bavaria before it +reached me here yesterday morning. I thank you for letting me +take an affectionate part in the success you have obtained, and I +wish to keep that part throughout your future successes--and even +failures. The latter will not do you any great harm, provided +that you know how to keep that attachment to work, and that +perseverance in noble ideas, which are the chief heirloom of the +artist. Lassen tells me that we are shortly to hear your "Tasso" +here: my attentive sympathy is wide awake; so fulfil your +promise, dear Franz, by coming before the end of this month, and +we will talk at our ease at the Hofgartnerei of our aims and +plans. + +Please give my respects to your mother, and my cordial +remembrances to Joseph and Godebski. + +Your affectionate and devoted + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, August 19th, 1873 + + + +133. To Walter Bache + +Dear Friend, + +Often I am behindhand and stop short of thanks with you, but it +is certainly not for want of sincere affection and esteem. + +Your "9th Annual Concert" has again shown the worth of your +talents and the firm constancy of your character. Now in our +artistic world character is still more rare than talent. + +You nobly unite the two; it is a pleasure to me to acknowledge +it, and to count you amongst the most devoted champions of +progress and of musical good sense. + +At their head, by right of age and capability, walks +imperturbably and gloriously Hans de Bulow. + +Will you give him the enclosed letter? and believe me ever, dear +Bache, + +Your very cordially affectionate + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, August 20th, 1873 + + + +134. To Max Erdmannsdorfer, Hofcapellmeister in Sonderhausen + +[At present Capellmeister in Bremen; he has rendered good service +to the cause of the New-German musical tendency both in Germany +and Russia.] + +Very Dear Herr Capellmeister, + +Your friendly invitation for me to attend the performance of your +"Schneewittchen" I am unfortunately unable to accept. Owing to +the festivities at the Wartburg it is impossible for me to get +away next week. Will you kindly convey to the Princess Elizabeth +my regrets as well as my most gracious thanks? + +On Sunday, September 28th, I shall have the pleasure of thanking +you personally in Sondershausen for arranging and carrying out +the extraordinary concert programme. It is my special wish that +the two "Faust Episodes" should not be separated--even at the +risk of wearying the public for a few minutes with the +"Nachtlicher Zug." [Two Episodes from Lenau's Faust (Leipzig, +Schuberth).] But this piece does not appear to me altogether so +bad... + +I beg you again to repeat my sincere praise to the Sondershausen +artists who played so admirably here last Monday in the 9th +Symphony, and remain, very dear Sir, with marked feelings of +esteem, + +Yours in all friendship, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, September 16th, 1873 + +Kahnt, Gille, J. Schuberth, Lassen and several other friends of +mine are going to attend the Sondershausen concerts on the 28th +and 29th September. + +The Weimar presentation I will bring you. + + + +135. To Otto Lessmann + +Dear Friend, + +Best thanks for sending Kiel's "Christus"--a work full of +spiritual substance, of noble and fine sentiments, and masterly +in execution. Riedel proposes to give a performance of it next +winter it Leipzig. + +With such a clause as Joachim introduces for the "Novitaten- +Concerten"--"that only such composers shall be taken into +consideration in the programmes whose renown as artistic +representatives of the German nation is established"--Handel, +Bach, Mozart, nay even Beethoven, would have come off badly in +their life-time! + +Whether it is appropriate for the Berlin Hochschule to act in so +specially a high and mighty manner remains to be seen. Still it +is to be expected that such procedure is likely itself to meet +with some other restricting "clauses." + +Of the arrangement for 8 hands of the Pastorale and March [From +Liszt's Oratorio "Christus."] which I wish to have from you, you +will have already heard from Schuberth. Likewise from Kahnt of +the couple of pieces from the "Elizabeth." + +Au revoir on Sunday, the 28th September, in Sondershausen, where +we shall have a curious (sonderliches) Programme. Receive +herewith, dear friend, a special invitation, together with the +assurance of my friendly attachment. + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, September 24th, 1873 + +I shall bring you back your copy of Kiel's Christus to +Sondershausen. + + + +136. To Kornel von Abranyi + +Dear Valiant Friend, + +Your letter, and the printed paper of great fame which +accompanies it, recalls to me the saying, "La joie fait peur." +[Abranyi, who was the Secretary of the Festival Committee which +had been formed for the celebration of Liszt's Artist-Jubilee in +November 1873 at Budapest, had in their name invited Liszt to +take part in this.] Nevertheless I could not suit myself to the +role of a coward; I will therefore endeavor to surmount my fear +and to make myself worthy to share with my brave compatriots in +the joy they have prepared for me. + +I beg you, in your capacity of secretary of the Festival +Committee, to present my most grateful thanks, in good Hungarian, +to the most illustrious and most reverend President, Monseigneur +Haynald, [The Archbishop of Kalocsa, afterwards Cardinal, Liszt's +friend of many years. (Being interested in the present +collection, he promised to contribute to it the letters addressed +to him "by the great artist and noble man." His death +unfortunately prevented the fulfilment of his promise, and the +Archiepiscopal Chapter of Kalocsa did not accede to the request +of the editor to be allowed to have these letters.)] and to the +members of the Committee. + +Baron Augusz had written me word that he would come here in the +middle of September, to be present at the "Festspiel" [Festival +Play] at the Wartburg. He shall soon receive news from me from +Rome, where I shall arrive on Sunday. Schuberth is sending you +the score and the piano score of the "Christ," together with the +biographical notices for which you asked me. My cousin Eduard +will send you the "postscript" immediately. + +Cordial friendship and fruitful collaboration. + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, October 1st, 1873 + +Herewith the programmes of the 2 concerts at Sondershausen at +which I was present. This afternoon I start for Rome,--and on the +1st November shall be at Pest. + + + +137. To Martha Remmert + +[A pupil of Liszt's; became later Kammervirtuosin (court-pianist) +in Weimar, and lives now in Berlin.] + +Pest, December 27th, 1873 + +Dear Fraulein, + +The best "solution" in reply to the ministerial order lies in +your hands. Merely play the first page of Henselt's Concerto and +no one will doubt that I am very kindly disposed towards you. And +I shall be glad to render you further service in your zeal for +study and your ambition as a virtuosa. No matter whether I be in +Pest or in Weimar. + +In all friendliness yours, + +F. Liszt + + + +138. To ? + +[Autograph without address or date in the possession of Count +Albert Amadei in Vienna.--According to him the letter belongs to +the year 1873.] + +Very dear Fraulein, + +Please reply at once per telegram:--"Please do not come.--Liszt +does not need or wish to be heard, as he has no one for whom he +must strike up." + +Tomorrow evening more by word of mouth. + +Sincerely yours, + +F. Liszt + +Monday + + + +139. To Countess Marie Dunhoff in Vienna + +[Sketch of a letter in the possession of Herr O. A. Schulz, +bookseller in Leipzig.--The addressee, the wife of the German +ambassador Von Bulow, lives now in Bucharest.] + +[Beginning of January, 1874] + +Dear Countess, + +You speak to me so eloquently of the merit, talent and +superiority of Madame L.B. that I am quite ashamed of not +fulfilling her wish subito. But in reality that would be more +difficult than she imagines; a "petit morceau de piano" would +only be a small part of the matter; the public is a very exacting +master, even in its days of favor; the more it gives the more it +expects... + +Half a dozen such requests as that of Madame L.B. have been +addressed to me at Vienna this week. How can one suffice for such +a business, which, be it said in passing, is at once outside and +far beyond my duties?--At my age one must try to behave +reasonably, and to avoid excess; I shall therefore limit myself +in Vienna to the one concert of the "Kaiser Franz Joseph +Stiftung," [Emperor Francis Joseph Scholarship] which reasons of +great propriety, easy to understand, have led me to accept with +alacrity. I am told that it will take place on Sunday, 11th +January; so be it: I shall willingly conform to the arrangements +of the Committee and have no other wish in this matter than...not +to inconvenience anybody. [The concert for the "Emperor Francis +Joseph Scholarship" did not take place till April; and Liszt did +actually play, in the Easter week, for the Countess's protegee, +though not in the Concert Room, but in the Palais Auersperg.] + +Permit me to hope, dear Countess, that you will not, under the +pretext of "discretion," inflict upon me the immense punishment +of seeing you less often this time than formerly, and that you +will not retract any of your kindness, on which I place the +greatest store. + +A thousand and a thousand sincere and most respectfully devoted +expressions of homage. + +F. Liszt + + + +140. To B. Bessel, Music Publisher in St. Petersburg + +Horpacs (Chez le Comte Szechenyi), February 2nd, 1874. + +Dear Sir, + +Pray excuse me for being so late in thanking you,--you and all +those who signed the telegram sent to Pest on the occasion of my +jubilee fete. I am deeply touched with the noble sentiments it +expresses with a chivalrous eloquence, and beg you to convey the +tribute of my most sincere gratitude to Messrs. Balakireff, +Borodine, Cui, Moussorsky, Rimski-Korsakoff, Scherbatcheff, and +Stassoff. + +You were kind enough, Sir, to let me see several of their works +at Weimar; I appreciate and esteem them highly, and as far as +depends on myself I will do all I can to make them known, and +shall feel honored thus to respond to the sympathetic kindness +which brave colleagues such as these accord to + +Their very devoted + +F. Liszt + + + +141. To Professor Skiwa in Vienna + +[Printed in the Signale, 1874, No. 20.--Skiwa had dedicated his +"Beitrage zur Literatur des Harmoniums" ("Contribution to +Harmonium Literature") to Liszt.] + +Very Dear Sir, + +Kindly excuse the delay in my sending you my sincere thanks, +which I shall very shortly take the liberty of expressing to you +personally in Vienna. I shall then also ask you to do me the +favor of making me more intimately acquainted with your excellent +transcriptions. In reading them through one at once observes the +author's masterly style and his care and artistic handling of the +characteristic peculiarities of the harmonium, especially in the +management of the basses and the mid-voice parts. But still the +mere reading your transcriptions does not satisfy me, and I +should like to hear them, so as to be able fully to enjoy them. + +Herr Bosendorfer will bring you the manuscript of the +"Consolation," the dedication of which is very acceptable to me. +The transcription of this small piece into A major appears to me +very appropriate, and the arrangement excellent. + +With marked esteem and friendly thanks, + +F. Liszt + +Pest, March 2lst, 1874 + + + +142. TO C. F. Kahnt, the Music Publisher + +[Published in the Neue Zeitung fur Musik, 14th September, 1892.] + +Dear Friend, + +The day after tomorrow I again go to Vienna, and remain there +about a week. In case the "Prometheus" proofs are ready send them +to me to my usual address ("Schottenhof bei Hofrath E. v. Liszt") +by the middle of Easter week; after that my address will be +rather uncertain, as I intend spending a few days in Pressburg +and Kalocsa (with Archbishop Haynald), and do not return here +till after April 20th. Hence, if the "Prometheus" proofs are not +ready within the next few days, do not send them till after my +return to Pest (April 21). + +Please send the proofs of Mihalovich's songs as soon as possible +to the composer, addressed to + +"Servitenplatz, im Teleky'schen Haus." + +The Vienna concert in the "Palais Auersperg" is announced for +Easter Monday, April 6th. The following Sunday, or at latest on +Sunday the 19th April, the concert of the "Kirchenmusik-Verein" +is to be given in Pressburg, at which I take a part in piano- +playing--it is to be hoped for the last time this year!-- + +I think of remaining here from April 2lst to the beginning of +May, and then of wandering straightway to Rome, and to the Villa +d'Este. + +I wish you in all friendliness a happy Easter, with satisfactory +business at the Easter's fair, and remain your sincerely attached + +F. Liszt + +Pest, March 29th, 1874 + +Have you sent Countess Oriolla the omitted copy of the "Wartburg +Songs"? + + + +143. To Dr. Franz Witt + +[1874?] + +I look forward with eager interest to the realisation of your +scheme to found a Catholic School of Music. The numerous and +important services you have rendered as composer, conductor, +teacher, promoter and president of the Cacilien-Verein proclaim +and mark you as pre-eminently fitted to organize and direct this +highly important kind of School. I should wish that Hungary, my +fatherland, might set a good example, and might offer you, my +very dear friend, an honorable and influential post in the Musik- +Akademie that was voted for last year in the Chamber. This wish +of mine was seconded with cordiality by His Eminence the Cardinal +Primate, His Excellency the Archbishop of Kalocsa, Haynald, and +H. E. Trefort, the Minister of Public Instruction. Various +political circumstances interfered with the plan of starting a +Musik-Akademie in Pest; but the idea has by no means been given +up, and I have still the hope that you may yet at some future day +be called upon to give your powerful assistance in connection +with the teaching and practice of Church music in Hungary. + + + +144. To Professsor Carl Riedel + +Dear Friend, + +As at all preceding Tonkunstler-Versammlungen, you have again +this year in Brunswick done the best that was possible. [The +Meeting took place in Halle, instead of in Brunswick.] Five +concerts sound almost alarming, but the programmes are drawn up +and arranged with so much forethought and care that your master- +hand and that indescribable "with avec" (as dear Frau Dr. Pohl +called it) are at once to be recognised. It certainly was +advisable to check the "democratic movements" of the orchestra +without interfering with the well-meant "command." That the +Sondershausen set continue to prove themselves reliable and +friendly I am delighted to hear. I wish all possible success to +Erdmannsdorfer's "Schneewittchen." The youthful and captivating +Frau Kapellmeisterin Erdmannsdorfer is especially capable of +doing justice to Raff's Trio (or Concerto) and other pianoforte +pieces. [Pauline Fichtner, who married Erdmannsdorfer, was a +pupil of Liszt's, and became court-pianist at Weimar and Hesse.] + +Will Bulow be able to be present? We have not written to each +other for some time past. Do you know where to address him just +now? + +In case my Faust Symphony is given at the 5th concert (as your +programme announces), I beg you to ask Bulow to be conductor. +This work has become his property since he conducted it so +magnificently at the Weimar Tonkunstler-Versammlung ('61), when +the whole orchestra was amazed and astounded at his fabulous +memory. You will remember that not only did he not use a score, +but at the rehearsal referred to the numberless letters and +double letters with unerring accuracy. + +With regard to two other matters I wish: A, that Steinway may +have the kindness to lend one of his excellent harmoniums for the +Hunnenschlacht, and that the instrument may be so placed as to be +invisible to the public and yet distinctly heard. B, that the +performance of the Sanctus from the Mass for men's voices be +taken from the editio nova (published a few years ago by Hartel), +and not from the earlier edition. Here, too, Steinway's harmonium +would render excellent service, visible and placed close to the +chorus. Perhaps our friend Stade would have the kindness to play +the harmonium part of the Hunnenschlacht and of the Sanctus.-- + +I truly regret that I shall not be able to hear that sublime, +grand and overpowering Requiem by Berlioz, nor to attend the +Musical Festival in Brunswick. I am physically and mentally very +exhausted, and need several months' rest; besides my remaining +away from Weimar forbids me from meanwhile visiting any other +German towns.--Before the middle of May I shall go direct to +Rome, and remain there till the end of the year in my former +residence at the Villa d'Este (3-1/2 hours from Rome). + +With friendly greetings to your wife, I remain, Yours ever in +esteem and sincere attachment, + +F. Liszt. + +Pest, April 17th, 1874 + +Accept my best thanks for cancelling my promise to Metzdorff (in +regard to the performance of his Symphony). + +I agree perfectly, of course, with your desideria fog the Musik- +Verein, and hope next year to be able to contribute something +towards their realisation. + +"In patientia vestra possidebitis animas vestras." + +To Kahnt I wrote at once on my return from Pressburg on Monday. + + + +145. To Dom-Capellmeister [Cathedral Conductor] Dr. Franz Haberl +in Ratisbon + +[This letter, like the subsequent one to Haberl, is a copy of the +draft of a letter of Liszt's by Dr. Mirus in Weimar.--Haberl is a +distinguished musical scholar (born in 1840).] + +[1874?] + +Pardon me if I again come with claims upon your kindness. You may +know that I am working at an Oratorio on St. Stanislaus, and +perhaps might be able to give me some assistance with it by +communicating to me the liturgic hymns referring to the feast of +St. Stanislaus. The Enchyrydion and Directorium Chori designate +the Mass, Protexisti, etc., on May 7th. To receive fuller +information from you on this point would greatly oblige me. +[Haberl also gave Liszt aural communications regarding the +Stanislaus legend. "On one occasion," says Haberl, "Liszt was +specially and greatly delighted to hear of the man whom +Stanislaus summoned out of the grave as a witness that the field +had been paid for, and gave me a sketch of his proposed motives +and tone pictures."] + +Pray accept, reverend Sir and friend, the expression of my marked +esteem, and believe me yours gratefully and sincerely, + +F. Liszt + + + +146. To Professsor Carl Riedel + +Dear Friend, + +Herzogenberg's [Formerly Director of the Leipzig Bach-Verein, +then Kiel's successor at the Berlin Hochschule, which post he +lately resigned.] "Deutsches Liederspiel pleases me very much. +The very first chorus with its mixed species of tempi 6/4-3/2 and +6/4-3/2 is fresh and pithy, and the whole work seems to me. +excellent, pleasant and effective. Hence I should much like to +recommend its being performed. + +Where does Herzogenberg live? Has he any appointment anywhere? +Let me know, when you can, something of his former and present +work. + +(N.B.--It would be worth while, later, carefully to arrange the +"Deutsches Liederspiel" for orchestra.) + +I observe with special pleasure that Grutzmacher has chosen a +Suite of St. Saens'. St. Saens will not, however, be able to +come,--the less so as a few years ago his appearance in quite a +harmless concert in Baden-Baden brought down upon him hideous +rebukes and reproaches from the Parisian Press. And the tone in +France is not yet more temperate; still it is right that German +artists should prove themselves fair and just towards foreigners, +and, as long as Auber's and Gounod's Operas are given in all +German theaters, I see no good reason against considering and +performing other works by French composers. Among modern +composers I regard St. Saens as the ablest and most gifted. + +I am much satisfied with the choice you have made of my things, +dear friend, and thank you cordially for it--at the same time I +must express my sincere regret that I am unable to attend the +Tonkunstler-Versammlung, and remain, with much esteem, yours most +sincerely, + +F. Liszt + +Pest, May 5th, 1874 + + + +147. To Princess Julie Waldburg at Castle Wurzach + +Madame La Princesse, + +I feel that I am quite inexcusable. You have been so kind as to +send me some charming Lieder, and to accompany them with the most +gracious lines in the world. How could I fail to thank you for +them immediately? What rusticity!--Deign to think of this no +longer, Princess; and permit me not to "judge" your songs,-- +magisterial competency would fail me utterly,--but to tell you +that I have read them with much pleasure. The one of which the +style and impassioned accent please me particularly is dedicated +to Mme. Ehnn--"Liebeshoffnung"; but I do not mean to depreciate +the others. + +The oriental interval of the augmented fourth, which I scent in +the "Mondlied," would be written, I think, more simply thus:-- + +[Here, Liszt writes a 2-bar musical score excerpt] + +and further on + +[Here, Liszt writes another musical score excerpt] + +(C instead of B-sharp). And to prove to you, Princess, my +attention in reading your works, I will venture to observe to you +that in the French Romance "Comme a vingt ans" the prosody is +neglected in the third couplet. Instead of the printed version +(with two syllables omitted) it should run something like this:-- + +[Here, Liszt writes a 7-bar musical excerpt at the point where +the words "Je vis le len--de--main, non plus au hord de l'onde +mais as--si--se as che--min la jeune fi--le blonde" are sung.] + +If I still had, as in Vienna, the honor of finding myself in your +neighborhood, I hope you would grant me a word of indulgence; and +meanwhile, Madame la Princesse, I venture to beg you to accept +the most respectful homage of + +Your very humble and inexcusable servant, + +F. Liszt + +Pest, May 10th, 1874 + + + +148. To Peter Cornelius + +Dearest Friend of my Heart, + +Again a request. You alone can help me, and give me in German a +faithful poetical rendering of Lamartine's "Hymne de l'enfant a +son reveil." + +Years ago I used to sing this hymn, from my inmost heart, to my +three children; you remember them... + +And now the composition (what an unknown word for it!) is to +appear in print, and the publisher Taborszky in Pest will send +you my manuscript together with a copy of the poem. In case any +prosodical alterations should seem appropriate, be kind enough to +write them down distinctly in notes on a separate sheet of paper. + +Tomorrow I travel direct to Rome, and shall spend the summer and +autumn in the Villa d'Este (Tivoli). There, at length, our +"Stanislaus" shall be pushed forward. [Cornelius translated the +text to the Oratorio "Stanislaus."] + +With friendliest greetings to all your circle, I am, dearest +Cornelius, ever your heartily devoted + +F. Liszt + +Pest, May 16th, 1874 + + + +149. To A.F. Eggers in Liverpool + +[From a copy of the draft of a letter by Dr. Mirus, Weimar.] + +[Villa d'Este, June 21st, 1874] + +Dear Sir, + +Your friendly communication rests upon a harmless mistake. You do +not seem to know that for 26 years past I have altogether ceased +to be regarded as a pianist; hence I have for a long time not +given any concerts, and only very occasionally played the piano +in public, for some very special reason, to aid some charity or +to further some artistic object, and then only in Rome, Hungary +(my native country), and in Vienna--nowhere else. And on these +rare and very exceptional occasions no one has ever thought of +offering me any remuneration in money. Excuse me therefore, dear +Sir, that I cannot accept your invitation to the Liverpool +Musical Festival, inasmuch as I cannot in any way think of +wearying the public with my "whilom" piano-playing. + +Respectfully yours, + +F. Liszt + + + +150. To Walter Bache + +Dear and Honored Friend, + +I am often with you in kindest remembrance and cordial sympathy +with your admirable efforts, but unfortunately I rarely get any +letters written to the friends I value most, for my time is +wasted with a number of wearisome and useless notes. I have just +despatched one of this sort to a Mr. E. in L. The good man +invites me to the Festival to be held there, asks me to consider +the matter, and even offers me a remuneration in money for +playing--without imagining that I have anything else or better to +do than to accept such invitations. To me concert tours would be +absolutely senseless; to fulfil my duties in Pest and Weimar +gives me trouble and interruptions enough. All the other things +need not be enumerated. + +The summer and autumn (till my return to Pest in January '75) I +mean to spend here quietly and at work. Last Monday and Tuesday I +had the special pleasure of a visit from Bulow. And we thought of +you in all friendship.--Bulow is now going to Salzungen (near +Meiningen) for a couple of months, to recover from the terrible +fatigues of his concert tour, and next October goes again to +London. + +Remember me most kindly to Mr. Dannreuther with assurances of +faithful attachment, and do me the favor to give the enclosed +notes of thanks to Messrs. Hueffer and Gounod. + +Our very able and dear patroness, Madame Laussot, told me that +you, dear Bache, will probably soon be wandering towards Italy. + +A hearty welcome, therefore, to the old place where again is +resting your old and sincere friend, + +F. Liszt + +June 2lst, 1874 + +(Villa d'Este,--Tivoli, per Roma--Italia.) + + + +151. To Dr. Franz Witt + +[Villa d'Este, Early Summer, 1874.] + +Much-esteemed Sir and Friend, + +The lively recollection I entertain of the truly edifying Church- +music performances in Eichstatt under your direction [On the +occasion of the 3rd General Assembly of the Cacilien-Verein in +Eichstatt, August 1871] increases my regret that I am unable to +accept your friendly invitation to the 5th General Assembly of +the Cacilien-Verein in Ratisbon (between the 1st and 7th August) +[The Assembly was held on the above-mentioned days.]. A wearisome +piece of work will keep me here till my return to Pest in January +'75. Next summer, however, I hope again to pay you a visit, and +to gather excellent precepts and examples from you. Meanwhile I +am reading your Essays with peculiar satisfaction, and more +especially your com-positions in the "Musica sacra" and the +"Fliegende Blatter." "Fliegend" [flying] must here be taken in +the higher, angelic sense; in the latter sense O salutaris hostia +sounds altogether comforting Musica angelorum, such as pleasantly +animates all your Church tone-works. + + + +152. To Dr. Franz Haberl + +[A portion of this letter is printed in Dr. Mirus' brochure, "Das +Liszt-Museum in Weimar" (1892), which contains many interesting +relics of Liszt.] + +[Villa d'Este, Early Summer, 1874.] + +Much-esteemed Sir and Friend + +To my sincere regret I find myself prevented from attending the +Cacilien-Verein in Ratisbon. + +The efforts and performances of the Verein I follow with the +deepest interest, and anticipate that its promoters--who are so +capable, careful and learned--will accomplish all that is truly +of advantage in Church music. And in this Ratisbon has for many +years past deserved to rank first, and you, my much-esteemed +friend, deserve the fullest recognition that can be offered for +the abundant services you have rendered in the cause. Accept my +grateful thanks for kindly sending Vittoria's Missa pro +defunctis, [A six-voiced Requiem given by Dr. Haberl at the 5th +General Assembly of the Cacilien-Verein in Ratisbon in 1874, and +published in the "Musica divina," Annus II., Tom. I, by Pustet] +which was brought to me by the Chaplain of the Anima Church. Will +you be so kind as to get Herr Pustet to send me also, through +Leukoch, [Perhaps ought to read Leuckart?] "Mannuale breve +canticum," etc.? [A little book of Chorales by Joh. Georg +Mettenleiter] + +In spite of the grievous news of your continued sufferings I do +not give up the hope of seeing you here again soon, and of taking +all friendly care of you; and you shall not in the least degree +be troubled or wearied; merely recruit from your over-exertions +by living simply and comfortably amid quiet and congenial +surroundings. + +Hence I take the liberty again of inviting your Reverence to +spend the next months with me here in the Villa d'Este, where you +will find rest, quiet and cosiness, mild air, glorious scenery, +pleasant walks, good eating, good wine, books, music, pianos to +make use of ad libitum, and a temperature mentally agreeable. + +Cardinal Hohenlohe requests me to say that you will be heartily +welcome, and this message is communicated with unmixed pleasure +by your very respectful and sincerely grateful + +F. Liszt + + + +153. To Edmund von Mihalovich + +Very Dear Friend, + +Your Prologue to the Nibelungen in course of performance at the +Walhalla-Roszavolgyi has royally amused me. [A joke of +Mihalovich, who had nicknamed several mutually known people with +the names and characters out of the Nibelungen] I wish that +Wagner may find in Messrs. Betz, Scaria, Niemann, etc., +interpreters as well suited to their roles as Richter-Wotan, +Dunkl-Loge, Abranyi-Thor and Gobbi-Mime. + +At Bayreuth "fervet opus" The preparatory piano rehearsals are +going on; celebrated artists are growing thick on the ground, +like the suitors at Penelope's court. Joseph Rubinstein suspends +his commercial occupations, and returns from Cracow to drive the +four-in-hand accompaniment of Rheingold. The architects, +painters, decorators, machinists, costumiers and their people are +continuing their work; therefore, in spite of difficulties and +obstacles, the great work of Art of this century--Wagner's +Tetralogy of the Nabelungen--will come to pass, and I hope to be +present at the first performance with my very dear friends Mi and +Do. [Mihalovich was called Mi by Liszt, and Count Apponyi Do.]-- +Meanwhile let us go on patiently at our own modest work, and +endeavor to make it as suitable as possible. Next winter we will +make an exchange of our latest sheets of music. I will bring a +pretty thick packet to Sir Hagbar. [An Opera by Mihalovich +(Hagbar and Sigurd)] + +Schuberth promises me the "Geisterschiff" in the autumn; we will +then launch it at once with Sgambati, who has just composed +several Lieder, exquisite in sentiment. I have recently written, +as an Impromptu, without any forethought, an Elegie in memory of +Mme. de Moukhanoff, entitled "Schlummerlied im Grabe" [Slumber +Song in the Grave.] + +Your kind wishes for my repose are being realised here. I pass my +days very peaceably, and my evenings alone, in reading, writing +or playing. Since the departure of Bulow, who gave me his most +eminent company for two days (in the middle of June), I have, so +to say, seen nobody. He is now making his villeggiatura at +Salzungen near Meiningen, returns to England in the month of +November, and will not go to America till the autumn of '75. + +Pay me a visit sometimes in thought, dear Mi, and believe me ever +your very cordially devoted friend, + +F. Liszt + +Villa d'Este (Tivoli), July 30th, 1874. + +Let me hear something about Do and Horpacs. [An estate of Count +Emmerich Szechenyi, the former Austro-Hungarian ambassador in +Berlin, whom Liszt frequently visited.] I will write to them +later. + + + +154. To Peter Cornelius + +[The letter is addressed to Neuenahr, where Cornelius had gone +for a water-cure, shortly before his death. The translation of +the Cacilia-legend he did not accomplish.] + +Dear and valued Friend, + +You have again presented me with a marvellous gift. Your German +translation of Lamartine's "Hymne de l'enfant a son reveil" is +exquisitely successful, and retains all the fragrance and aroma +of the original poem. + +"Kein Wurmlein vergissest Du...Das Zicklein an Staude und +Beere...Am Milchkrug Mucklein saugt den Saft...Und die Lerche das +Kornlein picket."... + +["No worm dost Thou e'er forget...The kid amid the shrubs and +berries...The fly that sips the sweetest juice...And the lark +that pecks the blade of corn."...] + +All and everything fits in so exactly with the music, syllable by +syllable, that it seems as if the poem and music had sprung up +together. Verily, dear friend, you are an extremely kind and most +perfect magician. Now do not be vexed with me if my grateful +appreciation of your skill should prove somewhat covetous, and I +again ask you to do me a favor. A little French poem of 48 short +lines, "Sainte Cecile, Legende," by Madame Emile Girardin +(Delphine Gay) is awaiting your poetic courtesy. Allow me to send +you my finished composition of this Cacilia, the musical +foundation of which is furnished by the Gregorian antiphone: +"Cantantibus organis, Caecilia Domino decantabat." It is to be +hoped that I have not spoilt it, and I trust to your friendly +kindliness to send me a German translation of it before the next +Cacilia Festival (22nd November), soon after which it shall be +printed, and a performance of it given in Pest. + +The delay with the edition of your two Operas I sincerely regret. +They deserve much greater appreciation and a much wider +circulation than hundreds of others that are printed, and the +publication of the pianoforte scores is sure to effect this for +them. Meanwhile I am glad that you have made use of my suggestion +to base the Overture of the "Barber" on the pleasantly +characteristic motive-- + +[Here, Liszt illustrates with a 4-bar musical score excerpt.] + +Next summer we shall meet in Munich.--With hearty thanks, your +sincerely attached + +F. Liszt + +Villa d'Este (Tivoli), August 23rd, 1874 + +If you should see Frau Schott in Mainz, give her my kindest +remembrances. For some time past various manuscripts have been +lying ready which I should have liked to hand over to Schott's +house of business; but fear that they might arrive at an +inopportune moment. The very title, "Drei symphonische Trauer- +Oden" ["Three Symphonic Funeral Odes"] might prove alarming; and +besides, the scores--all about 20 pages in length--would have to +be published simultaneously with the pianoforte transcriptions +(for one or two performers). Well, "we can wait."... + +I am working pretty industriously at the "Sanct Stanislaus." Of +this you will tomorrow receive a full report--and an urgent +request for speedy, energetaeally accentuated pains over the +essential but not lengthy alterations of the text. + + + +155. To Ludwig Bosendorfer in Vienna + +[Head of the celebrated pianoforte manufactory, now +Commerzienrath (Councillor of Commerce)] + +Dear friend, + +With my sincere thanks for your interesting reports of the Vienna +musical world I would gladly have given you something of the same +kind in return. But there is here nothing whatever in the way of +novelties or specialities in the way of concerts; be content, +therefore, if my letter today mentions only one, but to me a very +important artistic item--namely, the frequent use of your piano, +which, among other virtues, possesses a wondrous power of not +getting out of tune [Unverstimmtheit]. Since its despatch from +Vienna not a tuner has touched it, and yet it keeps in beautiful +tune, and steadily resists all variations and effects of +temperature. + +Till the end of January I shall remain quietly at work here; then +go direct to Pest--and by the middle of April on to Weimar. My +thoughts and efforts require now only peace and seclusion. These +are things that suit me best in my old age, and uphold me in +spiritual intercourse with my dear and true friends. As such I +greet you and your wife heartily and sincerely. + +F. Liszt + +Villa d'Este, August 28th, 1874 + + + +156. To Adelheid von Schorn in Weimar + +Dear and Most excellent One, + +For our grand coup you come in completely in your role of +providence, which you fill with such complete good grace, and +with an admirable mastery! I cannot tell you what immense comfort +your letter brings me, with its assurance of your speedy arrival +in Rome. Try not to delay it beyond the 25th-30th November, and +if possible come sooner. Princess Wittgenstein is still very +suffering, and has kept her bed entirely for six weeks; your +company and the inspirations of your solicitude will do her more +good than all the Allo-and Homoeopaths put together. + +I beg that you will write to her speedily to announce your +coming, for she is ignorant and must be kept in complete +ignorance of the plot we have hatched with Princess Marie [The +daughter of Princess Wittgenstein.], the happy success of which +you will crown. (questions of detail will be easily settled to +your satisfaction, in such a manner that the stay in Rome will be +thoroughly pleasant to you. + +It is understood that you will not mention the question of where +you will live to Princess W., who has already only too much worry +about her own rooms. In my opinion it would be best for you to go +to the Hotel d'Amerique, Via Babuino (close by the house of the +Princess and of the one where I live), and to spend some days +there, until you see where you can settle yourself comfortably, +whether at the Pension (also very near the Babuino) where your +cousin Octavie stayed, or elsewhere. + +When you reach Bologna, please let me know by telegram on what +day you will arrive; I will meet you at the station, and it will +be a real joy to me to escort you to your first abode in Rome. + +Thank you with all my heart, and yours ever, + +F. Liszt + +Rome October 12th, 1874 (Vicolo de Greci, 43.) + +The Princess is living at Via Babuino 59. + +Your letter was only returned to me from Tivoli yesterday +evening. + +I shall remain here, or at the Villa d'Este, till the end of +January.-- + + + +157. To Breitkopf and Hartel + +Very dear Sirs, + +The kind reception you gave the last sending of my somewhat +cumbersome manuscripts and revisions pleased me greatly. I will +always gladly do what I can to not increase the publishers' +worries, and henceforth print only what has been carefully worked +out and will prove tolerably acceptable. + +With regard to the form in which the Songs and Wagner- +transcriptions are to be published, you may act altogether as you +think best. I did certainly think that the convenient and neat +edition in small octavo would be preferable (like the last +edition of Chopin and my "Etudes transcendantes"): hence in from +5 to 6 little volumes:-- + +1. Beethoven (The "Adelaide" and other Songs); +2. Mendelssohn (6 Songs); +3. Robert and Clara Schumann; +4. Robert Franz; +5 to 6 (?). Wagner-transcriptions. + +This would in no way prevent the songs and pieces of several +pages (such as the "Adelaide," Mendelssohn's Songs, the +"Tannhauser-March," the "Rienzi-Fantasia," etc.' being sold +singly--in the same small 8vo form which, candidly speaking, I +always like best. As long ago as the year '39 I induced Haslinger +to publish Schubert's songs in an edition of this kind--and at +that time it seemed rather a doubtful innovation. Also about +placing the words below the music. I wish this, for the sake of +the poetical delivery in all of the songs, except the "Adelaide," +because the poem roams about rather too freely in rococo style. +Let us leave "the flow'ret at the grave" to bloom on quietly +without retouching it again. + +I must unfortunately again trouble you to send me all the proofs. +It is a matter of great moment to me to have the things arranged +as accurately and as appropriately for the piano as possible. And +for this I require the last proofs, in order finally to revise +them in reading and playing them over. (For the printer's +consolation be it remarked that no new alterations shall now crop +up again; my zeal in correcting shall be confined to making some +pedal marks and fingerings.) First of all I should like to try +over Sgambati's duet arrangement of the "Ideale" with him; and +you will doubtless do me the favor of sending me the proof sheets +stitched together before I leave here (at the end of January).-- + +I leave the matter concerning the small honorarium confidently to +your well-known kindly disposition, and remain, very dear Sirs, + +Yours respectfully and most obediently, + +F. Liszt + +Villa d'Este, November 24th, 1874 + + + +158. To Count Albert Apponyi in Budapest + +[From an undated rough draft of a letter in the possession of +Herr O. A. Schulz, bookseller in Leipzig. (The date has been +ascertained from a letter to Mihalovich.)--The addressee was the +well-known Hungarian statesman.] + +[Villa d'Este, December 6th, 1874] + +Dear and Very Honored Friend, + +Your excellent letter of the 27th November reached me here +yesterday evening. I hasten to give you my very sincere thanks, +and to add a frank reply on the question of the Academy of Music. + +First of all I think the "moyen violent" [violent means] of +Huszar, which will deliver us from barren tittle-tattle, is +right; let us throw the Seeschlange [sea serpent] into the +Danube, and if he wants an epitaph here is one: "It is better to +do nothing than to do stupidities." + +Now, are we the stupid ones?--The Government is much interested +in this affair; the Sovereign's decision has been obtained; I +know not what official publication has followed. You yourself, +dear Count, have brilliantly persuaded the Chamber of Deputies +that the said Academy would be of use in raising Art in Hungary; +my necessary humble reserve has been taken by the public as +consent.--Is it possible now to take no account of such +precedents, and to draw back when it is a question of advancing? +I do not think so, and I am quite of your opinion, as wise as it +is opportune. + +In spite of the difficulties of a position embroiled with divers +worries, and in spite of the scantiness of the financial means, +we ought to stick to our affirmative position and not in the +least to give way. + +As to my "personal convenience," which you are good enough to +take into such kind consideration, permit me to assure you anew +that I aspire to one only blessing--quiet time for work in my own +room. Orare et laborare. The point of honor, which no one +understands better than yourself, attaches me to Hungary, our +country. May I fulfil there all my duty of gratitude!-- + +I shall be back at Pest (Fischplatz) on the 10th February, and +shall rejoice to hear the Ballade of our valiant friend +Mihalovich, to whom I shall write tomorrow. + +Yours from my heart, + +F. Liszt + + + +159. To Edmund von Mihalovich + +Dear Excellent Friend, + +I wrote the day before yesterday to Do, and was about to continue +with a letter to you when a telegram called me subitissimo back +to Rome. The thread of my ideas has not been broken on the +journey, and I resume our conversation, a trois, on the long +gestation--omen of abortion--of the Hungarian Academy of Music. + +I trust that my very dear and honored friends will be convinced +of my perfect disinterestedness in the question; the idea of an +Academy is in no way mine if I become sponsor to it, it will be +in self-defence and without any connivance at paternity whatever; +I even refuse to help in the procreation of the marmot [brat]; +and, far from making myself, before my time, in any way its +champion or propagandist, I hesitate over the difficulties which +are opposed to its birth. I have explained these many a time to +my Budapest friends, and the difficulties have increased rather +than diminished during these last three years... + +1stly. The financial situation of the country appears to be such +that one must scruple to burden the budget with an expenditure +beyond urgent needs. My patriotism is sufficiently sincere and +lively to counsel me to abstention, including every renunciation +that is compatible with my strict duty. + +2ndly. It would be a poor luxury to add a third music school to +the two schools already existing (meagrely) at Pest. If one +cannot emulate with honor the similar establishments of Vienna, +Leipzig, etc.--what is the good of troubling any further about +it? Now, to give a vigorous impulse to Art among us, we must +first unite and fuse into one spirit a set of professors of well- +known capability,--a very arduous and ungrateful task, the +accomplishment of which demands much intelligence, and a +sufficient amount of cleverness and of money. + +Other minor, local considerations complicate the matter stilt +further; I pass them over in silence today, and will not repeat +myself any more except on one point,--my religious devotion to +our country and our art. To serve them somewhat, according to the +moderate degree of my talent, whether it be in working by myself +at my manuscripts (which is what I much prefer), or in +cooperating with my friends in public things, this is my simple +and exclusive desire, totally removed from the personal +pretensions or anxieties of vanity which are wrongly imputed to +me. + +"Tiszta lelek, tiszta szandek, akar siker, akar nem." ["Pure +soul, pure intention, whether the results be favorable or not."-- +Maxim of Stephan Szechenyi.] + +My friends are those who haunt the Ideal; there, dear friend, we +"recognise" each other, and shall always do so,--but not "in the +mud," illustrated by a fascinating poet, too much celebrated and +tainted by the triviality of vulgar applause--Heine. Amongst +other things he had predicted that the Cathedral of Cologne would +never be finished. "In vain will Franz Liszt give his concerts," +etc.-- + +You know that Wagner is coming to Pest in Lent. It is only right +that several of your compositions--especially the last, "Sello"-- +should be performed in public at that time. Talk the matter over +with Richter. I on my side will ring the "Bells." Please beg +Abranyi to hurry with the Hungarian translation of Longfellow's +poem (the Prologue to the "Golden Legend"), and to follow, not +the German translation of the "Pianoforte score," which I have +sent to Engesser, but the original English text. [Liszt had set +to music the Prologue to the "Golden Legend," under the title +"Die Glocken des Strassburger Munsters"--"The Bells of Strassburg +Cathedral."] + +Yours in cordial friendship, + +F. Liszt + +Villa d'Este, December 8th, 1874 + +I will write tomorrow to the very gracious chatelaine of Horpacs. + + + +160. To Carl Hoffbauer in Munich + +[From a copy belonging to Dir. Aug. Gollerich.--Hoffbauer, born +in 1850, became in 1872 Director of the Gesang-Verein in Munich, +went to Frankfort in 1880, and put an end to his own life. He +composed, among other things, the Operas "Cotzzata" and +"Demetrius."] + +[End of 1874.] + +My hearty thanks for the kindly zeal with which you have taken up +the "Christus Oratorio." But a performance of it in Munich +appears to me so doubtful, and connected with so much trouble, +expense, and difficulty, that I must for the present dissuade you +from the undertaking. Besides, it would not be possible for me to +accept your invitation for the end of February, as several +engagements will keep me in Pest till Easter. And, if ever you +give a performance of the Christus in Munich, I should much like +to be present. As yet the whole work has been only twice heard, +in Weimar and Pest (in May and last November, '73). + +In reply to your inquiry, I must mention Herr and Frau von Milde +and Frau Dr. Merian as specially well acquainted with and capable +of taking the solo parts. + +Accept the assurance of my utmost gratitude for your eagerness to +give a performance of the Christus in Munich. + +Most respectfully and sincerely yours, + +F. Liszt + + + +101. To Edmund Von Mihalovich + +Very Dear Friend, + +In spite of the legion of Dessoff, calm plains or storms, go on +roaring bravely in the waters of the "Phantom Ship." Even should +we not succeed in arriving safely in port, and should we meet no +other Senta than Her Highness Madam Criticism, it matters not; +those who follow us in the same waters of the Ideal will be more +fortunate... + +"Et quasi cursores vitai lampada tradunt!"-- + +We will talk about all this fully in February, in the Fischplatz. + +Will you be so kind as to send the enclosed letter to my gracious +and admired translator of the "Chopin"--Mme. la Comtesse Ottilia +Wast? [A translation into Hungarian from the old edition of the +book.] + +Further, I beg that you will recommend Taborszky to publish +before Easter my St. Francois de Paule, which our very dear +friend Albert Apponyi has been good enough to adorn with his +poetry,--and also "L'hymne de l'enfant a son reveil," which +Taborszky must have received in November (with the German words +by Cornelius and the addition of a harp part). + +Schuberth has been seriously ill. I shall be after him to bring +out your Geisterschiff [Phantom Ship] without any more delay. + +A revoir in six weeks, and always + +Very cordially yours, + +F. Liszt + +Villa d'Este, December 29th, 1874 + +On the occasion of the Wagner concert in Pest I should like my +"Bells" to ring, and beg Abranyi to attune the Hungarian +Klingklang [ding-dong] of them speedily and beautifully. + +[Liszt's "Glockengelaute" (Bell-ringing) consisted in this--that +he played the Beethoven E Concerto at the Wagner concert in Pest. +He allowed himself to be persuaded to do this, as people were +afraid that, on account of the high prices, the concert would not +be full.--The "Bells of Strassburg Cathedral" were not +performed.] + + + +162. To Carl Hoffbauer in Munich. + +[From the copy of a draft of a letter by Dr. Minis.] + +[Probably Pest, at the beginning of 1875.] + +Very Dear Sir, + +Your last letter exhibits so convincing a character of truth and +noble-mindedness that I sincerely rejoice at the prospect of +becoming personally and in spirit better acquainted with you. And +first of all be assured of my special interest in your Opera +"Comata." Whatever I may be able to do as regards a +representation of it in a theater I shall not fail to do. In +Munich we will read the score over together, and discuss further +details. + +Of your persistence in wishing to have the "Christus" performed I +wrote to Schuberth yesterday, and shall in full confidence leave +the whole matter to your considerate zeal. You will best know +whether and how a successful performance can be made possible, +and please therefore arrange matters altogether according as you +think fit. I beg you merely to let me know the day you fix upon +some 10 or 12 days previously, and address me to Pest (at +Easter), if earlier to Weimar, and I will then come for the full +rehearsal. + +[The performance took place on the 12th April, 1875. As a result +of this King Ludwig II ordered a separate performance in the +Court theater, and this again was followed by a public one.] + +Respectful greetings to the poetess of the "Comata," and believe +me, with marked esteem, yours gratefully and sincerely, + +F. Liszt + + + +163. To Professor Julius Stern in Berlin + +Dear Friend, + +For years past and again lately I have been very much indebted to +you. Our eminently learned and dear friend Weitzmann [Theorist +and contrapuntist in Berlin (1808-1880)] told me of the careful +rehearsals, and of the admirable manner in which you conducted +the Faust Symphony. Owing to critical circumstances and +negativings I have, as a rule, to dissuade people everywhere from +giving performances of my scores. All the more pleasantly am I +affected by the goodwill of the few friends who carefully and +courageously march on in front. + +Therefore, while offering you my sincerest thanks, I beg you to +excuse my not being just now able to accept the tempting +invitation to Berlin. + +Yours most respectfully and sincerely, + +F. Liszt + +Rome, February 4th, 1875 + +(Next week I return to Pest, and at the beginning of April go to +Weimar, where I should be delighted to welcome you again.) + + + +164. To Count Albert Apponyi + +[From a rough copy of a letter in the possession of Herr O. A. +Schulz, bookseller in Leipzig.] + +February 18th, [1875?] + +This morning the Politische Volksblatt [The Political People's- +Paper] brings me your portrait, my honored and dear friend. The +notice accompanying it pleases me only in so far as it predicts a +great future for you, based on your very evident merits and great +talents. People are agreed upon your great height +("Haupteslange")--all the better, for it corresponds to the +height of your character, and I bet a hundred to one that you +will never combat "the spirit of the times" ("Herr von Zeitgeist +und Frau von offentliche Meinung," [Mr. Spirit of the Times and +Mrs. Public Opinion.] as the honorable Count Gozzi ceremoniously +said), except when you meet with stupidities and adventures on +which this spirit of the times is astride. + +A friendly invitation for tomorrow evening at the house of + +Your very devoted and grateful + +F. Liszt + + + +165. To Johann Von Herbeck + +Very Dear Friend, + +My sincere thanks for your letter; gladly would I follow your +very kind and "unselfish" request. To say "nay" to my friends +always comes hard to me. But how can I act otherwise in face of +the negativings of critics? And why should I not prefer abiding +my time in peace alone? + +Now-a-days an artist is reckoning without his host if he places +honest faith in the public. For people now-a-days hear and judge +only by reading the newspapers. + +I mean to take advantage of this in so far that the leading and +favorite papers of Vienna, Pest, Leipzig, Berlin, Paris, London, +etc.--which abhor my humble compositions and have declared them +worthless and objectionable--shall be relieved of all further +outward trouble concerning them. What is the good of performances +to people who only care to read newspapers? + +Hence, dear good friend, let the "Gran Mass" [Herbeck, however, +did have them performed.] and the "Glocken" ["Die Glocken des +Strassburger Munsters"--"The Bells of Strassburg Cathedral"] +remain unperformed in Vienna, where (in Easter week) you shall +receive a visit from yours most warmly and gratefully, + +F. Liszt + +Budapest, March 3rd, 1875 + + + +166. To Eduard Von Liszt + +Dearest Eduard, + +Give Lenbach my kindest thanks, and at the same time ask him to +send his extremely poetical portrait of Frau von Moukhanoff here +soon in honor of the noble lady and of the musical Commemoration +Festival which we have announced for the middle of May. [Liszt +dedicated an Elegie to the memory of this gifted lady.] + +Tomorrow morning early I go to Hanover; my address there till May +29th [This must mean the 29th April.] will be: "at Freiherr von +Bronsart's, Intendant of the Hoftheater." On Saturday is the +performance of the "Elizabeth," and on the 29th the concert for +the benefit of the Bach monument. + +My gracious Grand Duke is very urgent about my speedy return; I +shall, therefore, probably spend only 8 or 10 days at Schloss Loo +(from the 2nd to the 12th May), and then return here forthwith. + +The Tonkunstler-Versammlung is to be held in Dresden at the end +of June. I long for some rest and quiet work. + +Thine with all my heart, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, April 22nd, 1875 + + + +167. To Adelheid Von Schorn in Rome + +Dear Excellent One, + +I come to keep you company a little in your convalescence,--far +advanced, I hope, so as to be something like a complete cure. For +a tisane [A soothing drink] I offer you some news of your cara +patria. There are few variations at Weimar: the Grand Duke and +Grand Duchess remain there till the end of June; the Emperor of +Russia is announced for the 25th June; the Hereditary Highnesses +are going to the waters (Marienbad and Pyrmont) in a few days, +and will return before the Grand Duke's fete (24th June); +Gutschen Watzdorf is going on his own account independently to +Carlsbad, Mme. de Loen to Reme (in Westphalia). + +At the theater a tempered, but lively activity; during these +latter weeks a new Drama by Otto Roquette has been given--Der +Feind im Hause. [The enemy in the house.] The subject is taken +from the quarrel of the Colonna in Rome; the success of the piece +will not occasion any fresh quarrels; nor will that of two new +Operas that I have seen--Der Widerspanstigen Bezahmung [The +subduing of the refractory ones.] by Gotz and Golo of Scholz, +which have come inopportunely into competition with Schumann's +Genoveva--a work which has been taken up again with marked +success this year (after it had been prudently ignored for twenty +years--except at Leipzig and Weimar) at Leipzig and Wiesbaden. +Other theaters will mix themselves up with it, in spite of the +non-success of Genoveva at Vienna, where it was put on the stage +in the winter of '74 with a most praiseworthy luxury of +decoration and costumes. + +At the time of the performance which I conducted, and that is +some twenty years ago, I said: Genoveva is musically the sister +of Fidelio; only Leonora's pistol is wanting. + +Tristan and Isolde, announced here for the 15th and 19th +May,...have remained at Munich with M. and Mme. Vogel, who have +lost a child. Loen [The Weimar Intendant] and all the public are +very much put out at this untimely mourning; possibly the Vogels +will be able to come towards the end of June; I don't reckon on +it much, but have written to them on the subject at Loen's +request. If they accept, the Commemoration Matinee of Mme. +Moukhanoff will take place between the two performances of +Tristan, and the "Tempelherrenhaus" in our park has been chosen +by us as the spot for this musical commemoration. I will send you +the programme. + +Meanwhile here is that of Saturday last at the "Orchestral +School"--a very useful establishment, well adapted to our +modestly proud situation of Weimar, and which Muller-Hartung +conducts according to my wishes. [The concert "in honor of +Liszt's first visit to the School" consisted entirely of works by +him.] Bruch's Odysseus--a musical illustration of Preller's +admirable pictures in the Weimar museum--was performed last +Thursday, conducted also by Muller-Hartung. + +Lassen is in the middle of composing some fine choruses for the +two "Fausts," which Devrient is intending to get up here in two +evenings, in conformity with his new scenic arrangement. + +Very cordially yours, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, May 17th, 1875 + + + +168. To Eduard von Liszt + +Dearest Eduard, + +.--. The day after tomorrow I join the Duke of Weimar's party at +Schloss Wilhelmsthal, and shall remain there several days. After +that I should have liked to wait upon Cardinal Hohenlohe in +Schillingsfurst; but His Eminence is at present at Bad Ragaz +(Switzerland) undergoing some after-cure for a foot-trouble, the +result of some accident he met with last winter. When I receive +his answer I shall so arrange things that my visit to +Schillingsfurst is paid as is agreeable in tempore opportuno. + +From the 3rd to the 15th August I shall be in Bayreuth; after +that I shall this year end with Weimar (without playing +"Tannhauser" there, as a guest!) at the Carl-August Festival on +September 3rd, for which I have written a short and simple chorus +in popular style, the text of which is furnished by King David: +"The Lord preserveth the souls of His saints, and light is sown +for the righteous." + +In contemplating this light in all humility, + +I am, in true affection, + +Thine, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, July 17th, 1875 + +Enclosed are a few words for our Marie. If I had to choose a +cousin I should choose her. Hence I confess my innermost +elective-affinity with papa and daughter. + +Lenbach's wondrously inspired portrait of Madame Moukhanoff will +tomorrow be sent back to Vienna to the Countess Coudenhoven. + + + +169. To Louis Kohler + +Very Dear Friend, + +Merit and success, in your case, would seem always to stand in +perfectly delightful harmony. Best thanks for your kindly letter +and for sending your Opus 147: "Technische Kunstler-Studien" +["Technical Artist-Studies"]. And although I am more disposed to +turn away from than towards Methods and Pedagogics, still I have +read this work of yours with interest. The entrance of the pedal +after the striking of the chords as indicated by you at the +beginning of page 3, and as consistently carried through by you +almost to the utmost extreme, seems to me an ingenious idea, the +application of which is greatly to be recommended to pianoforte +players, teachers and composers--especially in slow tempi. + +I regret that we are geographically so far apart; but +sympathetically I remain in sincere esteem and in all +friendliness yours, + +F. Liszt + +Schloss Wilhelmsthal, July 27th, 1875 + +My friendly greetings to your very talented pupil Alfred +Reisenauer. Perhaps you may be coming to Weimar again shortly; I +should be pleased to hear this. + +One line in your friendly letter I answer herewith: proud of my +Konigsberg title of doctor, and anxious to do it credit, I +willingly refrain from giving performances of my humble +compositions anywhere. + + + +170. To Carl Hillebrand in Florence + +[The celebrated author of "Zeiten, Volker und Menschen" ["Times, +People and Mankind"] and other works; born 1820; lived, from 1870 +until his death, in Florence, where a memorial tablet, in +gratitude to his memory, was erected over his house in the Lung' +Arno.] + +Dear and Very Honored Friend, + +Your friendly letter leaves me a good hope...for next year. I +have just transmitted your thanks and the data relative to our +concerted idea to the Grand Duke, who arrived at Ostend on +Thursday last, with his daughters, his son and his daughter-in- +law. Their Royal Highnesses return to Weimar the 1st September +for the fete of Carl August, which the Emperor and Empress of +Germany will solemnise with their presence. Monseigneur tells me +to invite you to it. I observe to him that you will probably be +detained elsewhere; nevertheless, if you should come to Germany +at that moment, be assured that you will be warmly welcomed and +received at the Court of Weimar. + +The monument of Carl August will be inaugurated on the 3rd +September. The ceremony of the "Toison d'Or" ["Golden Fleece"], +at which the Emperor will be the sponsor of his brother-in-law, +our Grand Duke, will take place on the 4th. Then T.R.H. will +leave Weimar, and my poor self return to the Villa d'Este +(towards the middle of September) for as long a time as my very +dear compatriots will allow of it. They press me strongly to +return to Pest on the 1st November; before obeying them I shall +come and see you at Florence. + +Please count always on the feelings of sincere and high esteem of +your very cordially devoted + +F. Liszt + +Bayreuth, August 2nd, 1875 + +The papers keep you au courant of the marvels of Wagner's theater +here. The performances (announced for the month of August '76) of +the Tetralogy, "Der Ring des Nabelungen," will be the chief event +of dramatic Art, thus royally made manifest for the first time in +this century in its ensemble and unification of Poetry, Music, +Acting, and their decorations of Painting and mise-en-scene. + +There is not merely the chance, but the guarantee of a grand and +striking success, in view of the sublimity of the work itself, +and also of the enthusiasm which it already excites amongst the +numerous staff of artists chosen to interpret it. In spite of the +difficulties of this new transcendental style of Wagner, the +preparatory study and rehearsals are an enchantment for the +singers and the musicians of the orchestra. + +By the 18th August I shall be back at Weimar, and shall stay +there till the 6th September. + +To Madame Laussot my tender and grateful regards. + + + +171. To Adelheid von Schorn + +Dear Excellent One, + +It is not without regret that I have given up the very sincere +pleasure of meeting you now at Nuremberg. If you remained there +till towards the middle of September I should come and ask you +what commissions you have for Rome, where I expect to arrive +before the 20th September. + +Here we are sailing in the full tide of the marvels of art. Every +day, morning and evening, one act of the "Ring des Nibelungen" is +rehearsed in Wagner's new theater. The enthusiasm of the whole +staff of singers and orchestral players, to the number of about +150, is as sincere as it is abundant, and everything augurs for +next year some prodigious performances of the immense and sublime +work which royally dominates all contemporary Art, including the +former works of Wagner. + +Cosima sends you a thousand affectionate messages, and is +expecting to see you at the time of the definite succession of +the Nibelung-Ring in the month of August 1876. You were present +at the laying of the first stone of the monument, and must not be +absent at the crowning moment. .--. + +Mme. de Schleinitz is staying here a fortnight longer, and is +living at the castle. She keeps herself continually at the +highest diapason of grace and charm, without ever missing the +opportunity of effectually obliging her friends. + +A revoir soon, dear and very excellent one; and ever from my +heart your devoted + +F. Liszt + +Bayreuth, August 7th, 1875 + +I shall be back at Weimar by the 18th August. + + + +172. To Dr. Franz Witt + +[Probably August or September, 1875] + +Much-esteemed Friend, + +While greatly regretting to hear of your indisposition and +thanking you sincerely for your last letter, I now ask you: How +are you going to answer the ministerial communication of +Trefort?--Are you willing to render important help as regards +Church music in Hungary? Superfluous words are unbecoming to me; +let us onward and act; and may your noble and stimulating +influence be granted to Hungary. Assuredly you will find there +admiration, affection, and the necessary assistance in the great +services you will render. + +In a word: Come to us, and let us work together in Budapest! + + + +173. To Lina Ramann + +[Authoress of "F. Liszt als Kunstler und Mensch" ("F. Liszt as +Artist and Man"), 2 vols. (Leipzig, Breitkopf and Hartel, 1880 +and 1887)] + +Dear Friend, + +Thanks to your care I had excellent and very inspired company +during my two days' journey from Nuremberg to Rome. Your parallel +"Bach and Handel" delighted me more than the famous landscapes of +the Brenner. Allow me specially to praise your fine insight into +and correct interpretation of the various musical forms of +culture from the Motet to the Mass and the Oratorio. + +Some portions also of the "Allgemeine musikalische Erzieh-und +Unterrichtslehre" [Universal Musical Instruction] pleased me--(in +spite of my inaptitude in things pedagogical), especially the +main idea of the work:--that musical instruction should not be +separated from, but form a part in, the course of education; a +relevant thought, the practical application of which will +essentially benefit, and prove useful to, art as well as +education. + +Again my cordial thanks for the hours at Nuremberg, and best +greetings to the amiable comrades in art Fraulein Ida and +Auguste. + +Yours respectfully and sincerely, + +F. Liszt + +Rome, September 28th, 1875 + + + +174. To Eduard von Liszt + +Rome, September 29th, 1875 + +Dearest Eduard, + +Wherever we may be we ever remain one in heart. Probably I shall +be in Budapest as early as the middle of November, on account of +the Musik-Akademie, which it is my duty to shape in accordance +with the standard of somewhat difficult local circumstances. +Appointments have already been made by the Minister Trefort: +Franz Erkel as Director, Volkmann as Professor of Composition, +and Abranyi as Secretary. Witt and Bulow had the first offers +from Trefort: unfortunately Witt is still too ill, and Bulow +could not come till later, after his return from America. Of +course Bulow would have received the largest possible sphere of +action--somewhat the same as he occupied in Munich, where, for a +couple of years, he acted as Director of the Conservatoire in the +most successful manner... + +All hearty greetings to your circle, and believe me ever your +gratefully and sincerely attached + +F. Liszt Address: 43, Vicolo dei Greci, Roma (Italia). Till the +beginning of November I stay here or at the Villa d'Este, and +then travel direct to Pest. + +Pray send me news of our dear and amiable Marie. + + + +175. To Kornel von Abranyi + +Dear Friend, + +A thousand thanks for your letter with its weighty contents. +[Abranyi had informed Liszt that the Hungarian Landes-Musik- +Akademie--which had been called into existence by Trefort, the +Minister of Education--had already been organised and was shortly +to be opened, and that Liszt was invited to the inauguration +ceremony.] All things considered, it does not appear to me +advisable to hurry my return. As I did this year, I mean next +year also to reach Pest towards the middle of February--in time +for Lent and the concert season. By that time the work at the +Musik-Akademie ought to have fairly established itself. + +I gladly undertake to conduct a pianoforte-class for virtuosi and +teachers,--first of all from the 1st March to Easter 1876. And +should the undertaking give indications of proving a success, I +would be willing to devote several months a year to this species +of instruction in the Musik-Akademie of Budapest. + +I look forward to being on the best and most cordial terms with +Erkel. [Franz Erkel (born 1810), a celebrated Hungarian composer, +at that time Director of the Musik-Akademie and Capellmeister at +the National Theater in Pest. Died 15th June, 1893] Also with +Volkmann and the other professors. + +As regards the very worthy Secretary, I rejoice to labor with him +as next-door neighbor (on the Fischplatz, where assuredly we +shall not dry up "like fish out of water"), and remain always + +His grateful and truly attached friend, + +F. Liszt + +Villa d'Este, October 14th, 1875. + +My friendly greetings, please, to Engessers, Zimay, Siposz, [All +were Hungarian musicians] and to our dear composer of the "Liszt- +Cantata," Gobbi. + + + +176. To Walter Bache + +Highly Esteemed and Dear Friend, + +Hearty thanks for your kindly remembrance of the 22nd October. + +With regard to the "Elizabeth" performance (at your "Twelfth +Annual Concert" on the 24th February) I am somewhat anxious on +account of the great exertions and expense which the performance +will entail upon you. Still I will not make any further objection +to your characteristically firm incorrigibleness in your +steadfast wish and endeavor to do the utmost possible for the +good of your old friend, now 64 years of age. + +To Frau Blume (whom I often called upon in Rome) please give my +friendliest remembrances. If the part of Elizabeth does not +displease her she is certain to give an excellent interpretation +of it. + +I am most glad to grant friend Banz the permission he desires, +and am grateful to him for his kindly sentiments. + +Till the middle of February I shall stay here--and then go direct +to Budapest--and remain your faithfully attached + +F. Liszt + +Villa d'Este, October 26th, 1875. + +In case you receive direct news of Von Bulow, please let me know. + + + +177. To Eduard von Liszt + +Most Dear Friend, + +Your letters are as full of heart as they are of mind. They both +comfort and exalt me. My prayers always include you. May the +"Supreme Spirit" strengthen us! + +For me to appear at the opening of the Musik-Akademie in Pest on +November 7th, is, I think, neither necessary nor desirable. It +will be better that the undertaking (the official part of which I +did not call into existence!) should be more fully started before +I take any part in it. Hence till the middle of February I remain +at the Villa d'Este (quietly finishing a few compositions) and +then return direct to Pest. + +Herbeck is said to have promised to conduct a concert there. I +trust we may meet in friendship on the "Fischplatz" during Lent. +How could he manage to have the Gran Mass performed in the +Burgkapelle? The dimensions of the work require rather a goodly +amount of space for chorus and orchestra...Next summer it is +proposed to give a grand concert-performance of the Gran Mass in +Dusseldorf (where they have a splendid hall, admirably adapted +for musical festivals). I shall look for your report of the +Vienna performance. + +As regards the "Prometheus," I beg you to fix with Her-beck that +in Vienna the new improved edition, published by Kahnt (Leipzig), +shall be used, and get him to procure it from Kahnt: pianoforte +score, full score, and voice parts. If Herbeck should entertain +any doubt about the new edition on account of the expense, I +shall be quite ready to settle the small "difference" with a few +gulden, which you will advance me for the purpose. [Eduard von +Liszt managed Liszt's money affairs for him.] + +I am very anxious that this "Prometheus"--who is ready to +"unchain" himself next summer in Dusseldorf and at the Musical +Festival at Altenburg--should not again be a failure in Vienna, +after his late want of success there.-- + +Give Kulke my best thanks for his excellent essay with its kindly +sentiments (in the Vaterland of September 17th); I am specially +pleased with the close: "In the same way as Sebastian Bach could +not conceive a musical thought in any other way than from a +contrapuntal point of view, Liszt cannot conceive a theme in any +other way than from a thematic point of view," etc. + +Heartiest greetings to all your circle: Marie will always prove +herself noble and firm. + +Your faithfully attached + +F.L. + +(Villa d'Este) October 31st, 1875 + + + +178. To Madame Jessie Laussot + +Very Dear and Kind Friend, + +Although I scarcely know how sufficiently to express my gratitude +to you for all the proofs of friendship you have constantly shown +me during twenty years, I am quite convinced that no +misunderstanding would ever be possible between us. You know my +good intentions from the outset, and in case of necessity you +divine them with the heart's most penetrating and delicate +intelligence. + +I add to my thanks for your last letter a request which you will +certainly grant, by assuring our very honored friend Hillebrand +of my sincere devotedness. In addition, assure him also that my +zeal in serving my gracious master, the Grand Duke of Saxony, +will never be used to the detriment of any one, and that I +especially take into consideration the proprieties appropriate to +the merits and position of individualities that I esteem and +love. + +So then we will discuss "academicamente," at your house in +Florence (after my return from Hungary, towards the middle of +February), the subject of Hillebrand's spending some months each +year at Weimar. + +This could be brought about under reciprocally pleasant +conditions; I confess that I take a rather egotistical interest +in it...but without failing in the duties of friendship. + +In a week's time, Mdlle. Adelheid de Schorn accompanies her aunt- +-"the Lady Abbess von Stein"-- back to Germany. She will bring +you two or three books of music from me. + +Sgambati has finished a second, very remarkable Quintet (for +Piano and Strings), which will soon be heard in Rome. + +Zarembski (whom I introduced to you) works valiantly, and +deserves to be reckoned as an unusually excellent pianist of the +first rank. + +A revoir in February, and yours very devotedly, + +F. Liszt + +Villa d'Este, November 17th, 1875 + +If you should see the Jaells before their concerts in Rome, give +them my most affectionate remembrances. + + + +179. To Eduard von Liszt + +My Honored Friend, + +What you felt at the performance of the Gran Mass has extremely +rejoiced me. "He who loves understands." + +Give Herbeck my warmest thanks for the carefulness of the +rehearsals and performance of this work, about which I allowed +myself to make the remark (in Paris 1866), to a personage of the +very highest rank, that "it had been more criticised than heard." + +On no account would I press Herbeck to give a performance of the +"Prometheus-choruses"; according to my thinking, it would be +better to wait and see how these choruses are done next spring in +Dusseldorf and at the Tonkunstler-Versammlung in Altenburg before +bringing them back to Vienna. I should also like to be present at +the Vienna performance, which will not be possible tha's winter. +I shall probably only be able to stay one day with you (at the +beginning of April). I almost doubt whether the "Hunnenschlacht" +could be performed amongst the "Philharmoniker" [lovers of +harmony] without defeat to me. Nevertheless, "vincit qui +patitur." + +Heartiest greetings to our Franz, who will prove himself worthy +of you. + +Most faithfully thy + +F. Liszt + +(Villa d'Este, Tivoli) November 26th, 1875 + +.--. As I already told you, I shall remain here till the middle +of February, and then return direct to Budapest. From next April +I am threatened with much travelling about. My threefold +domicile, Pest, Weimar and Villa d'Este, and all that is +connected with it, makes my life very onerous. Even the well- +known consolation, "Tu l'as voulu, Georges Dandin" [it is your +own doing], fails me...Still there is hope in the proclamation +"Et in terra pax, hominibus bonae voluntatis." + +Once more thanks for your kind intercession in my friend Vincenz +Kirchmayer's [Liszt's former travelling companion in Spain and +Portugal during the forties, and especially recommended by Liszt +to his cousin Eduard.] affairs. When the decision has been given +let me know it. + +180. To Hans Schmitt, Professor at the Conservatorium of Music in +Vienna + +[Well known as an excellent teacher of the pianoforte, also as a +writer on music] + +[End of 1875] + +My Dear Sir, + +It is well known how much mischief is done to the piano both with +hands and feet. May your instructive pamphlet on the right use of +the pedal duly benefit pianoforte players. [Footnote: "The Pedal +of the Piano." Vienna, Doblinger (3rd ed. 1892).] With best +thanks for sending me the pamphlet, I remain + +Yours respectfully, + +F. Liszt + + + +181. To Kornel von Abranyi + +Dear Honored Friend, + +In the affairs of the Academy of Music I had till now simply to +wait. [The opening of the Academy of Music had taken place +meanwhile in the middle of November, 1875.] Now comes the time +when a different, an active line of conduct presents itself to +me. I shall always endeavor to come up to the expectations of my +friends. First of all in the middle of February we begin our +peaceful academical conferences, and, as I have already written +to you, I willingly undertake, from the 1st March, to conduct a +pianoforte class (for virtuosi and teachers)--provided that Erkel +and you, dear friend, agree to this harmless proposal. My further +activity in the Royal Hungarian Academy of Music had better be +favored, measured and decided by the circumstances. I can only +lay claim to be the well-intentioned zealous servant of Art and +of Hungary. + +Please to give Erkel my heartiest thanks for the Liszt-paragraph +in the "Inaugural Address." The kindly confidence which Erkel has +reposed in me for more than 30 years shall never be abused. + +The notice "Count Geza Zichy, President, and Bartay, Director of +the Pest Conservatorium," affects me very pleasantly. Engesser's +constancy in conducting the Liszt-Verein [Engesser founded the +Liszt-Verein in Pest (for mixed voices)] particularly rejoices +me. Is Gobbi's Cantata come out? Friendly greetings to the +composer and recently "well-known composer of album-leaf +waltzes," from your old, truly attached + +F. Liszt + +Villa d'Este, January 20th, 1876 + +(Before my arrival--16th February--I will telegraph to you from +Venice, where I shall visit Count Imre Szechenyi.) In case there +were anything to write to me, address, till February 5th, Rome, +Vicolo dei Greci, 43. + + + +182. To Eduard von Liszt + +(Villa d'Este,) January 23rd, 1876 + +My Dear Beloved Friend, + +Your letter has deeply affected me. I preserve it in the secret +cell of the heart, where the last words of my dear mother remain- +-and give me consolation. I cannot thank you in words. My thanks +rise in prayer to God. May His blessing ever be with your +generosity and constancy in all that is good. + +At the "Decisions of the Court of Cassation" (the 2nd October and +16th November) you spoke so forcibly and beautifully clearly +about blasphemy, and of the symbol of redemption, the crucifix-- +and thus truly fulfilled the teaching of our Savior: +"Thesaurizate autem vobis thesauros in Coelo." Let us continue to +the end, dearest Eduard, in the love of Christ! + +I absolutely wrote the "Hunnenschlacht" for the sake of the hymn +"Crux fidelis." Kulke in a very generous manner determined on the +production of this work in Vienna. For very many years Kulke has +always been well-affected towards me. I enclose a few lines of +thanks which I beg you to hand to him. His "Moses before Pharaoh" +I have, alas, not the power to compose. To compose philosophy and +politics in music appears to me an all-too-difficult task. I +almost doubt whether it could be accomplished. + +Heartiest greetings to your family, and most truly yours, + +F. Liszt + +I shall arrive in Pest again in the middle of February. + + + +183. To Dr. Eduard Kulke in Vienna + +My Dear Sir, + +During long years you have constantly shown me so much kindness +that I cannot sufficiently thank you for it. I am also ashamed +not to compose better works, so as to make the kindly +interpretation of them more easy and pleasanter to you. +Nevertheless all the more valuable is your insight and +indulgence. + +The "feathered thief" [A comedy by the addressee, a well-known +and meritorious author, and sent by him shortly before to Liszt.] +reconciles me with the "newspaper geese." It will, without +plagiarism, win its laurels on the stage. The dialogue and action +are full of humor and wit...and the final catastrophe of the +thrashing must make an impression on the public.-- + +Excuse me, my dear Sir, if I do not feel myself equal to the task +of an Old-Testament Oratorio. [Kulke had sent a poem, "Moses +before Pharaoh," to Liszt in Rome, with the question whether he +would be inclined to make it the subject of an Oratorio.] Michael +Angelo represented his Moses mighty and horned (perhaps as a most +excellent ideal forerunner of Pope Julius II.?); Rossini sang +exquisitely the "preghiera di Mose," with which Europe is still +enraptured; and Marx's Oratorio Moses, less well-known, contains +many excellent parts. + +"Non omnia possumus omnes." My humble self can do but little, and +remains most humbly grateful to the "Caritas Christi." + +With especial regards and thanks, yours most truly, + +F. Liszt + +Villa d'Este, January 23rd, 1876 + + + +184. To Marie Lipsius + +My Honored Patroness, + +Your kind promise to translate the "Chopin" into beautiful German +rejoices me extremely. Hearty thanks for it. I will soon send the +revised (French) copy, and I hope the work will be easy and +pleasant to you. In the 3rd edition of "Musikalische +Studienkopfe" I lately read "Berlioz"--an excellent +characterisation and recognition of this extraordinarily great +master, who perhaps hovers more in the untrodden regions of +genius than anywhere else. + +The addition of the "index" is a valuable completion of this +third edition. Its success augurs well for what will follow. + +With much respect and gratitude, + +F. Liszt + +(Villa d'Este,) February 3rd, 1876 + + + +185. To August von Trefort, The Hungarian Minister of Education +in Budapest + +[Printed in the Pester Lloyd of that date.--Addressee died 1888.] + +Herr Minister, + +Although I scruple to weary the extraordinary good-will which the +public of Budapest has evinced towards me, I nevertheless make so +bold as to offer the assistance of my two hands for the concert +shortly to be given in aid of the sufferers by the floods, if +Your Excellency is of opinion that this could still be at all +useful. In the year 1838, when I returned for the first time to +Vienna, I gave my first concert there in aid of the sufferers by +the inundation at Pest. It will be a comfort to me if I can now +close my protracted career as virtuoso by the fulfilment of a +similar duty. [The concert in aid of the sufferers by the floods +in Budapest took place with Liszt's co-operation on the 13th +March, 1876] I remain, until death, Hungary's true and grateful +son. + +Your Excellency's most obedient + +F. Liszt + +Budapest, March 1st, 1876 + + + +186. To Walter Bache + +Honored and Dear Friend, + +You, in your London "Annual Concerts," have for 12 years worked +more wonders than I was able to compose in the "Rosenwunder" +[Rose miracle] of Elizabeth. Hearty thanks for your account of +the 12th concert, and all the exertions connected with it! I beg +you to present my most respectful compliments to Mrs. Osgood +("Elizabeth"), and, before all, to Constance Bache, the kind +translator of the Legend. + +Entirely approving of the use of the mute in the passage + + +[Here, Liszt illustrates with a musical score excerpt] + +and during the chorus of angels, remains, in sincere esteem for +the steadfast conductor and friend Walter Bache, his faithful and +grateful + +F. Liszt + +Budapest, March 8th, 1876 + + + +187. To Madame Jessie Laussot, + +Dear excellent Friend, + +The Commander Casamorata has written to me again about the fete +of Bartolomeo Cristofori. I have replied to him that my answer +had been already received by you in the month of January '75, and +that I can only repeat the same excuses. I copy the last lines of +my letter to Casamorata that you may have the exact particulars:- +- + +"Without reckoning that for more than thirty years I have not +belonged to the active lists of pianists and only desire the +honorable repose of an invalid, I permit myself to remark that +the duty of celebrating the inventor of the pianoforte in Italy +belongs by preference to Italian pianists of note, such as M. +Buonamici (in Florence) and M. Sgambati (in Rome), etc."-- + +In conclusion, I scarcely could leave Germany all this summer +(except for the visit to the Chateau de Loo), and I shall +probably be obliged to return to Hungary after Bayreuth, where I +hope still to find you. + +Yours very devotedly, + +F. Liszt + +Budapest, March 18th, 1876 + + + +188. To Dr. Leopold Damrosch in New York + +[Draft of a letter from a copy by Dr. Mirus in Weimar.--Addressee +(1832-1885) came to Weimar in 1855 as a violinist under Liszt, +went to Breslau in 1858, and in 1871 to New York, where he had +great success and influence as a conductor.] + +April 15th, 1876 + +My dear honored Friend, + +You have recommended our young friend Max Pinner to me. He shows +himself to be an excellent artist, and I have become much +attached to him [Pinner died young.] I beg you to accept through +him the renewed expression of my former faithful friendship. + +Your beautifully conceived and nobly executed work "Ruth" I have +read with sympathetic interest and pleasure. I will not fail to +suggest its performance in Germany. + +How shall I thank you for the edifying goodwill which you +manifest towards my compositions? Your intelligent enthusiastic +conducting of my scores prevents any one noticing the defects of +the composition. + +A hearty greeting to your wife, and with warmest esteem ever +yours, + +F. Liszt + + + +189. To Friedrich von Bodenstedt + +[From a copy by Director Aug. Gollerich in Nurnberg.--Addressee, +who died in April 1892, the poet of Mirza Schaffy] + +June 8th, 1876 + +My very honored Friend, + +Your very agreeable and genial friend, Frau Major von L., sends +the September leaflet about the concert in Hanover. A thousand +thanks for it. .--. + +On the occasion of my happy 50 years' jubilee you rejoiced me +with a poem, of which Iam proud. You have admirably succeeded in +coaxing such poetical euphony from an old worn-out instrument +like my humble self. + +Au revoir in Hanover, and friendly greetings to your family. + +With thanks, yours sincerely, + +F. Liszt + + + +190. To the Music Publisher Bessel + +Sir, + +Although the music which you have been so obliging as to send me +through Mr. Kahnt has not yet reached me, I hasten to assure you +again of the strong interest which I take in the works of the new +Russian composers--Rimski-Korsakoff, Cui, Tschaikowski, +Balakireff, Borodine--which you edit. You know that lately, at +the Tonkunstler-Versammlung at Altenburg, the Ballade "Sadko" was +well performed and received. Next year I shall propose that other +works of the above-named Russian composers be produced. They are +worth serious attention in musical Europe. + +When you return to Weimar in July I shall better express to you +my thanks and regards. + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, June 20th, 1876 + +Kindly give the accompanying note to Mr. Cui. + + + +191. To Prince Carl Lichnowsky + +[Communicated to the Musical Chronicle, 20th February, 1888, by +A. Gollerich.--Addressee is the brother of Liszt's intimate +friend, Prince Felix Lichnowsky, who, as a member of the +Parliament of Frankfort, fell on the Heath at Bornheim +(Bornheimer Haide), a sacrifice to the Revolution of 1848.] + +Your most Serene Highness and Friend, + +In old attachment I thank you heartily for your kind lines. The +most grateful recollections ever bind me to the House of +Lichnowsky. Your highly endowed father and your admirable brother +Feliz showed not less kindness to me, than Prince Carl Lichnowsky +showed before that to the young Beethoven, who dedicated his Opus +I. (3 Trios) to the Prince Lichnowsky, and felt himself quite at +home in the so-called Krzizanowitz "Palace," and in the Castle of +Gratz. [Krzizanowitz is Lichnowsky's inherited estate in Prussian +Silesia, the Castle of Gratz his dominion in Austrian Silesia. +Franz Liszt like Beethoven, was a guest in both these places.] +May it be permitted, dear Prince, to find you again there +(perhaps next year) to + +Your faithful and most devoted + +F. Liszt + +June 21st, 1876 + + + +192. To Hofcapellmeister Max Erdmannsdorfer + +Very honored Friend, + +Thanking you very much for your kind invitation, I shall +willingly come next Sunday, and rejoice that I shall again hear a +special Sondershausen concert. Berlioz's "Harold-Symphony" is to +me an old, ever-fresh recollection: the Sondershausen orchestra +played it capitally at the first Festival of the "Music of the +Future" in Ballenstedt, which I conducted. + +Send me soon the whole printed programme. Can you already conduct +Wagner's new "Fest Marsch?" + +I beg for Bulow's "Nirwana," if possible, and in case there +should be room for anything, not long, of mine, I would most +modestly suggest the Symphonic Poem "Hamlet," which I never +heard. Most friendly greetings to your wife, and believe me +always + +Yours most sincerely, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, June 27th, 1876 + +I suppose the concert takes place on Sunday afternoon, so that +the visitors from Weimar can get back here again? + +Which train, in the lately altered railway guide--as I was told +yesterday--will bring me in tempo (non rubato) [in time--not +broken] to Sondershausen and back?-- + + + +193. To Kornel von Abranyi + +Dear honored Friend, + +Best thanks for your letter. Please to make my apologies to the +mayor Herr Karoly and to the Festival Committee in Szegedin. [The +town of Szegedin and the Hungarian Vocal Society had begged +Liszt's active sympathy for the Musical and Singers' Festival +about to be held in that place. Karl Wagner was president of the +Festival Committee.] With reference to the first invitation to +Szegedin (last March) I made the observation immediately that +"During the whole month of August I belong to Bayreuth." +Consequently it is no fault to remain there,--if the principle is +correct. + +Now, dear faithful friend, I invite you once again to come +hither. The "Festival-Play" is of the very most serious +historical significance...So do come at the latest from the 27th +till the 30th August for the third series of these stupendous +performances of the "Nibelung's Ring." The Montecuculi-an matters +will be gladly arranged for you here [i.e. the expenses.] by + +Your old, most sincerely faithful + +F. Liszt + +Bayreuth, August 6th, 1876 + + + +194. To Richard Wagner + +[Autograph of this curiosity in possession of Herrn +Commerzienrath Bosendorfer in Vienna.] + +Incredible One, + +Hast thou a moment's time for the Leipzig "affaire"? then please +come down here (where Herr Neumann now is) to thine own + +F. L. + +[Bayreuth, August, 1876] + +[This referred to the performance of the "Nibelungen" in Leipzig, +striven for by Angelo Neumann and interceded for by Liszt, for +which purpose the former came to Bayreuth.--Wagner wrote in +pencil on Liszt's letter as follows:-- + +"Still more incredible One! + +"I am in my shirt-sleeves and under no circumstances inclined to +give my work to Leipzig or anywhere else! + +"Love me! + +Thy + +R. W."] + + + +195. To the Kammersangerin [Private Concert Singer to the Court] +Marie Breidenstein in Erfurt + +[Died 1892. She dedicated herself with satisfaction to the +rendering of Liszt's compositions, and was also his pupil for +piano.] + +Dear honored One, + +Perhaps the Schubert songs with my most modest instrumentation +would suit somewhere in your programme. Here are the printed +scores with the orchestral parts. "Gretchen" and "Erlkonig" have +been much used and are played out. This is not so much the case +with the "Young Nun"; and Mignon's wonderful song, "So lasst mich +scheinen bis ich werde" [So let me seem till I become], is +scarcely heard--or appreciated! + +But if you will once more spare me an hour in Weimar, I will +accompany these 4 instrumented Schubert-Songs for you. + +Next Saturday departs from here + +Your sincerely devoted + +F. Liszt + +Weimer, Monday, September 18th, 1876 + +N.B.--The instrumentation compelled me to a few little different +readings in Schubert's four songs: on this account the singer +must go by my score-edition as regards the rests and the very +slight alterations. + + + +196. To Camille Saint-Saens + +Very Dear Friend + +In sending you today the transcription of your "Danse macabre," I +beg you to excuse my unskilfulness in reducing the marvellous +coloring of the score to the possibilities of the piano. No one +is bound by the impossible. To play an orchestra on the piano is +not yet given to any one. Nevertheless we must always stretch +towards the deal across all the more or less dogged and +insufficient forms. It seems to me that Life and Art are only +good for that. + +In sincere admiration and friendship, + +Your very devoted + +F. Liszt + +Hanover, October 2nd, 1876 + + + +197. To Professor L. A. Zellner, General Secretary of the +Conservatoire of Music in Vienna + +[From a copy of a draft by Dr. Mirus in Weimar.] + +October 3lSt, 1876 + +Honored Friend, + +Be so very kind as to convey my sincere thanks to Directors +Mosenthal and Herbeck for the friendly communication about the +Beethoven-Monument Concerts in Vienna next March. A few weeks +earlier I beg you to send me the programmes, to which Beethoven's +Concerto in E-flat major, and also as a Finale, in case the +"Hammerclavier" appears admissible, the "Choral Fantasia," will +willingly be added with his old hands by + +Your faithful and most obedient + +F. Liszt + + + +198. To Hans Richter, Conductor of the Royal Opera in Vienna + +[From a copy by Dr. Mirus in Weimar.-Addressee (born 1843 in +Hungary) the renowned conductor, since 1876, of the Bayreuth +Festspiel, and, in addition to his opera work in Vienna, +conductor of the Philharmonic Concerts there and of the Richter- +Concerts in London.] + +November 10th, 1876 + +I thank you most sincerely for your friendly intention of giving +my Beethoven-Cantata in the performance at the Royal Opera House +for the benefit of the monument to Beethoven. By today's post you +will receive the whole printed score, together with a separate +edition of the orchestrated Andante (from the B-flat major Trio), +which shines, like a guiding star, above my insignificant work. +The Cantata was published by Kahnt, Leipzig, in the year 1870, +and was also first brought out in Weimar, then in Pest, on the +occasion of the Beethoven Jubilee Celebration. If, my dear Sir, +the orchestration to some extent pleases you, I should advise you +to take up this alone in your programme on the 15th December. + +The remaining movements might meet with many hindrances in +Vienna...and, frankly, I have become altogether somewhat shy as +regards the performance of my compositions. Although I quietly +endure their foregone want of success with prevailing criticism, +it is my duty not to let my friends be injured by it. + +Once again hearty thanks for your goodwill and meritorious +conducting of Wagner. + +F. Liszt + + + +199. To Breitkopf and Hartel + +Dear Sirs, + +Your communication to me of the 25th October has been very much +delayed, owing to my change of residence several times during the +past weeks. There is surely no need to assure you that I never +thought of causing any unpleasantness at all to any one--more +especially judicially [The publisher of "Tannhauser" had tried to +make out that Liszt's arrangement of the March was a "piracy."] +In particular my connection with your very honorable house for +more than 30 years has ever been most simple and honest. This is +also shown by my two quoted letters of the 17th February and 3rd +April, 1853, with reference to the publication by your firm of +the "Tannhauser and Lohengrin pieces," whose publication at that +time I was quite "the agreement" with Richard Wagner in +suggesting. + +Certainly I could not, without injuring the Tannhauser March, go +all through the original, loading it with shakes, and here and +there adding arpeggios. However, if "connoisseurs" will look +through my transcription in detail, they will easily discover +that neither the variation on the principal theme, nor the +modulating of the second, nor in any manner the whole setting of +the pianoforte arrangement, could be found fault with as a +"piracy." + +With much esteem, + +Very sincerely yours, + +F. Liszt + +November 12th, 1876 + +Budapest (where I stay the whole winter) + + + +200. To Constantin Sander, Music Publisher in Leipzig + +[Autograph in possession of M. Alfred Bovet in Valentigney.] + +Very honored Sir, + +Best thanks for kindly sending me the "collected writings of +Hector Berlioz" and some novelties of your firm. The compositions +of Tschaikowsky interest me. A few of my pupils here play his +Concerto and several of his pieces really capitally. I have also +recommended Riedel to include Tschaikowsky's Symphony in the +programme of the next Tonkunstler-Versammlung. + +Otto Reubke's arrangement of the Schubert Quartet [In A minor, +published by Sander (F. E. C. Leuckart).] for one performer on +the pianoforte seems to me well done, though the 3rd bar of the +first Allegro should stand thus,-- + +[Here, Liszt illustrates with a musical score excerpt] + +because in the latter case the important E of the melody cannot +be held on, etc.-- + +I know the manuscript of an excellent arrangement of Schubert's D +minor Quartet for 2 hands, the author of which, a man of very +high standing, I do not today mention by name. But should you be +inclined to publish this Quartet (arranged for 2 hands on the +P.F.) I will gladly give you further particulars.-- + +By today's post you receive my last revision of Berlioz's +"Symphonie fantastique." I have added two remarks to the title +which I beg you to notice and adhere to. Thus "Piano Score"--not +"Arrangement."...Then it is absolutely necessary to insert the +whole programme of Berlioz, French and German, in your 2nd +edition (on the 1st page after the title-page). If necessary my +friend Richard Pohl will give you the original French text and +the translation. + +With sincere regard, yours in all friendship, + +F. Liszt + +Budapest, November 15th, 1867 + +P.S.--I keep the copy of the Witzendosf edition for a while, and +send you today only the Paris edition, together with the last +proof copy of the "Symphonie fantastique." + + + +201. To Breitkopf and Hartel + +November 23rd, 1876 + +Dear Sir and Friend, + +Before Herr W. Juranyi handed me your letter I had replied to the +earlier communication from your esteemed house with reference to +the same matter. + +Accept once again the assurance that I lay great stress upon the +continuation of our friendly relations, which have now existed +for 36 years. As far as this depends on me it shall never cease. + +Your letter contains two proposals:-- + +1. To recommend Wagner to sign a legal document. + +This is entirely opposed to my peaceable practices. + +2. To prepare an enlarged version of the transcription of the +"Tannhauser-March." + +Acquiescing in this, I will send you the day after tomorrow a +couple of pages of notes [musical] for the purpose of an enlarged +edition. I cannot decide whether these acquire a legal value, but +in any case they prove to you, dear Sir, my sincere readiness. + +My "Wagner-Transcriptions," by-the-by, were not in any way a +matter of speculation to me. Appearing at the beginning of the +fifties, when only the Weimar theater had the honor of performing +"Tannhauser," "Lohengrin" and the "Flying Dutchman," such +transcriptions only served as modest propaganda on the inadequate +Piano for the sublime genius of Wagner, whose radiating glory now +and henceforth belongs to the Pride of Germany. + +With high esteem most sincerely yours, + +F. Liszt + +Budapest, November 23rd, 1876 + + + +202. To the Music Publisher Constantin Sander + +Very honored Sir, + +You have rightly guessed that Herr von Keudell's "excellent" +transcription of Schubert's D minor Quartet is finished. It now +only remains for you to write to His Excellency, that you may put +this work in your window. + +Reubke has succeeded very well with the B minor Rondo of +Schubert, only, to my thinking, he should add the now +indispensable pedal marks to it. By the same post I send you his +manuscript together with a few remarks, and beg you to thank +Reubke for his friendly dedication, and also to compliment him +especially on the refined and beautifully effective carrying out +of the subject-- + +[Here appears notated four measures of the theme.] + +Yours most truly, + +F. Liszt + +Budapest, November 29th, 1876 + + + +203. To Vera Timanoff + +[First Tausig's pupil (also Rubinstein's for a little while), +from 1875 she studied every summer with Liszt as long as he +remained in Weimar. In 1880 she became pianist to the Court at +Weimar.] + +Dear Virtuosa, + +I telegraphed immediately to you at Laibach, to tell you to come +without ceremony. Your talent is such that it would convert even +the Turks, and I assure you that the audience at the Pest +concerts will be delighted to applaud you. As to the title which +you propose to take, I think it is too modest for you, but there +would be an excess of modesty on my part in saying anything +against it...so let us be reciprocally proud of it and don't let +us advertise it! + +A revoir soon,--and always + +Your affectionately devoted + +F. Liszt + +Budapest, November 29th, 1876 + +Be so kind as to give my most cordial regards to Monsieur and +Madame Bosendorfer. + + + +204. To Otto Reubke at Halle-on-the-Saale + +[Now Music Director at the University there] + +Dear Herr Reubke, + +Your Arrangement [of Schubert's B minor duet for pianoforte +alone] pleases me uncommonly. I beg you to notice the alterations +I have made on the accompanying sheet of music-paper. This +version is not quite so much like the original as yours, but, as +the great thing is to bring out a fortissimo, we may well allow +inaccuracies of this kind in favor of the performer and of +effect. + +You are requested to add to your excellent Arrangement of the +Schubert Rondo much pedal and some fingering, + +By your warmly attached + +F. Liszt + +Budapest, November, 1876 + + + +205. To Marianne Brandt, Kammersangerin in Berlin + +December 3rd, 1876 + +Dear honored Friend, + +What is always very pleasant and dear to me is your goodwill. +With my hearty thanks for it I send today the little notice. +"Jeanne d'Arc au bucher" ["Joan of Arc at the Stake"] came out a +few months ago at Schott's (Mainz). This short dramatic Scena can +be sung with either pianoforte or orchestral accompaniment. The +chorus is conspicuous by its absence. Johanna [Jeanne] alone has +to perform. N.B.--Only the second edition (published 1876) is to +be used; not the first, which also came out at Schott's 30 years +ago. Schott sent me no copy of it; it was too much trouble for +Berlin to correspond with Mainz via Budapest. Herr Capellmeister +Mannstadt [Now Capellmeister at the Court theater in Wiesbaden.] +will therefore be so kind as to order the "Johanna" (full score +and piano score) at Schott's, if you really have the goodness to +sing it. [It was done in honor of Liszt's presence in Berlin, +which was celebrated by the performance of some of his works.] +There might possibly be special feelings now in Berlin against +it, in spite of Schiller's Tragedy, "Die Jungfrau von Orleans." +Therefore think the matter over. + +For years past I have been mostly obliged to dissuade people from +the performance of my large works. The general public usually +goes by what is said by the critics, whose most prominent organs +among the newspapers are hostile to me. Why should I go into +useless quarrels and thereby compromise my friends? Peace and +order are the first duties of citizens, which I have doubly to +fulfil both as honorable citizen and artist. + +As for the rest, dear friend, if it suits you to sing any one of +my musical compositions, be assured of the sincerest thanks of + +Yours most truly, + +F. Liszt + + + +206. To the Committee of the Beethoven Monument in Vienna + +[From a copy by Dr. Mirus in Weimar] + +December 10th, 1876 + +Honored Gentlemen, + +Rejoiced to be able to help you, I will work with you with a full +heart and both hands in the concert for the Beethoven Monument. + +Allow me to answer your friendly remark about the performance of +Beethoven's Choral Fantasia thus,--that I should not think of +performing any other work at this concert than one absolutely +written by Beethoven, and consequently my share in the concert +programme will consist of the E-flat major Concerto. [It did not +consist of that. Liszt did after all play the Pianoforte Part of +the Choral Fantasia, Op. 80.] + +I beg you will kindly communicate to the honored Secretary of the +Committee, Herr Zellner, my hints with regard to the Beethoven +Scholarship in Leipzig. + +Accept, Gentlemen, the expression of my high esteem. + +F. Liszt + + + +207. To Eduard von Liszt + +Budapest, January 2nd, 1877 + +Dearest, Most Honored Cousin, + +I always remain faithful to thee in heartiest agreement with thy +thoughts and feelings. Every year brings us nearer to the +fulfilment of our hope in Jesus Christ the Savior! + +"He that endureth to the end shall be saved!"-- + +I am now quite recovered from my little attack. If there were +nothing worse in this world than sprained legs and physical +suffering, one could be quite satisfied. Moreover I belong to the +very favored and happy ones, even as regards physical suffering. + +There is nothing particular going on here which I need mention. +Four times weekly I have a class for pianists and pianistes, +native and foreign. Half a dozen of these distinguish themselves +and will be able to grow into capable public artists. +Unfortunately there are far too many concerts and concert- +players. As Dingelstedt quite truly said, "The theater is a +necessary evil, the concert a superfluous one." I am trying to +impress this sentence on my disciples of the Hungarian Academy of +Music. + +As you know, Budapest possesses three musical Institutions: the +Conservatorium (which has existed 36 years and counts several +hundred scholars), the Hungarian Theatrical School, and the new +and still small Academy of Music. An excellent younger friend of +mine, Count Geza Zichy, is president of the Conservatorium; an +older one, Count Leo Festetics, president of the Theatrical +School; and my humble self acts in the same position at the +Academy of Music, whose Director Franz Erkel and General +Secretary Abranyi proceed most zealously and judiciously. I have +only pleasant relations with them both, and the Minister Trefort +is already well-disposed towards me, because he knows that I save +him unnecessary annoyance and expense. Most likely the Academy of +Music will in two years' time be so flourishing that there will +be more to say about it; in the meantime let us study--and be +silent. .--. + +Heartiest greetings to thy family, and au revoir in Schottenhof +[Eduard Liszt's home in Vienna.] in the middle of March, on the +occasion of the "Beethoven-Monument Concerts." + +Thy + +F. Liszt + +The Christmas week has beggared me. Be so good as to send me very +quickly 500 gulden, for I have hardly 60 left. + + + +208. To Walter Bache + +Truly, dear Bache, you are a wonder-working friend. Your +persevering trouble, exertions, expenditure of time and money for +the production of my bitterly-criticised compositions in London +during the past fifteen years, are among the most uncommon +occurrences in the annals of Art. Once again heartiest thanks; +please also to thank Mr. Manns properly for his excellent +conducting of "Mazeppa." Things of that kind are awkward both for +conductors and performers. But how can one go on making music +with what is idly convenient, even when this is raised into +importance under the guise of being classical? + +Hueffer's translation of Wagner's letter pleases me. Friendly +greeting to Hueffer [Musical author in London, lately deceased] +and Dannreuther [Musician in London] from + +Your grateful and very devoted + +F. Liszt + +Budapest, March 9th, 1877 + +At the beginning of April I shall be back in Weimar. I am pleased +that you included the old "Loreley," with fresh orchestral +accompaniments, in your concert programme. Give my respectful +compliments to the friendly singer Mrs. Osgood. + + + +209. To Eduard von Liszt + +Weimar, July 3rd, 1877 + +Dearest Eduard, + +For some weeks I have been much on the go and disturbed in many +ways. Several musical performances occasioned me to go about in +the neighborhood. On the 17th June some portions of the "Christus +Oratorio" were splendidly sung in the Thomaskirche (Leipzig) by +the Riedel Verein. Last Friday "Elizabeth" came brilliantly to +the fore again in Eisenach, and yesterday Gille, my untiring +friend of many years' standing, arranged a large concert of +sacred music (with several items of mine), at which I was +present. + +I do indeed regret that I am not able to accept in person the +kind invitation of my beloved nephew Franz for his wedding-day. +It would be much better for me to be more with you +all!...Enclosed are a few words to Franz. Arrange for my proxy as +a witness at the marriage ceremony. Whoever is chosen by you will +be worthy and right to me: as for me I should choose my friend +Bosendorfer. + +I go the day after tomorrow to Berlin for two days; then I am +bidden farther and nearer till the end of July. I shall +respectfully announce to the Frau Furstin [Princess] my arrival +in Rome--beginning of August. Please send me here on the 20th +July the money for the journey, and something over--about 1200 +marks [about 60 pounds]. I must not have any other debts except +moral ones. Our name Liszt in the Hungarian language means Flour: +we will provide good wheaten meal "ex adipe frumenti" with thee, +Franz, and thy children. + +Truly devoted, + +F. L. + +.--. I shall visit you in the middle of November on the return +journey from Rome to Pest,--where I think of spending the winter, +as formerly. + +Heartiest greetings to your wife and Marie. + + + +210. To Ludwig Bosendorfer + +Honored Friend, + +You have been just as much a pianoforte maker as I have been, and +still remain, alas! an almost posthumous pianoforte player. + +My friend Berlioz asked: "Do you believe that I can listen to +music for my pleasure?" Nevertheless we intend to continue our +Music and Piano "for our good pleasure." + +Thanks for letter and telegram. + +Heartily devoted, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, July 12th, 1877 + + + +211. To Edmund von Mihalovich + +.--. In order to obtain this performance [Of Mihalovich's Opera +"Hagbar."] I think it necessary and indispensable (as I have +already told you) that you should lay a regular siege in person +to the Intendant, the Capellmeister, and the singers, male and +female, of the theater which you choose. + +The new serious Operas are now regarded with suspicion and are in +disgrace everywhere. Several trials have been made of them here +and there of late years. In the happiest of them the public +applauded warmly during the first performances, and abstained +from attending the following ones. Consequently the coffers +remained empty: ergo, it is the receipts which prove real +success. If Wagner's marvellous chefs d'oeuvre hold their own in +the repertoire, it is because they make money and continue to +draw even a large contingent of detractors. .--. + +Weimar, July 20th, 1877 + +Towards the middle of August I shall be in Rome, and shall stay +at the Villa d'Este until my return to Pest in November. + + + +212. To Kornel von Abranyi + +Weimar, July 28th, 1877 + +Honored Friend, + +Dear Secretary-General of the "Zene Akademia," [i.e. Academy of +Music of the Country.] Sincere thanks for your significant +communication, which I answer immediately, point by point. +[Abranyi had informed Liszt, as President of the Academy, of the +course of instruction (1877) and concerts, and had also asked him +for his opinion on several Art questions.] + +1. The conclusion of the year '77 with the examination concerts +(25 to 28 June--and the "Magyar Hangverseny" [An Hungarian +Concert.] on the 30th June) has been very gratifying. Let us +rejoice in the praiseworthy performances of Messrs. Juhasz, +Agghazi, Swoboda, and of the ladies Frau Knapp, Fraulein Lepessy, +[The above-mentioned were favorite pupils of the Master at the +Academy.] etc., in Counterpoint, Harmony, Composition, +Aesthetics, Hungarian music and the indispensable Piano-playing. + +The work best praises the Master: in like manner do the pupils, +when preparing themselves for pre-eminence, praise their teacher. +The "Zene Akademia" has not to work for the universally usual +kind of musical study, but has indeed a weightier, higher task to +fulfil. + +2. The publication of your "Academic lectures" I had especially +recommended to His Excellency Minister Trefort. "Suitable +teaching and departmental books" printed in the Hungarian +language are inaccessible. You, my honored Secretary-General, +have to look after that,--and the Minister will certainly support +your scientific-patriotic work for the use and benefit of +learners and teachers at the "Zene Akademia"--and further, in all +Hungary. + +3. As to the "Plan of classes in the department for Church music, +Singing and Organ," I can now only repeat my previously expressed +wish that the right and able person of good working capability +may be found for conducting these classes. Neither invalids nor +dabblers may officiate at No. 4, Fischplatz!--[Liszt's house, +and, for the time, the locale of the Academy.] If unfortunately +the right reverend Herr F. Witt should continue unable to fill +the post offered to him in Budapest, I shall propose that the new +director should come for a year on trial. And a complaisant sort +of Protection is thereby to be avoided, for the matter in +question is nothing less than the worthy thriving and culture of +Church music in Hungary. + +4. I consider as necessary the appointment of an experienced +Pianoforte Professor, one who is pushing forwards, and who will +be able to relieve our highly honored Director Herr F. Erkel of a +part of his very meritorious but excessive exertions. Meanwhile I +protest strongly against desiring to have a professorship without +salary. Fees with honor; judicious restrictions without beggarly +management; otherwise we shall come to grief. + +5. I beg that my "jubilee-stipend," entrusted to me in the most +honorable manner by the municipality of Budapest, may next year +('78) be apportioned to the same artists as this year. I will +gladly sign all the papers having reference to this. Looking +forward to the speedy appearance of your Study of Harmony, and of +the collected writings of our never-to-be-forgotten friend +Mosonyi, together with his biography and Abranyi's new +compositions, and greeting your laudable and persistent endeavors +in the cause of Art with sympathetic recognition, + +I remain, with best regards, yours truly, + +F. Liszt + +Next week I journey farther--shall be in Rome by the middle of +August--and in November in Pest, where I intend to spend the +winter again. Write to me in September: my address will be Villa +d'Este, Tivoli, (presso) Roma, Italia. + +I beg you to give the enclosed lines to Frau Knapp. + + + +213. To the Music Publisher Constantin Sander + +Very dear Sir, + +I shall have much pleasure in preparing the re-discovered +manuscript of the "Harold Symphony" (Score for Piano and Alto +[viola]) for the dress and in entrusting it to you. Send me the +manuscript soon, together with the original score of Berlioz, +which is necessary for the accurate revision of the arrangement. +My fee shall be a moderate one, as I am pleased that your firm is +going to publish this arrangement, which was finished in +Switzerland forty years ago. I would have made it public long +since, if the manuscript had not been lost. + +Sincerely yours, + +F. Liszt + +Villa d'Este, Tivoli (near Rome), September 5th, 1877 + +Please send with it a copy of the excellent Trio of Edward +Napravnik. My friend Sgambati will produce it publicly in Rome, +and make it a success. + + + +214. To Adelheid von Schorn at Weimar + +Dear and honored One, + +When one is at a loss what to say or write, well--one tries to +help oneself with music. Enclosed I forward you the song of your +noble-hearted mother: "Ach, was ist Leben doch so schwer!" [Ah, +why is life so burdensome!] My setting is so managed that you +will easily master it, as well in the singing as in the +accompaniment. [Published in the 8th book of Songs under the +title "Sei still" ("Be still")] + +Faithfully yours, + +F. Liszt + +Rome, September 15th, 1877 + + + +215. To Breitkopf and Hartel + +Honored Sirs, + +.--. May my slight share in your edition of Chopin's works, which +nearly all belong to your firm, be of use to you. I remarked +before how little really remains to be done to Chopin's +compositions, as he himself, with praiseworthy and exceptional +accuracy, added every possible instruction to the performer--even +to the pedal indications, which in no other author appear so +frequently.--Your collaborators will certainly find accuracy and +authenticity of the original text in Karl Klindworth's Moscow +edition of Chopin. I chose the "Etudes," because the first volume +was dedicated to me, and the second too for the matter of that +(at that time). I gladly dispense with a revision of both, and +beg you particularly, dear Sirs, not to expose me to an unseemly +rivalry. I will always maintain a most peaceful attitude towards +my honored colleagues, and, wherever they please, allow their +influence and opinion to have free play. + +According to your letter, you repudiate the idea of "an +instructive edition with other additions" of Chopin's works. Are +then the directions for fingering also to be omitted?...All the +more undisturbed will the leisure of the collaborators be.-- + +Last week I sent you the corrections of the "Triomphe funebre du +Tasse," as well as the "Impromptu." Tomorrow "Heroide funebre" +(for four hands) will follow, and very soon I am expecting the +"Hunnenschlacht," which completes all the arrangements for four +hands of the 12 "Symphonic Poems." A complete edition of them in +3 or 4 volumes (as you may judge best) will be a pleasure to me. + +In spite of the much criticising, ignoring, and denunciation, +which these things have had to suffer for 20 years, they are +perhaps not yet quite done to death. + +I beg you to add the Prefaces and Poems (French and German) to +the edition for four hands, as well as to the scores, and also to +the further editions for 2 pianos. The same with regard to the +transcription for piano of the "Triomphe funebre" (Italian and +German), because, as a matter of fact, a well-disposed programme +composer uses such hints more than is generally supposed. Of +course the dedication of the "Impromptu"--"a Madame la Baronne +Olga de Meyendorff, nee Princesse Gortschakoff"--must not be left +out. + +With distinguished respect, + +Your obedient + +F. Liszt + +Villa d'Este, September 26th, 1877 + +Till the end of October my address will be: 43, Via dei Greci, +Roma (Italia). From the middle of November: Budapest (Hungary). + + + +216. To Frau Ingeborg von Bronsart in Hanover + +Dear Kind Friend, + +I am much touched by your charming letter, and grieved at not +being able to accept your friendly invitation. That would +certainly be more agreeable than to attend to all sorts of +duties; but, since three parts of these are self-imposed, I am +all the more bent upon fulfilling them; and, in order to keep +faith with myself, I am returning to Budapest before the middle +of November, and shall remain there till April. Perhaps I am less +useless there than elsewhere; it is an idea or an illusion of +mine. + +What excellent and beautiful things the two Hans are going to do +at Hanover! [Hans von Bulow had been appointed Hofcapellmeister +in Hanover, where Hans von Bronsart was Intendant of the +theater.] It is a matter of lively joy to me, and next summer I +hope that my ears will benefit by the new musical regime all in +honor of Art, and the example of which will be of service and +bear fruit far and wide. + +Last week I forwarded from the author to your address a copy of +Sgambati's Quintet, dedicated to Bulow; and also a Fugue +(preceded by a grand Prelude and ending in a Chorale--the same +which Guido d'Arezzo made use of to name the six notes of the +gamut: "Ut queant taxis resonare fibris, etc.!"...One of the two +Hans will tell you the rest of the hymn, which is always chanted +on the 24th June, the feast of St. John the Baptist). + +Once on a time you used to cultivate fugues with maestria: will +that of Sgambati seem to you classical enough? I almost doubt it, +since in these matters your strictness is extreme. In consequence +of H.M. the Queen of the Netherlands being in mourning, the +"auditions" at the chateau of Loo do not take place this year. I +shall therefore go straight from here to Pest. + +Please give my love to your children, and believe me to be for +all time the heartily devoted friend of their papa and mamma. + +F. Liszt + +(Villa d'Este,) October 2lst, 1877 + + + +217. To Eduard von Liszt + +Dearest Eduard, + +.--. I am told that one or two newspapers announce that I am +going to Paris. I have no thought of doing so, and am moreover +very weary of travelling. What I should prefer would be to remain +firmly fixed in one place, it matters not what, village or city, +till my end, and to go on as quietly as possible with my work. As +this is not permitted to me, I try at least to avoid unnecessary +perambulations, do not go (in spite of various invitations) to +Paris or London, and keep within that already far too extensive +and troublesome triangle, Pest, Weimar, Rome!--So I shall again +spend the next four months here, and then, at the beginning of +April, pay you a week's visit. + +Write and tell me where my dear cousin Marie is. [She had shortly +before married Baron von Saar, an officer.] Is her husband +established in Wiener-Neustadt, and in what capacity? + +How are our Franz in Graz and his wife? + +Heartiest greetings to the Frau Generalissimus-Procuratorin +[Eduard v. L. had in December 1875 become General Procurator. +Liszt called his wife in joke "Generalissima" or "Generalin."] +from your heartily and faithfully affectionate + +F. Liszt + +Budapest (Fischplat 4), November 23rd, 1877 + +All friendly greetings to Bosendorfer. + + + +218. To Jules de Zarembski + +[A highly gifted pupil of Liszt, born in 1854 in Russian Poland, +died in 1885 at Brussels, where he was Professor in the +Conservatoire.] + +Dear Friend, + +Thinking that you would spend some weeks at Berlin, I sent the +day before yesterday a letter for you to our friend Bosendorfer, +begging him to have it punctually delivered to you. This letter +enclosed another, which you will remit to Paris to Madame la +Comtesse Taida Rczewazska. She promised me lately at Rome to take +an interest in your success at Paris, and I assured her that your +talent and intellectual gifts would not make her patronage +irksome. Therefore be careful not to give me the lie, and to show +yourself of an amiable disposition at Countess Rczewazska's. + +I forgot to ask her where she lives in Paris; but you will find +out without difficulty from some compatriot, or from other people +of the world, which is society. Enclosed are a few lines of +introduction to the illustrious, indefatigable and unageing +publicist, Emile de Girardin. They say of him in joke that he has +an idea every day. If he were to reach the age of Methuselah +ideas would certainly never fail him. + +At one time there used to be music in his salon; he understands +it quite as well as the late M. Thiers or the Marechal MacMahon. +However, if M. de Girardin invites you, play there, as I did when +I was last in Paris (in the year '66).-- + +An excellent recipe against unjust criticisms (of the kind like +that of M. X. which you quote to me) is to criticise oneself +thoroughly before and after--and finally to remain perfectly calm +and follow one's own road! + +Cordially yours, + +F. Liszt + +Budapest, December 13th, 1877 + +An enthusiastic account of your success at Vienna was given me by +Mme. Tony Raal, who yesterday evening played Tausig's +"Zigeunerweisen" admirably at a concert of M. de Swert. [A +Belgian violoncellist, recently deceased] + + + +219. To Madame Jessie Laussot + +Dear and most excellent Friend, + +Your "intrigues" are noble, salutary, beneficent, and would win +every advantage in the broad light of day. To take my part in +them, at your command, is one of my most agreeable duties. + +[Mme. Laussot was trying to obtain the nomination of Antonio +Bazzini, the excellent violinist and composer (born 1818), as +director of the Conservatoire at Milan, and begged Liszt to +support this choice through the German ambassador Baron Keudell +in Rome, which he did. Bazzini however did not at that time +receive the office, which he at present holds.] + +I sent my letter direct to Rome to Baron de Keudell +yesterday..--. Bazzini deserves the post of director of the +Conservatoire at Milan, which ought to be offered to him at the +first onset. + +Your most heartily devoted + +F. Liszt + +Budapest, January 29th, 1878 + +Our friend Mihalovich will give you news of Budapest. As +elsewhere, I am absorbed here in the most difficult of tasks--to +put up with myself. Happily I receive plenty of help; noble +friendships and dear and beautiful memories light up the path +which I still have to follow before I reach the grave. + + + +220. To Madame Jessie Laussot + +Dear and Excellent Friend, + +Under present circumstances (indicated in your note of this +evening) I doubt whether your just and noble efforts will attain +their end. [Refers to the as yet unsuccessful candidature of +Bazzini for the directorship of the Milan Conservatoire. See the +preceding letter.] + +Without pretending to Catonism, it is a good thing to attach +oneself to good causes, whether favored by the gods or not. + +"Victrix causa diis placuit."...So, if you are vanquished on the +battle-field between the Cathedral and the Conservatoire of +Milan, I shall remain on your side, in spite of my reasonable +leaning towards Caesar, and the lawful inheritors of his +idea,...not towards the others, please, because that would drag +me too low and roll me in the mire. + +From my heart your old servant and friend, + +F. Liszt + +Budapest, February 3rd, 1878 + + + +221. To the Music Publisher B. Bessel + +Dear Sir, + +You have been unusually parsimonious in only sending me a single +copy of the Ballade of Count Tolstoy. ["The Blind Bard." Liszt +wrote the melodramatic piano accompaniment to it (1874).] Allow +me then to make use of this copy to indicate the version which I +think should be put into the arrangement for piano (alone without +declamation). I add, the necessary notes and alterations, for you +to publish or not, as you think best, the version subjoined. I +have no claim to the sale of my wares, and am only manufacturing +them...for the honor of Castile!--Count Tolstoy understood this +sentiment; he only has to make a bargain: that is why I have sung +with Tolstoy his Ballade of the "Blind Bard," hoping too for +"peace" at last "for all noble boyars." [Slavonic noblemen.] You +sent me some other publications of your house: "six morceaux pour +piano" by Liadoff; they are pleasantly refined; and the "Russian +national songs edited by N. Rimsky-Korsakoff," for whom I feel +high esteem and sympathy. To speak frankly, Russian national +music could not be more felt or better understood than by Rimsky- +Korsakoff. His notation of the "popular songs" is most +intelligent and most musical; and the accompaniment and harmonies +seem to me admirably adequate. If you publish the version for +piano of "Tolstoy's Ballades" I beg you to send me the proofs +beforehand. + +A thousand affectionate compliments. + +F. Liszt + +Budapest, March 11th, 1878 + +Please send me in any case half a dozen copies of the "Ballade," +already printed, to Weimar, where I remain from mid-April till +the end of July. + + + +222. To Walter Bache + +Very honored and dear Friend, + +I have always to be thanking you; it is from my heart, and will +ever be so. + +The programme of your fourteenth "Annual Concert" is again an act +of courage; particularly in London, where my compositions meet +with all manner of obstructions--almost more than elsewhere, from +the Leipzig Gewandhaus down to many greater and smaller +Gewandhausler. + +It stands clearly written, a hundred times over, that I cannot +compose; without indulging in unseemly protests against this, I +quietly go on writing, and set all the greater store by the +constancy of some of my friends, particularly Walter Bache, for +the stout-* heartedness which till fourteen times fourteen he has +for so many years displayed. + +In the introduction to your fourteenth Programme F. Niecks +[Friedrich Niecks, Professor of Music at the University of +Edinburgh; the writer of the excellent work "F. Chopin as Man and +Musician"], a propos of F. Liszt, said very truly:-- + +1. "Form is an abstract idea." + +2. "A harmonic combination or progression may be against the +rules of a system," etc. + +3. "Programm-music is a 'legitimate genre of the art.'" [Portion +in quotes (' ') written in English by Liszt] + +Give Niecks my sincere thanks; also to Mr. Manns and +courtoisement Miss Williams [The well-known vocalist Miss Anna +Williams]. The "Funeral Pyre of Joan of Arc" will, I trust, have +done away with her coolness. + +With regard to the Tempi I am very yielding in my small pieces, +and gladly allow well-disposed artists to decide this. + +Sophie Menter-Popper was recently here and will probably (middle +of May) play in Sir Benedict's model monster-concert, which for +forty years has wielded the sceptre of London successes. Call on +my honored friend Sophie Menter--a rarely natural and excellently +schooled musical individuality. You will feel yourself quite at +home with her, and I told her this beforehand. Yours +affectionately, + +F. Liszt + +Budapest, March 19th, 1878 + +From the middle of April till the end of July I remain in Weimar; +later, at the end of August, I go again to the Villa d'Este. + + + +223. To Professor Dr. Ludwig Nohl + +Honored and dear Friend, + +Of the many pictures of the remarkable group of cypresses in the +Villa d'Este your brother's [Max Nohl, painter] beautiful +poetical drawing is my favorite. For the present of this and the +inscription on it I thank you most heartily. I attempted (last +October) to put down on music paper the conversation which I +frequently hold with these same cypresses. ["Au Cypres de la +Villa d'Este" [To the Cypress of the Villa d'Este). 2 numbers. +Schott, Mainz.] Ah! how dry and unsatisfactory on the piano, and +even in the orchestra,--Beethoven and Wagner excepted--sounds the +woe and the sighing [Das Weh and Wehen] of almighty nature!-- + +Nevertheless I will most modestly show you this Cypress-Memento +at the piano when we next see each other--I hope in Vienna, where +I am staying during the first week of April with my dear cousin +as usual. Afterwards I go to Bayreuth and Weimar. + +Sincerely yours, + +F. Liszt + +Budapest, March 20th, 1878 + + + +224. To Professor Dr. Siegmund Lebert + +Honored Friend, + +Quite excellent so. Let us divide the revision of the Cotta +edition of the 4-handed Schubert, and for your part look after +all the Sonatas, "Lebenssturme," Scherzi, etc.--If you wish it, a +few pedal marks. and fingerings shall willingly be added to the +Variations Op. 10 and 82. Send me both works to Weimar, with the +rest of Schubert's Waltzes for four hands, which show more +creative power than many big compositions--old or new. + +With the few Schubert pieces send me also the scopes of the +Beethoven Concertos and their accompaniments, arranged for a +second piano by Moscheles. My arrangement I will forward you at +the beginning of August. Meanwhile I beg you to give the Freiherr +von Cotta my most grateful thanks. + +Very respectfully yours, + +F. Liszt + +Budapest, March 27th, 1878 + +From the middle of April till the end of July I remain in Weimar. + + + +225. To Edmund von Mihalovich + +Very dear Friend, + +I most sincerely feel with you in your grief. "Non ignara +mali"...for I too have wept at the grave of my mother. + +A sad but well-written book, "Stello" ("Consultations of the +black doctor"), depicts the sufferings and death of three young +poets,--Millevoye, Andre Chenier, Chatterton,--gathered home +before they had acquired glory here below. + +In these moving pages of Alfred de Vigny he asks, "What is one to +think of a world which one enters with the hope of seeing one's +father and mother die?"...Prayer alone can answer this question. +Let us then pray our heavenly Father that His Will may be done on +earth as it is in heaven, and that the work of our life may be +ever conformed to the Divine Will. + +Ever yours, + +F. Liszt + +Bayreuth, April 13th, 1878 + + + +226. To Kornel von Abranyi + +.--. What could I write to you about Wagner's "Parsifal?" The +composition of the first act is finished: in it are revealed the +most wondrous depths and the most celestial heights of Art. + +Ever very sincerely yours, + +F. Liszt + +Bayreuth, April 14th, 1878 + + + +227. To Frau Ingeborg von Bronsart + +Dear Kind Friend, + +If you have not already done so, you will end by having a bad +opinion of your old and very affectionate servant. My share of +free locomotion is very limited. Having arrived at Weimar last +Wednesday I could not pack off again immediately without +inconvenience. I must therefore await a favorable week for my +Hanover wish. In May "Rheingold" is to be given here, and St. +Saens's "Dalila" again, which I wish to hear and see. Monseigneur +the Grand Duke assured me yesterday that this work made a success +at its first performances; and several people, who often hold a +contrary opinion, agree in their praises of "Dalila." + +From the 13th to the 15th June (Whit week) a Tonkunstler- +Versammlung is announced at Erfurt. It will seem pale as compared +with that of Hanover of last year; but I want to be present at +it, considering my unvarying interest in the work undertaken by +the late Brendel and bravely continued by Riedel and Gille. After +having said A, and even B and C, I ought to go through the whole +alphabet. + +Formerly, in the first period of your success, I had the pleasure +of applauding and admiring you at the old theater of Erfurt. Now +there is a new and very handsome one, I am told, with more than +1100 seats; besides that a new concert room which I do not know, +any more than I do the theater. I dare not invite you to favor +them with your presence, but if you should come with Hans it +would be charming. + +The next time I see X. I shall come upon him to show himself an +editor rather than a shopkeeper ("Kramer") in the little +negotiation of which you speak. + +A thousand sincere wishes for the finishing of "Hiarne" [The +Opera composed by Frau von Bronsart, which was given for the +first time in 1892 in Berlin with great success.] and my constant +and very devoted homage to the persevering composer. + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, Saturday, April 20th, 1878 + + + +228. To Eduard von Liszt + +Dearest and most honored Cousin, + +The accompanying copy of the Budapest telegram will tell you that +I must go to Paris probably at the end of May. I had indeed +refused several private invitations to visit the Paris +Exhibition; for years past both long and short journeys-unless +there is some special reason for them--have been inconvenient, +difficult and repugnant to me. It was on that account that I told +you and others of my having given up the collective-wonder of +Paris. + +Now the telegram from Trefort and Szapary (President of the +Hungarian Exhibition in Paris) alters my negative decision. +Without ever talking twaddle about patriotism, yet in all modesty +I will not be wanting where there is something to be done for +Hungary. + +[The telegram, dated 21st April, is as follows: "Abbe Franz +Liszt, Weimar. Universal wish that you should represent Hungary +in International Jury of Paris Universal Exhibition. Jury begins +on 1st June, lasts about 2 to 3 weeks. Please accept confidential +mission, and wire reply immediately to Presidential Bureau, +Handelsministerium, Budapest. Minister Trefort. Count Julius +Szapary." + +To this Liszt replied: "Most ready for service, Liszt begs for +full particulars of his duties."] + +As soon as my duty in Paris as an Hungarian Member in the +International Jury is fulfilled I shall return here. I have +promised to be present at the Tonkunstler-Versammlung in Erfurt +in the last week of June, and on the 8th July Weimar celebrates +the jubilee of the 25th year of the accession of the Grand Duke. + +.--. I shall be much pleased to make the acquaintance of Herr +Adalbert Goldschmidt. I have several times hankered after the +score or pianoforte score of his grand work "Die Todsunden" ["The +Mortal Sins"], which, so I am told, has not yet appeared in +print. Is the composer staying long in Hanover? Probably I shall +go to see Bulow and Bronsart there immediately after the Erfurt +Tonkunstler-Versammlung, at the end of June. + +You remember that I categorically dissuaded Fraulein Remmert from +giving an orchestral concert in Vienna. In spite of that she had +it announced and advertised,...and in the end there only came of +it a vexatious mancando, perdendosi! + +Ah! the artist-world is full of troubles! Thy faithful and +heartfelt-devoted + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, April 26th, 1878 + + + +229. To Hofconcertmeister Edmund Singer + +Dear Honored Friend, + +Your charming, gifted illustration of my little Quelle [spring] +[Liszt's "Au bord d'une source" (Annees de Pelerinage), for three +violins concertante (Schott, Mainz)] delights me anew. The three +violins flow, splash, bubble and sing--and sound like rainbow +colors. + +With friendly thanks for this Artist-gift, I remain your ever +respectfully obliged + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, May 10th, 1878 + + + +230. To Adolf von Henselt in St. Petersburg + +[The "German Chopin," as Henselt has been called (1814-1889), +lived in St. Petersburg from the year 1838, where, after Liszt's +first visit there in 1842, they became warm friends. Henselt sent +his "interpretation" of Liszt's Lucia-Fantasia to the latter "for +correction." The above letter is in answer to that.] + +My Honored Friend, + +The original works of Adolf Henselt's are the noblest jewels of +Art. One longs for more of them... + +By-the-by, when Henselt gives a hope of arranging, +"interpreting," "making an effect with" other compositions, he +succeeds so admirably that the public, + +the pianists, and the compositions in question are thereby +enriched and favored. Even my little "Lucia"-transcription has +gained much by throe "interpretation," dear friend. Hearty thanks +for this reminiscence of our Petersburg intimacy. + +The proof-copy I simply sent back to you, unaltered and nothing +crossed out, as all the various readings are admirably suitable, +and henceforth I leave it to your good pleasure to decide about +the publishing. (In Russia Hofmeister's German copyright holds +good, does it not? . . .) + +Tomorrow I go to Paris, and will observe there your +recommendation of the Russian instrument. + +Many of your admirers frequently tell me about you; above all +Zschocher and Topfer. You come backwards and forwards to Dresden +and Leipzig; why not also to Weimar?...Answer this modest +question in person here to throe old and most faithful + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, June 5th, 1878 + + + +231. To Eduard von Liszt + +[Weimar, June 6th, 1878] + +Dearest Eduard, + +Adalbert Goldschmidt has brought you Weimar news. I consider his +"Todsunden" a remarkable Art-work. If the composer maintains +himself on these heights in his next Opera his name will become +famous in spite of all the critics... + +Nowadays, more than ever, the public thirst for Opera alone. +Everything else in music is nonsense to them. There is a French +saying--"There is some one who is wittier than Mr. de Voltaire; +that is everybody"--and when all the world gets a fancy into its +head one must certainly consider it either reasonable, or +stupid,--but necessary-- + +With With regard to the delay of the Jury (Class 13, "Instruments +de Musique") I go to Paris next Sunday, 8th June, remain there +till the 19th, and return here on the 20th June on account of the +Erfurt Musical Festival... + +Thy faithful, loving + +F. Liszt + +To simplify our correspondence call me also "Dearest Franz." + +My Grand Duke much wishes to have the photograph of your son-in- +law's cousin, the poet Saar. Send me this speedily. + + + +232. To Professor Carl Riedel + +Dear Friend, + +The further carrying out and arranging of the Erfurt programme I +lease to your long-tried and complete mastery. + +I once more recommend Borodin's Symphony; the quartet parts that +are wanting can certainly be speedily written out next week (at +my expense). + +The study of the numerous works will offer no difficulties in +Sondershausen; there they are accustomed to step boldly forward. + +Friend Riedel conducts my 13th Psalm; Bulow undertakes the two +Faust-episodes (in case these are not struck out, as I did advise +you to do); and I retain the "Hungaria" and Bronsart's Concerto; +but for several reasons I beg that my name may not be put on the +programme as conductor. + +I told Concertmeister Kompel [A pupil of Spohr's; died not long +ago at Weimar] and L. Grutzmacher [Solo violoncellist] (the +Weimarer) yesterday that Bulow wishes to play the Bronsart Trio +with them. Both gentlemen are quite agreed about this. + +If Frau Erdmannsdorfer would play some other brilliant piano +piece (not of my composition), rather than the often-heard +Hungarian Fantasie, I should prefer it, just because the +programme already contains too many Liszt things, and I could not +myself bear the false appearance of making use of the +Tonkunstler-Versammlungen for bringing forward my compositions... + +My real feeling on this matter has been known to you for years +past.-- + +Early on Saturday, at half-past nine, I go direct from here to +Paris--and on the 2lst June arrives in Erfurt + +Yours ever with sincere esteem, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, Thursday, June 7th, 1878 + +My Paris address (from the 10th to the 18th June) will be: Maison +Erard, Rue du Mail, 13. + +Do publish the programme in the next number of the Zeitschrift; +two or three slight alterations will not matter in the least. + + + +233. To Vera Timanoff + +Dear illustrious One, + +I don't know how you will manage to adapt the "Sonnambula" to +your little hands; they will have to trot about on the roofs in +the style of somnambulists. + +A revoir, wide awake, the day after tomorrow,--and a thousand +affectionate and devoted regards. + +F. Liszt + +Thursday [Summer, 1878] + + + +234. To Eduard von Liszt + +Dearest Eduard, + +I have very little in the way of musical matter to tell you about +my stay in Paris from the 9th to the 18th June. I scarcely found +time to hear the two last acts of Gounod's "Faust" at the Grand +Opera. I was prevented from attending concerts by invitations and +visits elsewhere. But I was able to follow attentively the plain- +song during High Mass at Notre Dame on Trinity Sunday, together +with a very intelligent friend, R. P. Joseph Mohr (Societate +Jesu), a competent judge and promoter of Church music. + +Hanslick--who showed himself friendly to me in Paris--will report +in the Neue Freie Presse concerning the 13th class (musical +instruments, etc.), of which he is vice-president. + +Madame Erard placed at my disposal a princely suite in her house, +Rue du Mail, 13 (with which Spiridion [Liszt's valet] I was quite +satisfied); a carriage also in addition. Thanks to this +hospitality my expenses were very much diminished, and I only +required 1500 francs..--. + +My old friend Belloni has also proved himself most faithful this +time in Paris, and saved me many expenses. It is wonderful how +honest and disinterested he remains, with all his constant +contact with the artist-world!-- + +Immediately on my return I went to Erfurt for the Tonkunstlcr- +Versammlung (from the 22nd to the 25th July). The whole affair +went off well. I send you in addition the whole programme. Bulow +played in a marvellous and masterly manner. + +Everything in Weimar is now in a state of commotion over the +Ducal-Jubilee-Festivities, which begin the day after tomorrow. +The King of the Netherlands, the King of Saxony, Prince Friedrich +Carl of Prussia, several reigning German Dukes and foreign +Princes are expected. Our Emperor and King is sending Prince +Windischgratz with congratulations to the Grand Duke. Victor +Scheffel (the author of "Ekkehard," the "Trompeter von +Sackingen," the "Bergpsalmen," etc.) has written the Festival +Play, which is to be performed in the theater here on the 9th +July. My "Carl-Alexander" March, which was published 20 years ago +(by Bote and Bock) in Berlin, is to serve as Prelude. + +For 30 years past I have been incrustated into the Royal house of +Weimar, and shall remain faithful to it.-- + +My dearest cousin Marie wrote me a loving, witty note with +respect to the photograph of her cousin, Ferd. von Saar, which I +wanted for my Grand Duke. I will write my thanks to Marie +shortly. Send the accompanying lines to Franz in Gratz; I am +congratulating him, in them, that you are now grandpapa. + +Heartfelt greetings to the Generalissima. + +Thy + +F.L. + +Weimar, July 6th, 1878 + + + +235. To Robert Franz + +[A facsimile appeared in the "Musikalisches Wochenblatt." Liszt +worked untiringly, like no other of his contemporaries in art, to +make the great German Master of Song, Robert Franz (1815-1892), +understood and appreciated (See "Robert Franz." Gesammelle +Schriften, IV.); and, when increasing deafness prevented this +artist from practical musical work, Liszt founded the fund in his +honor.] + +My Much-Honored Friend, + +How beautiful, how deep, how fervently and truly finished are, +once more, your "Six Songs" (Opus 48)! + +Heartfelt thanks far so kindly sending them. You well know that +for thirty years past your genius--a fixed star in German lyrics- +-has been sincerely admired by your ever most faithful + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, July 12th, 1878 + + + +236. To Kornel von Abranyi + +Dear and Honored Friend, + +On arriving here yesterday evening I found your letter, together +with the enclosure to Minister Trefort, which I return +immediately to you, signed. Agghazy deserves to be helped, +because his hands and his head are very musically endowed. +[Agghazy (now teacher of pianoforte playing at Stern's +Conservatorium in Berlin) received a stipendium from the +Hungarian Government, through Liszt's intercession, in order to +make a livelihood in Paris.] Juhasz and he will certainly do +honor everywhere to the Budapest Academy of Music. Agghazy must +have some letters of introduction for Paris. Advise him to ask +for there from Minister Trefort, Ministerial-Counsel Hegedus +Friedrich Harkany and Count Geza Zichy. Before his departure I +will send him a few lines to Madame Erard, and to my loyal old +friend Belloni, who is ever ready to do me a service. + +I need scarcely ask, dear Abranyi, how you have passed your +summer. The chief thing is to hold out steadfastly, and you show +this in the noblest manner by your unwearied, meritorious +endeavors after the high goal of Art. "Perseverons!" + +I think of staying here till the beginning of January, and of +returning then direct to Budapest. First of all I must finish a +little extra work: as soon as the new setting of the text for the +dramatic Oratorio "Der heilige Stanislaus," which Baron +Dingelstedt has kindly promised me, comes to hand the composition +shall proceed. I am often quite anxious about further writing of +music, but I do not give it up, although I do not imagine at all +that I can express that which floats before my mind. But my self- +dissatisfaction finds ample consolation in the ever-fresh joy at +the master-works of the Past and Present:--most of all in +Wagner's majestic word-tone-creations. King Ludwig II. of Bavaria +rightly addressed "to the Tone-poet Master Richard Wagner."-- + +Hearty greetings to your family, and ever yours + +Sincerely and gratefully, + +F. Liszt + +September 13th, 1878 (Villa d'Este, Tivoli) + +The loss of Augusz touches me most painfully. Since the first +performance of the Gran Mass, more than twenty years ago, we have +been one in heart. He it was also who especially decided me to +carry out my wish to settle myself in Budapest. + +After the opening of the new Academical Course write to me about +it. + + + +237. To Eduard von Liszt + +Dearest Eduard, + +I give my heartiest thanks to the highly-honored friendly Frau +General for writing at your dictation. + +We take the heartiest interest here in your recovery. It is to be +hoped you are already on the best road to vigor. + +My dearest cousin Marie has now happily made me a great-uncle. +Enclosed are two words of thanks to Marie. + +I am now waiting for the new setting of the poem of "Stanislaus" +from Dingelstedt in order to take up my interrupted composition +again--I want at least a year and something over to finish it. + +Meanwhile I have not quite lost my time. In the last two months I +have completed a "Via crucis" (the 14 Stations) and pretty full +responses to the 7 Sacraments (for Chorus and Organ). I rejoice +[to think] that I shall play them to you on the 2nd April, '79, +at the Schottenhof. + +Thy faithful + +F. Liszt + +Rome, November 4th, 1878 + + + +238. To Freiherr Hans von Wolzogen in Bayreuth + +[The well-known writer on Wagner and publisher of the Bayreuther +Blatter] + +Highly-honored Baron, + +The October number of your Bayreuther Blatter brought me the +highest intellectual gift. [Wagner's Essay "The Public in Time +and Space"] No temporal ruler can bestow one like it. The +estimation of it lays me all the more under an obligation to that +true humility with which I have long and most devoutly paid +homage to our incomparable master, Richard Wagner. + +Accept my sincere thanks for the friendly words in remembrance of +the performance of the Dante Symphony in your house, and kindly +recall to the good graces of the Frau Baronin von Wolzogen. + +Yours most respectfully and devotedly, + +F. Liszt + +November 15th, 1878 (Villa d'Este, Tivoli) + + + +239. To Eduard von Liszt + +.--. I take a hearty interest in the improvement of your health. +You are the younger, the more sensible and useful of us two; +therefore you should outlive me many years in good health. + +I have been dreadfully industrious with my music-writing since +the middle of September. I sit and walk in it like one possessed! + +The "Via crucis" (now finished) has brought me back to a long- +cherished idea--namely, the composition of choruses to be made +use of at Church festivals during the giving of the 7 holy +sacraments; thus 7 pieces of music of about a hundred bars each. +These have now been 8 days at the copyist's, and, according to my +thinking, are not quite a failure. If you also think this it will +heartily rejoice + +Your most faithfully devoted + +F. Liszt + +November 2lst, 1878 + +[Tivoli] + +This evening I shall be in Rome, and will have this letter and +the signed enclosure attended to at the post. + +Hearty greetings and thanks to the dear Frau Generalissima. + + + +240. To Eduard von Liszt + +Budapest, January 22nd, 1879 + +Dearest Eduard, + +.--. On Sunday, the 12th January, His Holiness was so gracious as +to give me, for the second time, a private audience. I will tell +you shortly, by word of mouth, the friendly sentiments of the +Pope towards me. + +I spent last Wednesday evening in Gorz with Frau Baronin Augusz, +and arrived again at Fischplatz, No. 4., early on Friday. The +roof is already on the new Music Academy building, Radialstrasse, +and is said to look very well. In November of this year I shall +inhabit it. + +My friends in Budapest, Abranyi, Mihalovich, Count Albert +Apponyi, Count Geza Zichy and several others, are strongly and +heartily attached to me. Archbishop Haynald only comes to Pest in +the beginning of January. I was not caught in the other base +spider's web. "Honesty is the best policy!" + +Bosendorfer called on me yesterday and told me of the intention +of the Vienna Friends of Music to perform the "Gran Mass" at the +end of March. If Bosendorfer's intimations are correct I am not +disinclined to conduct this performance, although for many years +I have refused all such invitations--and only a little while ago +to London, Aix-la-Chapelle, Berlin, etc. I should be rejoiced if +at last the "Gran Mass" had a fair hearing in Vienna. + +A hearty greeting to Frau Generalissima from thy faithfully +devoted + +F. Liszt + +Looking forward to our speedy meeting at the end of March. + +[It did not come to pass. Councillor E. von Liszt died on the 8th +February, 1879. "It is for me a constant sorrow at the heart that +Eduard is no longer with us," wrote Liszt to the widow a year +after Eduard's death.] + + + +241. To Ludwig Bosendorfer + +Dear and honored Friend, + +I take your friendly hint by enclosing these lines to +Hellmesberger; please to give them to him. During many years, in +Vienna, Weimar and Budapest, Hellmesberger has always shown +himself kindly disposed towards me. In ingratitude there is, +alas, only too much rivalry; the matter grows contemptible, and +contemptible people like to find amusement in it. My nature +absolutely forbids me such despicable behavior. Count Geza Zichy +tells me, dear friend, that he expects you shortly. Perhaps you +will come with Hellmesberger to our Kunstlerabend [Artists' +Evening] here on the 7th March, when we shall be honored by the +fine composer and splendid virtuoso, my excellent friend, Saint- +Saens. + +Count Zichy writes you the rest about the Klausenburg journey. + +A hearty greeting to your wife. + +Truly devoted, + +F. Liszt + +Budapest, February 19th, 1879 + +I have just received Zellner's letter. Give him my hearty thanks +for it. + +Sophie Menter went to Warsaw the day before yesterday, and gives +a concert there tomorrow with her husband Popper,--and afterwards +in St. Petersburg, + + + +242. To Adolf von Henselt + +Very dear Friend, + +Hast thou still pleasure in beautiful, distinguished virtuoso +piano-playing? If so then go and hear the eminent pianiste Frau +Menter. She brings thee the hearty greeting of thy old friend + +F. Liszt + +Budapest, February, 1879 + + + +243. To Marie Lipsius + +My dear Friend, + +Hearty thanks for your dear lines of sympathy. The loss of my +cousin and most intimate friend Eduard von Liszt is a deep grief +to me. You wish for the dates of the Budapest and Vienna +concerts; for this I was obliged to ask the help of my excellent +friend Kornel Abranyi. He knows these and other things far better +than I. For ten years he edited the Hungarian musical paper, and +now officiates as General Secretary and Professor at the Royal +Academy of Music in Budapest, the Director being Franz Erkel, and +my humble self the President. + +Here is the result of Abranyi's researches, by which it is +evident that I have neither been idle nor used anything for my +own benefit. + +At the same time let it be mentioned to the praiseworthy and +amiable authoress of "Musikalische Studienkopfe," La Mara, that +since the end of '47 I have not earned a farthing by pianoforte +playing, teaching or conducting. All this rather cost me time and +money. + +Since the year '47 I only played in public twice in Rome--'63 and +'64--at the gracious command of Pope Pius IX.; often in Budapest +later on, twice in Vienna, once in Pressburg and Oedenburg (my +native town) as a child of the country. Nowhere else. May my poor +pianoforte performing at last come to an end! It has long been a +torment to me. Therefore--Amen!-- + +On the occasion of the celebration of their Majesties' silver +wedding I shall have the honor, in accordance with the invitation +of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde [Society of friends of +music,] of conducting the "Gran Mass" in Vienna on the 8th April +(the Tuesday before Good Friday). Performances of this Mass +(after the first at Gran in '56) took place in Pest, Prague, +Vienna, later in Leipzig and Amsterdam, in '66 in Paris, and +again in Amsterdam, as also in '77 in Weimar and Dusseldorf, the +latter under the conductorship of Ratzenberger. This Mass has +also been heard in America. + +In conclusion also the following memoranda for La Mara: Without a +written engagement, yet indeed morally bound, since '71 I spend +several months of every winter in Budapest, from April to July in +Weimar, then the autumn months, and more, chiefly in the Villa +d'Este near Rome, where His Eminence Cardinal Hohenlohe affords +me the kindest reception. There I wrote the "Christmas-tree," the +"Via Crucis," the "Responses to the Seven Sacraments," etc. These +three works are quite ready, and indeed beautifully copied, as +well as the "Cantico del Sole" of the marvellous St. Francis of +Assisi. Their publication troubles me little, for they are not +suitable to the usual musical customs and trade... + +So why bargain with them? + +I have only fragmentarily sketched the Oratorio "Stanislaus," but +wish to finish it, which will take at least a year. + +My "Technical Piano-Exercises"--improperly advertised in the +papers as "Pianoforte-School"--still require a few months for +revision and arrangement with fingering, etc., but could come out +next year if I have no hindrances. + +Accept, my dear friend, my sincere and grateful attachment. + +F. Liszt + +Budapest, March 2nd, 1879 + +The middle of April I shall be in Weimar again + + + +244. To Otto Lessmann + +My dear Friend, + +The enclosed programme proves to you that in spite of all fatigue +my invalided piano-playing still contributes in a small degree to +the relief of the sufferers of Szegedin. + +[According to the programme, Liszt played Schubert's "Funeral +March"; "To the memory of Petofi," and "Cantique d'Amour" of his +own composition, as well as, with Mihalovich, Schubert's +Fantaisie (C major) for two pianofortes.] + +To assist in other concerts than in this country would not become +me, and I have already declined many invitations of that sort +with excuses and thanks. + +For the celebrations preceding the silver wedding of their +Majesties I shall have the honor of conducting the "Gran Mass" in +Vienna on the 8th April ("Society of the friends of music"). + +To our speedy meeting in Weimar, and ever yours in all +friendship, + +F. Liszt + +Budapest, March 23rd, 1879 + + + +245. To Von Trefort, the Hungarian Minister of Instruction + +[From a copy in the possession of K. v. Abranyi.] + +Monsieur le Ministre, + +I learn through M. Abranyi that Your Excellency continues to show +your solicitude for the Royal Academy of Music at Budapest. The +work of this institution is to serve Art in Hungary, and thus to +help, in this connection, in making your patriotic, grand +intentions fruitful. My colleagues at the Academy of Music are of +one mind and devoted in their activity. + +I permit myself to recommend once more particularly to your +kindness M. Abranyi. He perseveres in his meritorious career as +writer, theorist, composer, translator, professor, and Magyar +character of the noblest stamp. The evidence of his merits will +assuredly be recognised in many languages by a heap of laudatory +phrases...after his death. A brilliant obituary is assured to +Abranyi, but I hope that Your Excellency will accord him the +modest satisfaction that he claims while he is alive. + +I have the honor to be, Monsieur le Ministre, your very humble +and very devoted servant, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, May 12, 1879 + + + +246. To Walter Bache + +Very honored, dear Friend, + +Hearty thanks for your letter and for letting me see Manns's +Commentary on the "Hunnenschlacht." Please give to Manns the +accompanying short explanation of the idea of my "Symphonic +Poem." In spite of my spending several hours in letter-writing +almost every day, it is impossible for me to be regarded as a +punctual correspondent. Intelligent and kindly-disposed persons +will excuse me, and the many others I can scarcely entertain any +longer, because I don't require any such entertainment! [Play +upon the words "wirthschaften" (to manage) and "Wirthschaft" +(housekeeping, or a public house] + +Next Whit-week "Tonkunstler-Versammlung" in Wiesbaden. On the 5th +June Bulow conducts the first concert there, at which Bronsart's +beautiful and valuable "Fruhlings-Fantasie," Billow's music to +Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar," and my "Faust Symphony" will be +performed. Bulow kindly plays the piano the same evening, and has +chosen Tschaikowsky's Concerto. Besides this his favorite pupil +Schwarz produces several "Etudes transcendantes." [By Liszt] Till +the middle of July I stay here. Then Bayreuth, and at the end of +August Villa d'Este. To Frau Jessie Hillebrand and her husband +[who were just then in London] give heartfelt and faithful +devotion, with respectful thanks, from + +Theirs in old friendship, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, May 25th, 1879 + +[The explanation, accompanying this letter, of the idea of the +"Hunnenschlacht" is as follows:] + +Kaulbach's world-renowned picture presents two battles--the one +on earth, the other in the air, according to the legend that +warriors, after their death, continue fighting incessantly as +spirits. In the middle of the picture appears the Cross and its +mystic light; on this my "Symphonic Poem" is founded. The chorale +"Crux fidelis," which is gradually developed, illustrates the +idea of the final victory of Christianity in its effectual love +to God and man. + + + +247. To Ludmilla Schestakoff + +Madame, + +Your illustrious brother Glinka is one of the well-chosen +admirations of my youth. His genius has been known to me ever +since the year 1842; and at my last concert in St. Petersburg (in +'43) I played the "Marche tscherkesse" from "Russlan and +Ludmilla," and a brilliant transcription by Vollweiler of several +themes from the same Opera. + +Glinka remains the Patriarch-prophet of music in Russia. + +With my sincere thanks to you for sending me the beautiful score +of "Russlan," carefully edited and well arranged by Messrs. +Rimsky-Korsakoff, Balakireff and Liadoff [The score was published +in 1879.], I beg you to accept, Madame, the expression of very +respectful homage of your very humble servant, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, June 14th, 1879 + + + +248. To Alexander Borodin, Caesar Cui, Anatolie Liadoff and +Nicolas Rimsky-Korsakoff in St. Petersburg + +Very Honored Gentlemen, + +You have done a work of serious value under the form of a jest. +Your "Paraphrases" charm me: nothing can be more ingenious than +these 24 Variations and the 16 little pieces upon the favorite +and obligato subject + +[Here, Liszt writes a 4-bar musical score excerpt of the main +theme of the 24 Variations] + +In short, here we have an admirable compendium of the science of +harmony, of counterpoint, of rhythms, of figuration, and of what +in German is called "The Theory of Form" (Formenlehre)! I shall +gladly suggest to the teachers of composition at all the +Conservatoires in Europe and America to adopt your "Paraphrases" +as a practical guide in their teaching. From the very first page, +the Variations II. and III. are true gems; and not less the other +numbers continuously, up to the grotesque Fugue and the "Cortege" +which crown the whole work gloriously. Thanks for this dainty +feast, gentlemen, and I beg that when any one of you brings out a +new composition he will let me know it. My most lively, my +highest and most sympathising esteem has for many years been +assured to you; pray accept also the expression of my sincere +devotion. + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, June 15th, 1879 + + + +249. To Capellmeister Professor Jos. Bohm in Vienna + +Honored Herr Vereinsleiter [Conductor of a Verein (Society)], I +follow your edifying endeavors in the Cacilien-Verein with +sincere interest. It seems singular that they should stumble on +obstacles. What is in question? Innovations?...By no means. The +noblest Conservatism remains the essence and aim of the Cacilien- +Verein; it merely demands a serious study and proper performances +of the most dignified classical authors in Church music, +Palestrina and Lassus at the head. Nothing can reasonably be +objected to this, and you may confidently maintain, dear sir, +that "recognition must take place and the good cause prove +victorious." + +I beg you will put down my name as a subscriber to your "Vienna +journal for Catholic Church music," [Professor Bohm was at that +time the editor of it, and had invited subscriptions for a +monument to the musical historian Ambros.] and have the numbers +which have already appeared addressed to me in Weimar. + +Be so good as to employ the enclosed hundred florins for the +gravestone of my highly esteemed friend the late A. W. Ambros. + +Yours with all esteem, + +F. Lizst + +Weimar, June 22nd, 1879 + + + +250. To Vera Timanoff + +A hearty welcome to you, Illustrissima, and pray tell M. Sauret +that I shall be delighted to make closer acquaintance with him. I +greatly admired his superb talent in Vienna.--You know my rule +never to bother anyone, and least of all artistes; but if M. +Sauret should feel inclined to play something at the Hofgartnerei +this morning, it would give me great pleasure. + +In any case I invite him to come (at eleven) with you, and I +shall request you to fulfil your promise of captivating us by +your performance (not by dancing, but by your superior fingering) +of Rubinstein's Ballet, "Feramors." + +Yours affectionately, + +F. Liszt + +Sunday Morning [Summer, 1879] + + + +251. To Adolf von Henselt + +Very dear friend, + +Our meeting once more is a cordial pleasure to me. According to +your last letter, you purposed arriving on the 19th inst. Why +delay? Still, arrange it entirely according to your own +convenience. Only allow me to make one observation: on Wednesday +evening, 23rd July, I am invited by somebody where a refusal +would be wrong and stupid. But if you were favorably inclined, +our extra three-handed whist might be quite well arranged at the +house of this somebody. + +[Henselt was in Weimar the 19th and 20th July. "We played +together, not on the piano, but certainly half a dozen games of +whist, of which I fortunately lost five at least," wrote Liszt to +Fraulein von Schorn.] + +Your version with the grace note [passing note?] B flat pleases +me best. + +[Figure: musical example, two bars] + +[The two bars of music refer to C. M, v. Weber's "Episodic +Thought," which Henselt had transcribed for piano and amplified; +he published it in March, 1879, dedicating it to "his friend +Franz Liszt." Henselt at first meditated calling it "Hymn of +Love." But Liszt found the term rather too highflown for this +favorite melody. "Episodic thought is more suitable," he wrote, +and so that title remained.] + +In expectation of seeing you, and in faithful and admiring +friendship, + +Weimar, July 12th, 1879 + +F. Liszt + + + +252. To Dr. Siegmund Lebert + +Dear friend, + +I keep a long-standing promise today, by sending you the 3 last +Concerti by Beethoven arranged for 2 pianos. This arrangement is +distinctly different from all other existing arrangements of the +same Concerti for 2 pianos. Till now it has been the habit of +arrangers to content themselves with setting the Tutti (or +better, the orchestral parts) for the 2nd piano only, leaving the +1st to rest entirely or to support the 2nd according to +inclination. By this a grievous disproportion in the effect of +the orchestra parts is induced, let alone the fact that some of +the arrangements are exceedingly scanty. + +In my opinion this sort of proceeding belongs to the past and is +hackneyed. What good is there it the first player sitting there +at all, if he does not know how to take part in the whole? Ergo, +I had to occupy him almost constantly. + +As a matter of course I have not altered a single note of +Beethoven's original version (of the so-called Soli parts), and +have only added a tolerable amount of indications for pedal and +fingering, for the convenience of pupils and teachers. + +2 identical copies (printed on 4 lines--excepting the Cadenzas) +are necessary for the performance of this arrangement. + +It may prove useful and effective, as well in studing at the +"homely fireside" and in musical schools, as also in performances +in small concerts (where there is no orchestra), in +Conservatoires, at examination: and drawing-room performances. + +The chief title stands on the first page; on the 2 following ones +are remarks for the printer, which I leave to your masterly hand +as a pedagogue, dear friend, to render more distinct and to +complete. With special regard I remain always yours sincerely, + +F. Liszt + +Rome, September 25th, 1879 + +I have great pleasure in the perusal of the 2nd edition of +Weitzmann's "History of Pianoforte Playing." + + + +253. To Professor Bassani in Venice + +[A well-known teacher of the pianoforte in Venice, and friend of +Liszt's] + +Much-esteemed Colleague, + +You are so forcibly exceptional a person, and prove this by truly +uncommon musical and poetical works. + +Mademoiselle Giuli has already written to tell you the lively +pleasure I have had in hearing her play one of your compositions +remarkably well; several others, for piano or for the voice, +deserve a similar success, and will obtain it as soon as they are +known. + +Pray accept, dear Monsieur Bassani, the very sincere esteem and +sympathy which is offered to you, together with best wishes for +the extension and widespread fame of your "Armonie dell' Anima," +by + +F. Liszt + +(Villa d'Este) October 28th, 1879 + + + +254. To the Composer Anatolie Liadoff in St. Petersburg + +Dear Sir, + +All your compositions bear the stamp of distinction and of good +taste. This one is charmed to find again in the "Arabesques" you +are kind enough to send me. Pray accept my thanks and the +expression of my very sincere and devoted esteem. + +F. Liszt + +(Villa d'Este,) December 25th, 1879. + + + +255. To Frau Reisenauer-Pauly in Rome + +[The mother of Liszt's pupil, Alfred Reisenauer] + +Dear Madame, + +My best thanks for your kind notice of the Roman concert of +January 23rd. It seems to me that "populations necessiteuses" +[distressed population] would have been better on the programme +than "populations affamees" [starving population] of Silesia. + +Mendelssohn's excellent Concerti always hold their ground without +risk, especially since Berlioz's witty article (published nearly +30 years ago), according to which they are occasionally performed +by the pianos alone, without further trouble on the part of the +pianist. + +While taking affectionate part in the success achieved by your +son Alfred, whose talents are duly valued by me, I remain, dear +Madame, + +Yours truly, + +F. Liszt + +Budapest, January 30th, 1880. + +My cordial greetings to Madame Helbig. + + + +256. To Professor Klindworth in Moscow + +Much-esteemed dear Friend, + +My sincere thanks for your masterly arrangement of Chopin's +Concerto. [The Concerto in F minor; score, orchestral parts and +arrangement for 2 pianos published by Jurgenson (Moscow) and Bock +(Berlin).] You showed me the first movement of it some years ago +in Munich. I consider the modifications in the instrumentation +and in the piano part successful. As much transparency as +possible should be preserved in the melodious parts. + +I conclude that you will impress on M. Jurgenson the necessity of +not giving way to the ancient careless abuses of publishers in +the 2-piano edition. Thus four lines and two identical copses are +requisite for performance. + +As leader and head of the now numerous Chopin-Editors, your +excellent Jurgenson-Edition authorises you to advance a proudly +modest "Sic vos non vobis." + +Au revoir this summer in Hall, dear Klindworth. Give my kind +regards to your wife. + +Yours faithfully, + +F. Liszt + +Budapest, February 16th, 1880 + +The last corrected proofsheets of Tschaikowsky's Polonaise +dedicated to you leave by today's post addressed to Jurgenson. + + + +257. To the Kammervirtuoso Professor Hermann Scholtz in Dresden + +[Pianist and composer (born 1845, pupil of Bulow and +Rheinberger), is especially famous as an admirable player of +Chopin.] + +Much-esteemed Sir and Friend, + +I have sincere pleasure in praising and recommending your Chopin- +Edition. To Klindworth belongs the merit of having preceded you +by his intelligent and practical work. Your publisher, Peters, +might be advised in the next thousand copies he issues of the +Chopin-Edition signed Hermann Scholtz:-- + +A. Not to fill up the first volume with Waltzes. Why make this +paltry concession to the trifling requirements of the drawing- +room? Chopin's Waltzes are certainly charming, elegant and full +of invention...still his Polonaises and Mazurkas have a far +higher importance. + +Chopin is the bewitching musical genius in which the heroically +chivalrous Polish nationality finds expression. This chief +characteristic ought to be distinctly emphasised in classifying +his works. So, first volume: Polonaises, Mazurkas and the +Fantasia upon Polish motives. + +B. The clear notation of the melodies (indicated by tails turned +upwards!), as in the Klindworth-Edition, should be maintained. + +C. In works having an orchestral accompaniment an arrangement of +that accompaniment for a second piano ought to be printed under +the Solo part of the first piano. + +(The brains of most pianists become addled by the usual editions, +where the essentially melodious and rhythmical character, nay +often even the correct bass, is wanting.) + +D. This is again addressed to Mr. Peters. He ought not to +withhold from the audience your admirable version of the +Recitative in the Adagio of the F minor Concerto for Piano Solo, +and should add these few pages to your Chopin-Edition. + +Yours faithfully, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, April 29th, 1880 + + + +255. To Sophie Menter + +Dear Friend, + +The signature of the telegram front Rome announced to me your +return to "Hungaria." I met friend Bosendorfer the day before +yesterday in Frankfort: we began at once of course to talk about +Sophie Menter and her new thickly-leaved Petersburg laurels. +Similar plants will bloom for you everywhere according to the +capacity of the soil, and will always shade your artistic +peregrinations through Europe and America. + +Give my kindest regards to Neuschul, from yours cordially, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, May 26th, 1880 + + + +259. To Jules de Zarembski + +Dear Friend, + +You have made an excellent choice; and M. Gevaert also. The +Brussels Conservatoire keeps in the first ranks: its very active +and intelligent Director will take good care not to allow it to +degenerate or to sink into idleness; on the contrary, he gives +and will give it an entirely progressive impulse. You will have +to see that your piano class does honor to the Conservatoire, to +its head and to your own name. This will take some years to do; +therefore, persevere. + +Your three studies are most uncommon, remarkable and successful. +The second, in F minor, might be signed Chopin. This exceedingly +high praise does not imply that you have in any way been guilty +of plagiarism, for in your works original power is manifest. + +Perhaps there may be a slight falling-off towards the middle of +the third Study; still this does not disturb the total good +impression. + +When we are chatting together again about music I will explain to +you viva voce my antiquated ideas concerning the whys and +wherefores of matters belonging to our profession. + +I am sending Simon at Berlin at once the good copy of your three +Studies. He has sent me the rather bad one of your Mazurkas for +two performers. These I played over with the Baroness von +Meyendorff yesterday evening. She begs me to tell you our very +favorable opinion of these charming productions of your Polish +muse. + +I am telling Simon that publishers cannot do better than bring +out works of value such as Zarembski writes. + +Pray, dear friend, present the sincere regards to Mme. Zarembska +of your cordially attached + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, June 1st, 1880 + +I am just sending off the copies of the Studies and Mazurkas to +Simon. + + + +260. To Professor Bassani + +Dear Friend, + +Your "Studio sinfonico" is fine poetry in music. It reminds me of +Venice when I was twenty. The solemn, sad motive (5/4) +corresponds to the lagoons and to the gloomy stroke of their +waves round the Bridge of Sighs: the other subject soars on high +accompanied by the gentle sound of the belfries, announcing, as +it were, from a distance the joyfulness of divine hopes. + +My cordial sympathy and friendship. + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, June 4th, 1880 + + + +261. To Marie Lipsius + +Dear Friend, + +Hearty thanks for your persistent kindness; "Carmen" has just +arrived, and I now beg you to find out for and send to me another +tale of Merimee's, called "Les ames du Purgatoire" [Souls in +Purgatory]. It narrates the adventures of Don Juan de Marana, +immortalised by Mozart and Lord Byron. Grabbe has also turned his +poetical attention towards this mauvais sujet, and gives him as a +companion to Faust, which might perplex His Excellency von +Goethe. + +I hope soon to see you either in Leipzig or Weimar. + +Ever yours gratefully, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, June 10th, 1880 + +Tomorrow I shall write to Hartel's that the edition of my +"Gesammelte Schriften" could not do better than begin with your +excellent version of the "Chopin." + + + +262. To Kornel von Abranyi + +Highly Esteemed Dear Friend, + +My hearty thanks for the dedication copy of your charming +"Nocturnes." "Near the chapel" and "Starry night" belong to my +most select intimate Programme. + +Aladar Juhasz needs but health to stand forth and hold his own as +an excellent artist, virtuoso and composer. The matter of his +stipend is now arranged--as we wished it. Juhasz will certainly +also greatly distinguish himself at the Klausenburg Musical +Festival. My lines of introduction to Trefort, the Minister, must +no longer be presented to His Excellency as mustard after dinner. +The less scribbling and gossiping the better. "Vitam impendere +vero."-- + +I request that the two accompanying letters in Hungarian may be +answered by the General Secretary of the Royal Hungarian National +Academy of Music, Abranyi Kornel, in my name. Before I left +Budapest we read together the polyphone tattoo by J. K., and I +then requested you to make the composer understand that +Meyerbeer's far-famed "Rataplan, Rataplan, plan, plan" (in the +"Huguenots") is quite enough henceforth for the audience. + +Do not delay any longer returning his score to J. Beg Herr P. A. +to excuse me for not being a millionaire. + +Till the end of July remains in Weimar Yours most faithfully and +gratefully, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, June 20th, 1880 + + + +263. To Freiherr Hans von Wolzogen + +Highly esteemed Freiherr and Friend, + +.--. Wagner has shown and taught us triumphantly "what style is." +You explain the mighty matter admirably in your last writing, +dear Sir. That a "School for the culture of style in Bayreuth" +should be established, is wished by no one more seriously than by + +Yours most sincerely, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, July 28th 1880 + + + +149. To Friedrich Hofmeister, Music Publisher in Leipzig + +Weimar, August 17th, 1880 + +Dear Sir, + +For the last twenty years or more Kirchner has known how +sincerely I esteem his compositions. I rejoice to see that he +continues adding to their number with freshness and vigor, and am +much obliged to you for sending me his "Toys," "Caprices," +"Leaves," etc., which you have brought out. + +Yours truly, + +F. Liszt + + + +265. To Baroness Helen Augusz, Sister of Mercy in Graz + +[Daughter of Liszt's late friend, Baron Anton Augusz, of Szegzard +in Hungary] + +Most revered Sister of St. Vincent de Paule, + +Pray always dispose of my feeble services. I am writing to the +Baroness de Roner according to your instructions, and request +that you will send her the enclosed lines. + +M. Tirindelli's [Professor at the "Liceo Marcello" in Venice; +violinist and composer.] abilities deserve attention, +consideration and encouragement. This you have well understood, +and it will be a pleasure to me to second you. + +How can I be of use to him? + +By recommending him to some publisher in Germany? + +Does he intend to travel and give concerts? Your protege, M. +Tirindelli, may count upon my sincere readiness to oblige him: +the only thing I ask is, that he should write me distinctly in +what way I can be of service to him. Yesterday I took the liberty +of noting several alterations in his melody "All' Ideale," his +Mazurka, and in the Adagio of the Trio which pleases you by its +fine feeling. + +By the way, this Adagio has been so badly copied that another +less faulty one will have to be made before sending it to print. +By this same post you will receive the three works with my +alterations. + +Having arrived here last Saturday, I shall remain at the Villa +d'Este till New Year. In the middle of January will return to +Budapest + +Your very respectful and devoted servant, + +F. Liszt + +Rome, September 1st, 1880 + +The most convenient address for me during the next months is: +Albergo a Via Alibert, Roma. + + + +266. To Madame A. Rubinstein + +Allow me, dear Madame Rubinstein, to dedicate to you my +transcription of your husband's charming and very famous Lied. To +the very conservative burden "Ach! wenn es doch immer so bliebe" +[Ah! could it remain so for ever!] I add that what will certainly +always remain as now is, your most respectfully and +affectionately obedient servant, + +F. Liszt + +(Villa d'Este,) October 24th, 1880 + + + +267. To Frau Amalie von Fabry in Budapest + +Dear Madame, + +I do not know whether I talk too much; but I certainly write too +little to those who remain constantly in possession of my sincere +gratitude. I crave your kindly indulgence therefore for my +involuntary shortcomings. + +Through your nephew Imre [Baron Augusz, son of Anton Augusz. He +died at an early age.] I hear that his mother, Baroness von +Augusz, has been so good as to look at my new dwelling in the +Academy of Music, and that the arrangement of it, as yet unknown +to me, meets her approval. The solicitude you have shown, Madame, +in this matter--as well as in other similar ones in the +Palatingasse and Fischmarkt during the last 8 years--I beg to +acknowledge with warmest thanks. It never enters my head to make +exaggerated pretensions with regard to my residential +requirements. Decency without display continues to be the right +thing for me. I only have one wish at all times: never to be a +trouble to my friends anywhere. + +It will be agreeable to me if Fanny feels disposed to undertake +my modest household service again this winter. She adapts herself +well to it with her pretty smiling face. + +Pray accept, dear Frau von Fabry, the renewed expression of my +old devoted affection. + +F. Liszt. + +Villa d'Este, Tivoli, November 1st, 1880 + +On the 15th January I shall again arrive at Budapest. + + + +268. To Frau Anna Benfey-Schuppe + +[Autograph belonging to Herr Fritz Donebauer at Prague.--The +addressee is an authoress residing at Weimar.] + +Dear Madam, + +A thousand apologies. I ought long ere this to have written you +and my esteemed friend, Dr. Benfey, a letter of thanks, and to +have sent your sheetful of questions back answered. [The answers +follow in the letter.] Pray excuse this delay.-- + +I frankly confess that the title of the pamphlet, "Beethoven and +Liszt," [Alludes to a pamphlet contemplated by the late husband +of the lady addressed.] at first frightened me. It called to my +mind a reminiscence of my childhood. Nearly fifty years ago, at +the Jardin des Plantes in Paris, I used often to notice a +harmless poodle keeping company in the same cage with a majestic +lion, who seemed to be kindly disposed towards the little +chamberlain. I have exactly the same feeling towards Beethoven as +the poodle towards that forest-king. + +With sincere thanks and regards, + +Yours, F. Liszt + +November 11th, 1880 (Villa d'Este, Tivoli) + +At the end of September, Breitkopf and Hartel sent my own duet +arrangements of my twelve "Poemes Symphoniques" at my request to +Gottschalg (Weimar). This copy is intended for Dr. Benfey. +Gottschalg will likewise willingly place the scores of the +"Dante" and "Faust" Symphonies, as well as the arrangement for +two pianos of both these works, at your disposal. + +The names of the greatest performers figure in the Court +concerts, such as, Joachim, Ernst, Vieuxtemps, Bulow, Rubinstein, +Bronsart, Tausig, Madame Viardot-Garcia, etc., etc. A few of +these concerts were conducted by Berlioz, and their programmes in +every case contained nova et vetera (as prescribed in the +gospel). + +During my direction of the Opera at Weimar, from '49 to '58, the +following works were performed there, together with the standing +repertoire of Mozart's, Weber's, Rossini's, Meyerbeer's Operas, +etc. + +February '49 "Tannhauser;" August 28th, '50, "Lohengrin" (first +performance); later on "The Flying Dulchman," and Wagner's +splendid edition of Gluck's "Iphigenia in Aulis."--Berlioz's +"Benvenuto Cellini;" Schumann's "Manfred" (first performance), +Raff's "King Alfred," two of Lassen's Operas, Spohr's "Faust" +(with the recitatives), Sobolewski's "Comala," Dorn's +"Nibelungen" (first performance), etc., etc.--Finally, Peter +Cornelius' "Barber of Bagdad"--the last operatic performance +which I directed there. + +This short list will suffice for your purpose of the pamphlet; to +it we may add that several Oratorios and Symphonic works were +performed under my direction, such as Marx' "Moses," Rubinstein's +"Paradise Lost," Schumann's "Paradise and the Peri" and his +concluding scenes in "Faust," etc.; as for Symphonies, the Great +Pyramid--Beethoven's "Ninth" (for Goethe's Jubilee in '49), +nearly all Berlioz's Symphonies and Overtures, besides other +Symphonies and Overtures by Schumann, Raff, Hiller, Bronsart, +Joachim, Bulow, etc., most of which were at that time scarcely +known or entirely new. + +You might obtain better and more detailed information concerning +musical life at Weimar (from '49 to '58) from some who took part +in it either as performers or friends, especially Gille, Lassen, +Gottschalg, Grosse (trombone-player and contrapuntist), +Wahlbrull, Milde and his wife, and Fran Dr. Emilie Merian, than +from the theater archives. + +I have no doubt, moreover, that the present Intendant, Baron +von Loen, will readily permit you to inspect the archives of the +theater and see any programmes of the Court concerts of that time +which may still be forthcoming. You may likewise count upon the +obliging readiness of Lassen and Muller-Hartung in making your +pamphlet known. + +During my summer stay in Weimar in latter years, some pianists +have taken to coming there regularly who play my Symphonic Poems +well and willingly. I am not able to name any of those who come +during the winter. Ask Lassen and Muller-Hartung about this. +Enclosed you will find an introduction from me to Madame Merian. +She sings my songs with fervent intelligence, from heart to +heart. + +F. Liszt + +November 11th, 1880 (Villa d'Este) + + + +269. To the Committee of the Antwerp Musical Society + +Very Honored Gentlemen, + +The expression of my sincere gratitude for your very kind letter +has been delayed owing to a circumstance which was independent of +my will. + +I am acquainted with the high character which the Antwerp Musical +Society bears; many of those who were present at your Festivals +in 1876, '77, and have spoken to me in the liveliest terms of +praise of those great musical performances, of the far-famed +merits of your director, Peter Benoit, of his Rubens Cantata and +of his Oratorio [La Guerre, De Oorlog.] recently sung at Brussels +on the occasion of the national commemoration by 900 members of +your Society. Greatly flattered by your invitation, I hope, +Gentlemen, that my answer to it may not appear discourteous to +you. Allow me to decline the honor of directing the Festival you +have in view for 1881 and to be present at it as a simple +listener. Should any work of mine have been admitted to your +programme, I would fain request M. Peter Benoit [One of the chief +representatives of Belgian national music (born 1884), Director +of the Antwerp Conservatoire] to conduct it, since for the last +fifteen years I have declared myself unfit for this work in all +countries. + +My engagements keep me at Budapest till Easter. After that time I +shall be charmed to have the opportunity of assuring you again +personally at Antwerp of the sentiments of high consideration and +distinguished esteem with which I remain, + +Yours faithfully, + +F. Liszt + +November 16th, 1880 (Villa d'Este,) Tivoli + +[The Lisztt-Festival given by the Societe de Musique d'Anvers +took place on the 26th May, 1881, under Benoit's direction, in +Antwerp. The programme comprised the Gran Mass; the E flat +Concerto, played by Fran Falk-Mehlig; the Dance of Death, played +by Zarembski; Mignon and other songs, sung by the ladies +Kufferath and Schauenburg; and the Preludes. + +In a second Festival-Concert on 29th May, arranged by Liszt's +former pupil F. von Servais and Jules de Zarembski, Tasso and the +Faust Symphony, the Concerto Pathetique (played by M. and Mme. +Zarembski), and "Loreley" with orchestra (Mdlle. Kufferath) were +performed. Gevaert, the celebrated musical savant, apostrophised +Liszt in the opening speech as "the incomparable Virtuoso whose +prestige has never been surpassed, nor even equalled; the +prolific and inspired composer, who in the numerous domains of +Art which he has touched has opened new roads, explored new +shores, and left everywhere the luminous imprint of his bold and +innovating genius; the eminent head of a School, who may without +exaggeration be described as the initiator, par excellence, of +the musical movement of our epoch; one of those rare favorites of +the gods for whom posterity begins even during their life-time," +etc.] + + + +270. To Sophie Menter + +Dear, Highly Valued Friend, + +If I rightly understand your letter and telegram you are soon +going to Paris and London, and also soon coming to Rome. When?-- +tell me this clearly. A Roman Sophie Menter Concert is easily +arranged and will be a great pleasure for me. + +Although introductions from me are quite superfluous for you, I +beg you to consider them always at your disposal. The best person +to safeguard your interests with the German Ambassadors in France +and England will be Frau Grafin Schleinitz. Alter, shorten and +improve anything you like in the Fantaisie on the Huguenots. +Pieces of this sort ought only to be brought forward by super- +eminent virtuosi--Sophie Menter, for instance. The transcriber +then hardly serves as "Klecks." [Klecks is the name of Mme. +Menter's favorite cat.] + +Yours cordially, + +F. Liszt + +December 2nd, 1880 (Villa D'este, Rome) + +Maybe you will tell me yourself soon in Rome where I am to send +the letters; if not, send me your address. I shall remain here +till January 5th and be at Budapest on the 15th. + + + +271. To Dr. Friedrich Stade in Leipzig + +[Musical writer (born 1844) in Leipzig] + +Very Dear Sir and Friend, + +Your transcription of "Gretchen" [Out of Liszt's Faust Symphony.] +for pianoforte and harmonium is capital, just as I wished. I only +take the liberty of very slightly altering it, and have added ten +bars at the end, which are to be henceforth inserted in the score +and in my own arrangements of the Faust Symphony. [They follow +herewith in the orchestral movement, according to Dr. Stade's +copy.] + +If you will kindly take the trouble to arrange the entire Faust +Symphony for two performers on one piano, I shall be greatly +indebted to you. [This was done.] Deal as freely as possible with +the figurations and also with the distribution among the seven +octaves of the odious keyboard. It seems to me that what may be +more laterally accurate ought often to give way to what sounds +better and even to what is more convenient for the players at the +piano. + +Thanking you once more, I remain, + +Yours most cordially, + +F. Liszt + +Rome, December 11th, 1880. + +We will play your duet arrangement together before it is +published, in Weimar--next spring. + +[Here, Liszt illustrates with Musical score excerpts] + + + +272. To Professor S. Jadassoiin in Leipzig + +[Composer (born in 1831), teacher at the Leipzig Conservatoire +since 187l] + +Dear Sir, + +Your setting of the 100th Psalm is nobly religious in feeling and +excellent in style. The working out of the choruses is masterly +throughout, from beginning to end; a passage which comes out with +especial brilliancy is that on pages 14, 15-19, 20, "with +rejoicing," where the trombones, and then the trumpets and +trombones, joyously repeat the subject of the fugue in +augmentation. + +The Arioso too which follows, "He made us," is most fervent in +expression. There is a fine field here for beautiful contralto +voices to rejoice in. + +My sincere thanks, dear sir, for the dedication of this excellent +work. I shall recommend it for performance to such of my friends +as are conductors; above all, to Hofcapellmeister Muller-Hartung, +whom I shall request to bring out your Psalm at Weimar. + +Yours sincerely, + +F. Liszt + +Villa d'Este, January 10th, 1881 + + + +273. To Frau Reisenauer-Pauly in Konigsberg + +Dear Madam, + +It is one of my duties to deal sparingly in letters of +introduction. Still I am quite willing to repeat my opinion that +your son Alfred is a highly gifted and brilliantly aspiring +pianoforte-player. + +Should this conscientious opinion enable him to obtain further +recommendations, he is free to make use of it. + +Yours sincerely, + +F. Liszt + +Budapest, January 29th, 1881 + + + +274. To Dionys von Pazmandy, Editor of the Gasette de Hongrie + +[This letter is printed in French in the Gazette de Hongrie, but +is only known to the Editor in the German translation (Neue +Zeitschrift fur Musik?).] + +Dear Sir and Friend, + +You want to know my impression of yesterday's Bulow Concert? Yet +it must have been yours, that of all of us, that of the whole of +the intelligent audiences of Europe. To define it in two words: +admiration, enthusiasm. Bulow was my pupil in music five-and- +twenty years ago, as I myself, five-and-twenty years before, had +been the pupil of my much respected and beloved master, Czerny. +But to Bulow it was given to do battle better and with greater +perseverance than I did. His admirable Beethoven-Edition is +dedicated to me as the "fruit of my tuition." Here however it was +for the master to learn from the pupil, and Bulow continues to +teach by his astonishing performances as virtuoso, as well as by +his extraordinary learning as a musician, and now too by his +matchless direction of the Meiningen Orchestra.--Here you have +the musical progress of our time! + +Yours cordially, + +F. Liszt + +Budapest, February 15th, 1881 + + + +275. To Frau Colestine Bosendorfer in Vienna + +[The wife of the celebrated pianoforte-maker, who died young] + +Not to see you in Vienna this time, Madame, was a grief to me. It +cast, as it were, a melancholy shadow over my stay there, which +otherwise was brightened by so cordial a reception.-- + +I am accompanied by the roses without thorns of my pleasant +recollections of you, and my hearty and respectful devotion +remains unaltered. + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, Easter Sunday, April 17th, 1881 + +Have the kindness to repeat to Bosendorfer the assurance of my +very cordial friendship. + + + +276. To the Most Honorable Committee of the Wagner-Verein, Berlin + +Addressed to Professor Otto Lessmann. + +Gentlemen, + +A distinction such as that which was conferred upon me yesterday +by the Berlin "Wagner-Verein" and by the audience has seldom been +received by the highest masters in the musical art, among whom I +can only count as an apprentice. + +["Les Preludes" and "Festklange," the former under Lessmann's, +the latter under Mannstadt's direction, had been performed in the +winter garden of the Central Hotel before a numerous audience +assembled by invitation. Between the two symphonies, Marianne +Brandt sang "Jeanne d'Arc au bucher," and Heinrich Ernst some of +Liszt's songs. A banquet concluded the festival.] + +Accept my warmest thanks for the "Liszt Festival Concert" of +Sunday, 24th April; it remains as a joyous incentive to lifelong +continuous work with + +Yours respectfully, + +F. Liszt + +Berlin, Monday, April 25th, 188l + + + +277. To Kornel von Abranyi + +Weimar, May 13th, 1881 + +My Dear Friend, + +Rather more than half of my concert-engagements for this year +have now been fulfilled. The two performances of "Christus" in +Berlin and Freiburg were admirable; the Liszt-Concerts in +Freiburg and Baden-Baden likewise; in the first of these the +three-part hymn "L'enfant au reveil" was also given, charmingly +sung by deliciously clear voices. By way of a rehearsal of this +piece the ladies gave a morning serenade in honor of me at the +house of my friendly hosts the Rieslers, whose villa will remain +most pleasantly in my remembrance. Felix Mottl conducted the +Liszt concert in Baden-Baden with "Mazeppa," the "Mephisto- +Waltz," the "Hunnenschlacht," and three pieces from the Oratorio +"Christus" in a most praiseworthy manner. Bulow's Liszt-evening +in Berlin glorious as at Pest and Vienna..--. + +I shall stay here till Sunday, 22nd May. On the 24th I shall be +at Antwerp. On the 26th is the performance of the "Gran Mass" +there. + +I am very glad that the Committee of the Musical Festival has +chosen just this particular work, which has hitherto been more +talked about and abused by the critics than heard. Of course I +had left the programme entirely to the discretion of the +Committee, for I really have no wish to recommend any work of my +own for performance anywhere. My mission is to work on +unpretendingly and without troubling myself about advancement. + +Yours faithfully, + +F. Liszt + +My best regards to your wife and sons. I will send you programmes +from Antwerp and Brussels. I shall be back here again on the 4th +June. From the 9th to the 12th June Tonkunstler-Versammlung in +Magdeburg. + + + +278. To Kornel von Abranyi, + +Much Esteemed, Dear Friend, + +The second copy (with the additional few hundred bars) of the +score of my second Mephisto-Waltz is admirably done. Thank Gyula +Erkel very particularly in my name for it. I request his +acceptance of the enclosed forty florins, as a slight +remuneration for the time he has spent on it. I depend upon your +firm friendship, which has stood the test of so many years, to +find a delicate mode of presenting them to him. The score of the +second Mephisto-Waltz will be published next autumn by Furstner +(Berlin), and then performances can take place at Budapest and +elsewhere. + +I am writing to our esteemed Director of the Royal Hungarian +Academy of National Music, Franz Erkel, to have Chickering's +grand pianoforte, as an excellent and kind gift from America, +placed in the music-hall in the Radial-Strasse. This piano, as +well as the whole of my possessions in Budapest, will belong to +the Royal Hungarian Academy of Music at my death, which is not +far off. Correctness remains the motto of + +Yours most faithfully, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, May 22nd, 1881. + +Tomorrow evening I shall be at Antwerp. The Committee there have +decided for the Gran Mass to be performed on the 26th May without +any pressure on my part. Therefore Eljen Hungaria--in all +countries. You may address to Weimar in the beginning of June. + + + +279. To Frau Charlotte Blume-Arends + +[A pupil of Liszt's now in Berlin.] + +Weimar, August 29th, 1881 + +Dear Madam, + +A good deal of irregularity has crept into my housekeeping during +my long indisposition. Your kind letter only reached me +yesterday. Thank you heartily for it; I accept the office of +godfather. So your son is to be named Franz, and to walk the +waters of life firmly and serenely, trusting securely in God, +like my patron Saint Francois de Paule, whose motto is: +"Caritas." I have long been wishing to thank you by letter for +the charming present which decorates my study in the new wing of +the Musical Academy at Pest. That elegant work of art is greatly +admired by my numerous visitors. It would be charming, were the +amiable donor to return and inspect it. The remembrance of you is +still vivid in Pest. + +Best compliments to your husband from + +Yours gratefully and truly, + +F. Liszt + +I hope to be quite recovered in ten days, and shall then go to +Rome. + + + +280. To Otto Lessmann + +Weimar, September 8th, 1881 + +Dear Friend, + +I have still to undergo a supplementary treatment of baths and +sweatings. [In consequence of a fall, Liszt had been seriously +ill all summer.] This I shall do at Weimar. From the 21st to the +30th September I shall be at Bayreuth, and from October till New +Year in Rome. + +I am sending off the duet version of my Symphonic Poem "From +cradle to grave" to Bock to day. .--. I shall send him the score +from Bayreuth, because just now I am not able to work more than a +few hours a day continuously. + +There is so much admirable music written that one is ashamed to +write any more. With me it only happens in cases of urgency and +from inner necessity. + +Thanking you heartily, + +Yours ever, + +F. Liszt + + + +281. To Francois Auguste Gevaert, Director of the Brussels +Conservatoire + +[Celebrated Belgian music teacher and composer, born 1828] + +Very Honored, Dear Friend, + +Among the recollections of my long artistic life one of the +dearest to me is that of your kind sympathy. I cherish sincere +gratitude for it, of which I should be glad to give you a proof. +Allow me, to begin with, to dedicate to you the Symphonic Poem I +have just written, which was suggested by a drawing by Michel +Zichy entitled "From the cradle to the grave."--The score is +short enough, and, it seems to me, free from superfluous +repetition. + +Lassen has spoken to you about the performance of your Quentin +Durward at Weimar. The Grand Duke desires it to take place; his +Theater-Intendant, Baron von Loen, was preparing for it, and the +singers are certain to take great pains and show all alacrity in +performing their several parts well. + +To my own regret, in which his Royal Highness shares, as well as +his theater company and the audience, the performance has to be +adjourned; for the German translation is not forthcoming, and +some dawdling on the part of your publisher throws obstacles in +the way. Let him soon turn over a new leaf. As for the German +translation, I particularly recommend to you my friend Richard +Pohl (who is living at Baden-Baden, where he is editor-in-chief +of the local newspaper of that charming place). Pohl is +distinguished by great musical intelligence and cleverness in +translating, of both of which he has given proof in Berlioz's +Beatrice and Bennedict and Saint-Saens' Samson. + +Lassen and Baron Loen will continue to correspond with you +concerning the mise-en-scene of Quentin Durward at Weimar. Small +towns have but small successes to offer. You are entitled by +right to both large and small ones. Accept them.-- + +I do not scruple to ask a favor of you, my dear friend. The +decoration of the Order of Leopold arrived at a time when I was +ill in bed. It was accompanied by a few complimentary lines from +the Secretary of the Foreign Office, Baron de Lambermont, as well +as by the official document which was to be signed by me. It +would have been my most agreeably imperative duty to have thanked +Baron de L., and to have expressed my lively feelings of +gratitude for this royal favor. This I could not immediately do, +owing to the state of my health, which did not allow of my +writing, and still renders that occupation very difficult. Add to +this that a good deal of disorder had got into my household; +several letters and manuscripts have been mislaid, and, +notwithstanding all my endeavors, I have not been able to find +Baron de L.'s lines again or the document they enclosed. I +therefore beg you, dear and highly esteemed friend, to present my +apologies to the Baron, and to ask him to send me a duplicate of +the document I have to sign. My address from 22nd September to +2nd October will be: Bayreuth (Bavaria); after that, Via and +Hotel Alibert, Rome. + +Yours, in high esteem and cordial friendship, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, September 19th, 188l + + + +282. To Francois Auguste Gevaert + +Highly Honored Master and Dear Friend, + +Thanks to your kind help I have at last put my business with +Baron Lambermont in order and have just written him a letter of +very grateful acknowledgment. + +Permit me to revenir a nos moutons. Panurge has nothing to do +with them, nor has the honorable biscuit-seller of the Gymnase, +still less his peaceable neighbor, your publisher Mr. Grus. What +we want is the score of your "Quentin Durward" and composer's +consent to the performance of it at Weimar. The Grand Duke's +Theater-Intendant undertakes the payment of the German +translator, my old friend, Richard Pohl, who will certainly take +great pleasure in performing his task in the most satisfactory +way possible. Baron Loen and Lassen will correspond with you +concerning the performance, which is intended to take place in +December '82. + +My cordial thanks for your favorable acceptance of my dedication. +Some months are still necessary for the copying and publishing of +the score together with the orchestral parts. Before this is +finished 1 will send you the printed pianoforte arrangement for +one and for two performers. + +Be good enough, dear friend, to give my affectionate regards to +Madame Gevaert and to your sons, and ever count upon my very +grateful devotion. + +F. Liszt + +Bayreuth, October 8th, 1881 + +I shall be in Rome in eight days. + + + +283. To Eduard von Mihalovich + +Dearest Friend, + +I must be found guilty [of negligence?]. I do not apologise. My +aversion to letter-writing has grown excessive. But who could +answer more than two thousand letters a year without becoming an +idiot? + +I have been ailing a good deal for the last three months. As soon +as there was an improvement, something else appeared. Do not let +us mention this any more, for you know how little my health +occupies my thoughts, and how disagreeable it is to me to hear it +talked of. In short, I feel sufficiently recovered to set out for +Rome the day after tomorrow. My very dear granddaughter Daniela +goes with me, and will remain till the beginning of January. This +is a providential pleasure on which I did not count at all, but +for which I thank the good angels. + +I will tell you by word of mouth the minor reasons which +prevented me from sooner communicating your two splendid scores +and the pianoforte duet arrangements of them to the publishers, +Breitkopf and Hartel. Your fine manuscripts have at last reached +Leipzig, and you will soon have a letter from the present +proprietors of the ancient and illustrious house Breitkopf and +Hartel, with their conditions for publication, which will be +their ultaiytalunz. They are aware of the sincere interest I take +in your works, and will, I trust, share it, without leading you +into any expense. + +Stern [Adolph Stern in Dresden, author of the libretto.] has +given me fairly good news as to the preparations for the +performance of your Haubar at Dresden. Young composers are always +too impatient.-- + +Pray remember me cordially to our excellent friends the Veghs, +Albert Apponyi, Madame d'Eotvos and her daughter, Mademoiselle +Polyxena, and...I was just going to add the name of a charming +woman with whom I am out of favor. + +Yours ever, + +F. Liszt + +Bayreuth, October 8th, 1881 + +My address from the middle of October to the lst of January: Via +and Hotel Alibert, Rome. + +You are held in affectionate remembrance at Wahnfried. Wagner is +finishing the instrumentation of the 2nd act of Parsifal, and +gives it his most passionate attention. We shall have something +new, marvellous, unheard of, to hear. + +M. Humperdink, the lucky triple laureate of the three +scholarships, "Mozart," "Meyerbeer," "Mendelssohn," is at work +here copying the score of Parstfal; [E. Humperdink, born in 1854, +made Wagner's acquaintance in 1880 at Naples, and at the first +performance of Parsifal conducted the choruses from on high and +the music on the stage. He has been teacher at the Barcelona +Conservatoire since 1885.] Joseph Rubinstein [Born 1847 in +Russia, he lived a great deal in Wagner's society after 1872, and +took an active part in the rehearsals for the Bayreuth Festival +Performances in 1875 and 1876, He died by his own hand the 15th +of September, 1884, at Lucerne.] is continuing his arrangement of +it for piano at Palermo just now, and will complete it later on +at Bayreuth. Other artists on the high road to celebrity are also +employed in copying this same Opus magnum, the performance of +which we shall applaud in July 1882. It will be a next to +miraculous and highly fashionable pilgrimage. + +P.S.--The busybody Spiridion has been so careless as to carry off +a little gold watch of mine that I had merely given him leave to +wear while he was in my service. Please ask Spiridion to give you +this watch on New Year's Day. You will return it to me about the +middle of January 1882, when I go back to Budapest. + + + +284. To Jules de Zarembski + +Dearest Friend, + +I have rarely done a minor work--big ones bother me--with as much +pleasure as that of setting your two Galician Dances for +Orchestra. It is quite finished, with a few additions of which I +hope you will not disapprove; but my scrawl of a manuscript +cannot possibly be sent you: therefore I have asked Friedheim +[One of the most pre-eminent among the younger pupils of the +Master.] to undertake to copy it, and I will send you this copy +before the New Year. If the publisher Simon is inclined to +publish this orchestration I will let him have it for a thousand +marks; if not, keep it yourself; and make any use you like of it; +first of all at the concert in which you are going to bring +forward your own compositions exclusively. I wish I could be +present at it, and on this occasion I renew to you the sincere +and sympathetic esteem in which I hold your noble and rare +talents. They will fructify by means of perseverance. + +Friedheim's copy will reach you in time to have the parts copied +and to add the necessary nuances. Please send me a programme of +the concert of which Zarembski as composer is to fill the list. +The other programme you are meditating, to be devoted to my works +for the pianoforte, seems to me to be too long; this is a defect +for which I can only be very thankful to you, and yet I am going +to ask you to reduce your recital to the average proportion. An +hour and a half of pianoforte music of mine, however admirably +played, is more than sufficient. + +M. Becquet, President of the Brussels Musical Society, writes to +me concerning the performance of my Elizabeth, and M. Radoux, +Director of the Liege Conservatoire, likewise. I fear the +translation of the libretto and its proper adaptation to the work +will be impediments. Nevertheless, if your friend Franz Servais +were good enough to undertake the work of revision and of +intelligent adaptation to the vocal parts, I should be more easy +in my mind, and should only wish to look through the whole before +the publisher, Kahnt, prints the French version under the German +original. I am now writing this to M. Becquet. Pray give my +cordial regards to Franz Servais and my grateful remembrances to +Maitre Gevaert. + +Enclosed are the photographs with signature for MM. Dumon and +Dufour; to which I add a third (recently taken in Rome) for +yourself. + +I am honored, flattered, and also...overwhelmed by numbers of +letters. I have received more than a hundred during the last six +weeks; I should have to give ten hours a day to letter-writing if +I were to attempt to pay my debts of correspondence: this I +cannot do. Even the state of my health, which is not bad but +forbids any continuous occupation, is opposed to it. Besides, +when my old mania for writing music lays hold of me--as is the +case just now--I feel quite unable to use my pen in any other +way. I therefore beg you to convey my apologies and very +affectionate thanks to M. and Mme. Tardieu for the kindness they +show me. + +I hope to repeat all this to them personally, for it is not said +that I shall not return to Brussels, although travelling is +becoming arduous for me. M. Tardieu's present of spirituous +liquid has restored me several evenings during my work,...which +may be superfluous, but completes what has gone before. + +Your very devoted friend, + +F. Liszt + +Rome, December 4th, 1881 + +I remain here till the first week in January at Via and Hotel +Alibert. + + + +285. To Camille Saint-Saens + +Much-Esteemed Dear Friend, + +You are not one of those who are easily forgotten, and you have +won your fame valiantly. My feelings of sincere admiration and +gratitude have followed you for many years; they are confirmed +and increased by the proofs you give of constant and active +sympathy. + +I wrote to you last summer from Magdeburg on the occasion of the +festival. Your remarkable work "La Lyre et la Harpe" figured on +the programme; a delay in the translation and in the study of the +choruses obliged me, to my great regret, to defer the performance +of it till next summer, when the Tonkunstler-Versammlung, which +is honored by your active membership and has just named me its +Honorary President, will again meet. + +Before Christmas Furstner, the publisher, will send you, from me, +three copies (score and arrangements for pianoforte solo and +duet) of my second Mephistopheles Waltz, dedicated to Camille +Saint-Saens. I thank you cordially for giving it so hearty a +welcome. No one more than myself feels the disproportion in my +compositions between the good-will and the effective result. Yet +I go on writing--not without fatigue--from inner necessity and +old habit. We are not forbidden to aspire towards higher things: +it is the attainment of our end which remains the note of +interrogation, being in this something like the end to the +Mephistopheles Waltz on b, f-- + +[Here, Liszt illustrates with a musical score excerpt] + +intervals which are indicated in the first bars of the piece. + +You intimate the friendly desire that I should revisit Paris. +Travelling at my age becomes burdensome, and I greatly fear that +I should be found out of place in capitals like Paris or London, +where no immediate obligation calls me. This fear does not make +me less grateful towards the public, and especially towards my +Parisian friends, to whom I acknowledge myself to be so greatly +indebted. Besides, I should not like completely to give up the +thought of ever seeing them again, although the deplorable +performance of the Gran Mass in 1866 left a painful impression +upon me. + +This is easily explained on both sides. Nevertheless, it would be +too much for me in future to expose myself to such +misapprehensions. Without false modesty or foolish vanity I +cannot allow myself to be classed among the celebrated pianists +who have gone astray in composing failures. + +By the way, allow me to ask a question. If I were to return to +Paris, would you feel disposed, dear friend, to repeat your +former offence by conducting any of my works in I know not what +orchestral concert? I dare not ask you to do it, but, supposing +that a favorable opportunity should occur, I should be very proud +to be present. Meanwhile be so good as to remember me very kindly +to Viscount Delaborde, and to thank your colleague of the +Institute, Massenet, sincerely for his telegram. He will excuse +me for not answering him at once. To fulfil the duties of a +correspondent is an insoluble problem for your very grateful and +devoted friend, + +F. Liszt + +Rome, December 8th, 1887. + + + +256. To Ludwig Bosendorfer + +Very Dear Friend, + +I was raised to a very exhilarated state of mind by the many +tokens of sympathy and friendship on the 22nd October. [Liszt's +70th birthday.] To give it expression, I wrote several pages of +music, but no letters at all. Antipathy to letter-writing is +becoming a malady with me...Have the kindness to beg my friends +in Vienna to excuse this. Perhaps I may yet live long epough to +prove my affection to them in a better way than by words. My +health does not preoccupy me at all; it is fairly good and only +requires care, a thing which is at times irksome to me. + +As usual for the last 10 years, I shall return to Budapest in the +middle of January '82. + +My best regards to your wife. + +Yours faithfully and gratefully, + +F. Liszt + +Rome, December 8th, 1881 + +I repeat especially my hearty thanks to Zellner. + + + +287. To Pauline Viardot-Garcia + +[The great singer, who still teaches in Paris, was Liszt's pupil +for piano.] + +Most Illustrious and Gracious Friend, + +A woman distinguished by her shrewdness and talents, the +authoress of several volumes which have had the good fortune to +pass through several editions, has asked me for a line of +introduction to you. I have told her what she and all the world +besides already knows: that Pauline Viardot is the most exquisite +dramatic singer of our time, and besides this a consummate +musician and a composer of the most delicate and lively +intelligence. To which opinion, as merited as it is universal, +Madame X. is prepared to give ample and elegant expression in a +notice she meditates publishing upon you. + +Pray give a kind reception to your new correspondent, and keep a +friendly remembrance of your old and most devoted admirer, + +F. Liszt + +Rome, December 12th, 1881 + + + +288. To Madame Malwine Tardieu in Brussels + +[The wife of the chief editor of the Independance Belge] + +How good of you, Madame, to make such ready allowance for my +delays and shortcomings in correspondence. It is a disagreeable +infirmity of mine not to be able to write longer and better +letters. Your last kind lines delighted me, and I thank you for +them most affectionately. The brilliant success of Massenet's +Herodiade [The first performance of the Opera took place at the +Theater de la Monnaie in Brussels, 19th December, 1881.] gives me +sincere pleasure; all Paris, after having applauded the work on +its first appearance at Brussels, will be all the more ready to +applaud it again in Paris itself. For my own part let me confess +to you quite in a whisper that I am inclined rather to hold back +with respect to certain love-scenes, which, it seems, are +necessary on the stage, when introduced into biblical subjects. +They jar on my feelings--excepting in our admirable and valiant +friend St. Saens' Dalila, where he has made a glorious love duet +which is quite in place; for Dalila and Samson are bound to give +themselves to the devil for love's sake, whilst in Massenet's +Magdalen and Herodfade the whole thing is merely +conventional...theatrical. + +Pray forgive me, Madame, for this opinion, which is slightly +pedantic, but without any pretension. When you see Madame Viardot +again, tell her that I still cherish an enthusiastic recollection +of her--a typical Orpheus, Fides and Rosina,--and, besides, an +enchanting composer and a pianist full of ingenious dexterity. +Have you heard anything of her daughter, Madame Heritte? Do you +know her remarkable setting of Victor Hugo's "Feu du Ciel"? +Monsieur Becquet [President of the Brussels Musical Society +(since dissolved).] has sent me an excellent French translation +of my Elizabeth, [By Gustave Lagye.] quite adapted to the sense +and rhythm of the music. When this Legend of St. Elizabeth was +first performed at Budapest (end of August 1865) the Independance +Belge published a most flattering article on the work. .--. + +Pray remember most kindly to M. Tardieu your affectionate and +devoted servant, + +F. Liszt + +Rome, January 20th, 1882. + +Zarembski has received my orchestration of his charming "Danses +Polonaises." ["Danses Galiciennes."] + + + +289. To Colonel Alexander Wereschagin + +[The brother of the celebrated painter; formerly adjutant to the +Russian General Skobeleff, also an author.] + +Dear M. de Wereschagin, + +I am very grateful to you for sending me the photograph of one of +your brother's admirable pictures. His "Forgotten" is a dismal, +ghastly symphony of crows and vultures; I understand it, and +deeply enter into his marvellous inspiration. + +Be so good as to tell your brother how great is my admiration for +his genius, and accept, dear Sir, the expression of my best and +most devoted regards. + +F. Liszt + +Budapest, February 5th, 1882. + + + +290. To the Kammervirtuosin Martha Remmert + +Dear Martha, + +Enclosed are the various readings [Varianten] to my "Todtentanz." +[Dance of Death.] I noted them down after hearing the piece last +May for the first time with Orchestra at the Antwerp Musical +Festival (played by Zarembski in a masterly way). The brief +alterations are easy to insert into the instrumental parts, for +they only apply to the Horns, and consist in the addition of 7 +bars; the rest are pauses in the orchestra while the pianoforte +solo continues. + +All is accurately indicated in the enclosed copy, so that, should +the publisher Siegel (Leipzig) feel disposed to add a +complementary sheet to the score, it might be easily printed from +this copy. I should not like to trouble Siegel about this; but I +authorise you, dear Martha, to communicate the complementary +pages A, B, C, to Siegel. [The alterations alluded to did not +appear in print.] + +I wish you all the success you deserve in your concert +productions, and remain always, Yours sincerely, + +F. Liszt + +Budapest, February 20th, 1882. + + + +291. To Madame Malwine Tardieu + +Dear Madame, + +You were beforehand with me in knowing that the performance of my +St. Elizabeth is to take place, for the first time in French, at +Brussels on Sunday, 30th April. If the date is not changed, I +shall arrive on the 27th for the last rehearsals. + +I hardly venture to accept the hospitality you are so good as to +offer me, from delicacy; if, however, you help me ever so little +to overcome my scruples, they will vanish. A thousand thanks for +the good news you give me of the success of "Samson" and of other +works by St. Saens in Germany. He has possessed my admiring +friendship for many years. + +My very affectionate and grateful regards. + +F. Liszt + +Budapest, April 11th, 1882 + +I shall return to Weimar in about ten days, where I shall expect +to receive the printed programme from M. Becquet, which is to fix +my arrival in Brussels. + +Pray thank M. Tardieu for his obliging intention of reproducing +the article of the Independance upon the first performance of the +St. Elizabeth at Budapest in August 1865. I will tell you by word +of mouth who penned those lines. [This article, which was signed +Remenyi, was written by Frau Cosima Wagner, Liszt's daughter, and +(according to Madame Tardieu's opinion) had "a high interest on +account of its poetical and brilliant conception."] + + + +292. To Franz Servais + +Very Dear Friend, + +It is a grief to me that you will be conspicuous by your absence +on the approaching occasion of my return to Brussels. The Liszt- +Concert set afloat and directed by you last spring remains one of +my pleasantest recollections during my too long artistic career. +Even at that time you suggested a performance of my "Elizabeth," +and I did not think that it would take place during your absence. +My approaching second visit to Brussels is entirely one of +gratitude for the sympathetic reception granted to me there at +the concert which you directed--an excellent performance of some +works of mine. Perhaps the "Elizabeth" may likewise be favored by +good luck...M. Lagye has made an excellent French translation of +it. + +The one thing important for you, my dear Franz, is to complete +your Ion [The original tile of the Opera now called +"L'Apollonide", which Servais still keeps in his portfolio, +though it is finished.]. This will be your advent as composer, +for a complete and resounding success in which you have the best +wishes of + +Yours ever devotedly, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, April 22nd, 1882. + +Write to me at Brussels, where I shall be from May 1st to 4th, +and address your letter to Zarembski. + + + +293. To Madame Malwine Tardieu + +Unless I receive a countermand from you, I shall be in Brussels +on Sunday evening. [The first performance of "St. Elizabeth in +French took place on the 3rd of May. Saint-Saens, Massenet, +Francis Plante, and others besides were present.] I shall take +the liberty of sending you a telegram on the road to give you the +hour of my arrival. It will interest me greatly to hear the +"Herodiade". [Liszt heard Massenet's opea on 2nd of May.] Bulow's +exceedingly witty article on Saint-Saens' "Samson", which Bulow +declares to be the best and most successful of all the Operas +that have been performed for the last fifteen years (excepting +Wagner's),--this article, which creates a sensation and makes a +noise at "Landerneau," will reach you at the same time as these +lines from your affectionate servant, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, April 23rd, 1882 + + + +294. To Otto Lessmann + +I owe you so many thanks, dear, esteemed friend, that I could +never get to the end of them. If the canon form were less +unfamiliar to me, I would dedicate a symphonic Canone perpetuo of +thanksgiving to you. + +Our friend Adelheid von Schorn tells me that you are likely to +spend your holidays at Weimar. A hearty welcome to you. + +This year the Tonkunstler-Versammlung, at which I am accustomed +to appear as a superfluous necessity ("le superflu, chose si +necessaire," according to Voltaire), ever since the foundation of +these gatherings twenty years ago with Brendel--takes place at +Zurich from the 9th to the 12th July. + +Let us go there together, dear friend, from Weimar. I read by +preference your excellent newspaper, and am making a lively +propaganda for it. + +Yours gratefully and cordially, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, April 23rd, 1882 + + + +295. To Frau Charlotte Blume-Arends + +Weimar, April 23rd, 1882. + +Dear Madame, + +Poetry is your domain. As a pretty French verse has it, "Meme +quand l'oiseau marche, on sent qu'il a des ailes" [Even when it +walks, we feel that a bird has wings].--My most cordial thanks +therefore for the gift which you call prosaic, and my best +regards to your husband. It would be charming if you came to +Weimar again. From the middle of June to the 12th of July remains +here uninterruptedly + +Yours very truly, + +F. Liszt + + + +296. To Freiherr Hans Von Wolzogen + +Much-esteemed Freiherr, + +Your "Leitfaden" are a salutary enrichment to musical literature. +They essentially promote the spiritual comprehension of the +great, sublime, unique works of Wagner. The "Leitfaden" are +already considered classical, and rightly so, because, as a +masterly piece of work, they establish a school. + +Pray accept my very best thanks for the numerous proofs of +kindness you have given me, to correspond in some degree to which +is the wish of + +Yours sincerely, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, April 25th, 1882 + +A cordial and friendly meeting at Parsifal! + + + +297. To Frau Heriette Von Liszt in Vienna + +Weimar, May 11th, 1882. + +My Dear Cousin, + +Our dear Hedwig [The daughter of E. von Liszt, who studied a +whole summer under Liszt in Weimar.] has not been forgotten. +Immediately on arriving here I ordered Overbeck's edifying +drawings for her, "The Seven Sacraments," a serious study of +which, as well as of the commentary, is to be highly recommended. +The work is published at Ratisbon; my bookseller here is wont to +do business in Tempo moderato molto commodo. He kept me waiting, +and I had to go to Belgium (on the 30th of April). I only +received the above-mentioned work here yesterday, and send it you +today together with the "Ave Maria" for Harmonium and Meyer's +excellent "Manual of Universal Knowledge." Eduard and Hedwig may +extend their knowledge by means of it. + +My Belgian week--from May 1st to 8th, Brussels and Antwerp--was +of the pleasantest. Enclosed are the moderate articles (on the +performance of "St. Elizabeth") by the Brussels Schelle and +Hanslick [In the "Independance Belge"]--Eduard Fetis, the son of +the renowned and meritorious author of the many-volumed +"Biographic universelle des Musiciens" and of the "Universal +History of Music." Thirty years ago I said to that same Fetis +somewhat arrogantly, nay almost insolently: "My aspirations are +directed not merely towards obtaining articles, but rather +towards acquiring a durable position in the History of Art." + +Till the beginning of July will remain in Weimar + +Yours most cordially, + +F. Liszt + +P.S.--The arrival of the "Kaiser Virginia" has just been +announced to me. Please send me the little bill. + + + +298. To Camille Saint-Saens + +Very Dear Friend, + +I am still quite struck with wonder at your "Predication aux +oiseaux de St. Francois." ["St. Francis preaching to the birds." +Composed by Liszt for pianoforte alone. (Roszavolgyi.)] You use +your organ as an orchestra in an incredible way, as only a great +composer and a great performer, like yourself, could do. The most +proficient organists in all countries have only to take off their +hats to you. + +I am sending you by this post a parcel of things of mine for +organ. If you should find an opportunity at Brussels of producing +the Introduction to St. Elizabeth, it would, under your fingers, +have the effect I intended. + +Cordial thanks for your visit to Brussels, and ever yours in +admiration and friendship. + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, May 14th, 1882 + + + +299. To Madame Malwine Tardieu + +Dear Kind Friend, ["Chere bienveillante"] + +The telegram Tardieu-Lynen-Lessmann sent from Aix-la-Chapelle has +given me extreme pleasure. [The Tardieus, the Lynens (Antwerp +friends of Liszt), and Otto Lessmann were present at the Musical +Festival at Aix-la-Chapelle.] + +My padrone di casa (Lessmann is this through his paper) are +always most excellent. + +Daniela de Bulow, my darling granddaughter, writes how kind you +are, and will come with us shortly to Villa "Fantaisie" +(Bayreuth). [She had accompanied her father, Dr. Hans V. Bulow, +who played (under Wullner's conductorship) Brahms' first +Pianforte Concerto, and Beethoven's 15 Variations (on a theme out +of Eroica).] + +At "Parsifal" we shall be 30,000; that will be the best chance of +seeing one another again. + +The Opera of Hamlet, by Stadtfeld, [The first performance of the +Opera. The composer, a Wiesbaden man (born 1826), had studied at +the Brussels Conservatoire, and died there in 1853.] written in +transition years (50), and twice given here, not without success, +is one of the best that I know of the Meyerbeer-Donizetti genre. +The Wagner invasion is strangely modifying theatrical +requirements at the present time. It is no longer possible to +write a "Hamlet" according to the style of a Duprez, some +absolute tenor with the famous "ut de boitrine," nor to make the +ghost of Hamlet's father benevolently intervene in order to +effect a Trio or Quartet, even of a pretty musical manufacture. +The distinguished work of Stadtfeld belongs, then, to the +theatrical Past, so rich in oblivion... + +As you are so kind as to undertake my books, I will ask you to +send me soon the following works:-- + +1st, Gevaert--History of Music in ancient times 2 volumes. +(Publisher, Annoot Braekmann, at Ghent.) + +2nd, Charles Clement--Michael Angelo, Leonardo da Vinci, +Raphael,--a magnificent volume illustrated by 167 drawings. +Price, bound, 15 francs. (Publisher, Hetzel, Paris.) + +3rd, J. D. Lewis--"Bons Mots of the Greeks and Romans": 1 volume +in 16--Charavay library. A thousand pardons for thus using and +abusing your amiable kindness. + +I have read with pleasure the article in the "Guide Musical" on +the Festival at Aix-la-Chapelle, and beg you to repeat to the +author [Presumably Monsieur Tarideu.] my sincere friendship. + +Till our happy meeting at Bayreuth, at the end of July, farewell. + +In affectionate gratitude, + +F. Liszt + +I add the article from the official paper of Weimar on +Stadtfeld's "Hamlet." + +Weimar, June 10th, 1882. + + + +300. To the Honorable Committee of the Allgemeine Deutsche +Musikverein + +[Printed in Neue Zeitschrift fur Musik, 1882, No. 23.] + +Dear Sirs, + +The Allgemeine Deutsche Musikverein confers a high distinction on +me by electing me as its Honorary President. + +Since the starting of this Verein, 20 years ago, I have the honor +of feeling that I have been of service to it. Its aim is a worthy +one,--the advancement of music and musicians in an unprejudiced +manner, and in accordance with the spirit of the time. Its ways +have always been known as pure and worthy of recognition, +regardless of opposition and silence. + +Let us therefore go boldly forwards on our noble road! + +Accept, dear Sirs, my heartiest thanks, together with the +assurance that, ever conscious of my task, I remain, with high +esteem, + +Yours most faithfully, + +F. Liszt + +Rome, [June, 1882] + + + +301. To the Commendatore F.von Jagemann at Freiburg in Breisgau + +[From a copy of Liszt's in the possession of Otto Lessmann at +Chalottenburg.] + +Dear Sir and Commendatore + +You ask me if L. Ramann's biography is "classical"? To belong to +the classical means, first of all, to be dead, then to be to the +world immortal. Neither of these is claimed at present by yours, + +F. Liszt + +Freiburg, July 6th, 1882 + + + +302. To Nicolaus Oesterlein in Vienna + +[The Addressee was the able founder and possessor of the Richard +Wagner Museum in Vienna, a unique collection, in its way, of +musical and historical importance. The bibliography mentioned in +the letter came out I (at Breitkopf and Hartel's) shortly before +the first performance of "Parsifal."] + +My Dear Sir, + +I have already heard the praise of your "Catalogue of a Richard +Wagner Library." It will be a pleasure to me to make its +acquaintance, and while awaiting your kind sending of the work +accept thanks for your accompanying lines, + +From yours very truly, + +F. Liszt + +Bayreuth, July 16th, 1882 + + + +303. To Kornel von Abranyi + +Bayreuth, July 23rd, 1882 + +Dear honored Friend, + +By the same post you will receive the instrumentation of the "A +magyarok istene" for the Musical Festival at Debreczin..--. I beg +the directors carefully to try over the small instrumentation +before the full rehearsal, with the instruments (plus the +brilliant cymbals), without the vocal parts. + +The solo trumpeter must perform his part, as a Hungarian Magnate, +in a noble manner, and not blow the trumpet as though it were a +trade. + +I also beg that the directors will be so good as to correct any +chance mistakes there may be in my hastily written and unrevised +manuscript score. Though I trouble myself but little about the +spread of my compositions, yet I do not wish them to be offered +to the public in a mutilated form. As I flatter myself that I +possess a sufficient portion of self-criticism, other criticism +remains only valuable and instructive to me. + +Your son Kornel is heartily welcome to me at Bayreuth. + +I will discuss here with Vegh [Formerly Vice-president of the +Hungarian Academy of Music.] the ministerial affairs of your +"academic, historical manual." The matter will assuredly be +settled to your satisfaction. + +Yours most faithfully, + +F. Liszt + +Wagner's "Parsifal" far surpasses the master-works which the +theater boasts up to the present time. May the public be educated +up to it. + + + +304. To Freiherr Hans von Wolzogen + +My dear Freiherr, + +Both at and after yesterday's performance of Wagner's "Parsifal" +it was the universal feeling that about this wonder-work it is +impossible to speak. + +It has indeed struck dumb those who were so deeply impressed by +it; its sacred pendulum swings from the sublime to the sublimest. + +Yours ever, + +F. Liszt + +Bayreuth, July 27th, 1882 + + + +305. To Madame Malwine Tardieu + +Weimar, September 12th, 1882 + +Dear Madame and Friend, + +How I reproach myself for the delay in my written thanks! Those +preceding my letter have not been wanting, and your friendly +kindness touches me deeply. Lassen assures me of your indulgence. +He has lately heard at Brussels "l'hymne a la beaute," [By +Benoit. Performed at the Brussels Musical Festival in August +1882] and (between ourselves) did not think it particularly +beautiful. In this kind of music even the greatest masters have +seldom succeeded in freeing themselves from lukewarm +conventionality. This [conventionality] affords matter for +academical prizes such as have been carried off several times by +Madame Louise Collet of inglorious memory. + +Our friend Benoit shall follow his vocation of musical "Rubens". +And Gounod's "Redemption"! Ought one to speak of success or non- +success in a work of that kind? Gounod has always kept the +Catholic religious incentive with a turn towards the sublime. His +"Polyeucte" is a witness for him. + +May that abominable quibbler and bloodthirsty "doctrinaire," +Henry VIII., be the means of a brilliant and lasting success to +St. Saens, who richly deserves it; but in the matter of serious +opera the public has reached that blase point which is explained +in the words of Ronge, a naive German reformer:-- + +"What we have we don't want any more; and what we would have we +don't quite know." Wagner has known how to want and to act-- +gloriously, although and because. [Wagner a su vouloir et +perpetrer--glorieusement, quoique et parce que.] His work is +already becoming immortal. + +Let us speak of some modest things, concerning your humble +servant. The three Psalms have been admirably translated into +French by Mr. Lagye; I will write my thanks to him fully, as soon +as I have entirely finished the work of adapting the text to the +music. For this it is necessary to modify and rewrite about +fifteen pages, a dozen of which are ready. I shall send the whole +to Kahnt, the publisher, on Sunday next, and shall inform Lagye, +in whose debt I am, of the remainder of the arrangements. + +His translations appear to me really excellent, very carefully +made, and prosodically well suited to the music. I only regret to +have to give him so much trouble, but I hope that in the end he +will be satisfied with me. He shall have the second copy of my +"Lieder;" if he succeeds as well in putting them into French as +he has done with the three Psalms, they may with advantage make +their way in Belgium and still farther. + +All my articles of musical criticism, lately published by L. +Ramann under the title of "Essays" (Breitkopf and Hartel, +Leipzig), were written in French. Three or four appeared long ago +in the Debats and the Constitutionnel. The most extensive of +these, on Berlioz's "Harold Symphony," was to have been put into +a celebrated review in Paris, but in the fifties it was +considered too eulogistic, and I refused any curtailments for +Berlioz...Consequently this article has only appeared in a German +translation (Neue Zeitschrift fur Musik, Leipzig). What has +become of the original French manuscripts of my complete articles +I don't in the least know. The introduction to Hartel's for which +Mr. Kufferath [Moritz Kufferath, a writer on music, reviewer of +the "Guide musical" (Schott), and translator of many of Wagner's +writings, wanted to translate Liszt's Essays into French.] asks +will not serve his end at all. The only person who could give him +some particulars would be Mademoiselle L. Ramann, my biographer, +who has been for many years past on the look-out for everything +relative to my prose and music. She is the directress of a +Pianoforte School in the Durerplatz at Nuremberg (Bavaria). + +Please thank Kufferath for his kind interest, and assure him +that, if I abstain from writing to the firm of Hartel, it is from +no want of willingness on my part. A thousand friendly regards to +your husband, and ever cordial and devoted expressions to +yourself. + +F. Liszt + +I stay here till the beginning of October. + + + +306. To Otto Lessmann + +My Very Dear Friend, + +It is only through your kindness that I learn of Hellmesberger's +intention to perform shortly in Vienna a new Mass of my +composition. Hellmesberger has indeed always been very well +disposed towards me, and has frequently conducted the Hungarian +Coronation-Mass in the Hofkapelle, and several of my longer works +at concerts; but it would be rather difficult for him to conduct +a new Mass, because I have not composed one. I should think it +must be the "Missa choralis" (with Organ accompaniment only)... + +Here is the list of my Masses, and the order in which they were +composed:-- + +1. For men's voices (with Organ), Anno 48--Editio nova at +Hartel's. + +2. The Gran Mass. + +3. Missa choralis (with Organ) at Kahnt's. + +4. Hungarian Coronation-Mass (performed at the coronation in +Buda). + +5. Requiem for men's voices (with Organ). Rome, latter half of +the sixties. Published by Kahnt. + +Perhaps I shall yet write a Requiem at special command. [A +requiem, composed on the death of the Emperor Maximilian of +Mexico, still exists in manuscript.] I beg you to give my thanks +to the friendly publisher of the Symphonic Poem "From the cradle +to the grave," for sending me the pianoforte version of this +composition. Before the end of October I will send Bock the +completed score. + +A short piece from Parsifal, "Solemn March to the Holy Grail," +will reach Schott today at Mainz. + +Three weeks longer remains here Yours ever faithfully, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, September 16th, 1882, + +Ever heartily welcome in Weimar; that is to say, if the visit +suits you as Allegro commodo. It would be dreadful to me to +incommode my friends. + + + +307. To Otto Lessmann + +Dear Friend, + +If one wants to be just, he must see that he speaks only with +high respect of Hans von Bulow. His knowledge, ability, +experience are astounding, and border on the fabulous. Especially +has he, by long years of study, so thoroughly steeped himself in +the understanding of Beethoven, that it seems scarcely possible +for any one else to approach near him in that respect. One must +read his commentary on the pianoforte works of Beethoven (Cotta's +edition), and hear his interpretations of them--(what other +virtuoso could have ventured to play the 5 last Sonatas of +Beethoven before the public in one evening?), and follow Bulow's +conducting in the orchestral works of Beethoven. To set one's +back up against such remarkable deeds as these, I call feeble or +malicious nonsense. + +Yours ever in friendship, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, September 20th, 1882. + + + +308. To Frau Charlotte Blume-Arends + +Weimar, September 27th, 1882. + +My dear friend, + +I thank you again for a beautiful, kind gift--"The Oberammergau +Passion Play," described by Franz Schoberl, a clergyman in +Laibstadt. The little book has been composed with reverence, and +gives an exact description of the Oberammergau production, which +seems to me especially deserving of notice on account of the +agreement between the Old Testament representations--beginning +from Adam and Eve to the Brazen Serpent and further--and their +fulfilment in the facts of the gospel. This agreement is no +simple peasant's invention, but indeed a significant, most +touching parallel, thought out by cultured priests, familiar with +the Christian tradition. The grouping, and the mute performance +of the life-like Old Testament representations and of the +Crucifixion of Christ in Oberammergau, deserve full praise, in +contrast to the music, which is beneath criticism, and very much +spoiled the whole performance for me. And even such esteemed and +highly honored Catholic musicians and divines as F. Witt, Haberl, +etc., protest against such inane musical stuff and rubbish. + +Thank you once more, and with heartfelt greetings to you and +yours, + +Yours most truly, + +F. Liszt + + + +309. To Otto Lessmann + +Dear Friend, + +At the Musical Festival which I had the honor of conducting some +twenty-five years ago at Aix-la-Chapelle, Hiller, the friend of +my young days in Paris, took up quite a critical attitude against +the conductor and his compositions. + +I took no particular notice of his behavior, but I heard that it +displeased many people, who made no secret of it to him. I was +also told that at one of the rehearsals Hiller did not exactly +leave of his own accord. As I was engaged at the conductor's desk +I did not observe the occasion of his leaving, and contented +myself with reading, some days later, his witty report of the +Aix-la-Chapelle Musical Festival in the Cologne paper. My +excellent friend, Freiherr Hans von Bronsart, replied to Hiller's +article with no less wit and with a different opinion. Unhappily +the musical chronicle is overflowing with unresolved discords. + +To you, dear friend, I am ever harmoniously, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, October 14th, 1882 + + + +310. To Otto Lessmann + +[Weimar,] November 4th, 1882 + +Dear Friend, + +I shall be delighted if the Tannhauser-Songs [Composed by +Lessmann, transcribed by Liszt for piano, and published by Barth, +Berlin (now Junne, Leipzig)] give you satisfaction. Find a +pianist of the fair sex, or the other sex, in Berlin, who will +set about his task well of playing these songs in public. As far +as I can tell I should think they would bring the player +applause. + +I will answer your two questions at once. + +Of my "continuously written autobiography" I have as yet heard +nothing. Publishers have frequently asked me to write memoirs, +but I put it off with the excuse that it was more than enough for +me to live through my life, without transcribing it to paper. If +I were married I could certainly dictate somewhat of it to my +wife now and then. But I am glad to keep out of the bothers of +penmanship, which I dislike. + +The dramatic performance of the Elizabeth in Cologne is to take +place after my return from Budapest, next April or May. (I have +promised to be present at it.) Yesterday evening I wrote a couple +of lines of thanks and commendation to Herr Duysen, for Fraulein +Spiring, whom you met here [Lives now in Jena]. She is a pianist +and teacher deserving of recommendation, and is trying to +establish herself in Berlin, and I commend her to your good +graces. + +With thanks, yours ever, + +F. Liszt + +Rubinstein is coming to see me next Tuesday after the Leipzig +performance of the "Maccabees." + + + +311. To Madame Malwine Tardieu + +Weimar, November 6th, 1882 + +Dear Friendly One [Chere bienveillante], + +I am still detained here, partly on account of a stupid +indisposition,--nothing serious, but disagreeably prolonged. I +make a rule of never bothering my head about my health, and I beg +my friends never to trouble about it. + +Thank you for sending the 3rd volume of the correspondence of +George Sand. The long letter of 20 pages to Mazzini, dated the +23rd May, '52, appears to me to be a chef d'oeuvre of judgment +and foresight. In 1852 few political men were placed in a +sufficiently elevated position to rule the fluctuations of +socialism and to understand its necessary value. Mazzini himself +was mistaken in this, as well as in regard to the importance of +the acquisition of universal suffrage. Forgive me for wandering +off thus into political matters, of which I don't understand +anything, and of which it does not concern me to talk. But I will +just quote to you a mot which in 1842 was rather widely spread on +the sly in Petersburg. A fair lady of my acquaintance told me +that the Emperor Nicholas had said to her of me, "As to his hair +and his political opinions, they displease me." I begged the same +lady to transmit my reply, which was as follows: His Majesty has +every right in the world to judge me as seemeth well to him, +nevertheless I venture to beg him not to think that I am an +idiot. Now it would be idiocy on my part to proclaim political +opinions. The Emperor shall know them when he deigns to put +300,000 soldiers at my disposal.-- + +To return to the letters of George Sand. Those addressed in '52 +to Prince Jerome Bonaparte and to Louis Napoleon about the +pardoning of several democrats are in exquisite taste; the genius +of a great heart appears in them. Allow me to beg for the little +account of the books that you have been so kind as to send me, +dear Madame Tardieu, and please add to it the price of the +subscription to the Bien public. I suppose you only took it for +one quarter, and I will not go on with it, not having time to +read half the papers which my profession and my tastes would lead +me to peruse. Besides this my eyes, without having exactly +anything the matter with them, do not any longer adapt themselves +either to reading or writing without reprieve; and by evening I +often feel extremely tired... + +Has the Independance Belge spoken of a most interesting and +superb volume, + +"The Correspondence and Musical Works of Constantin Huygens" +(17th century), published by Jonckbloet and Land, professors at +the University of Leyden, magnificently edited by Brill at +Leyden? + +The work is worthy of notice. + +To the kind remarks which the Indpendance has inserted on the +concert of the 23rd October with the Liszt programme, [A Liszt- +concert in the Weimar theater in celebration of his birthday.] I +add the observation that the real title of my "Transcription" of +the "Rakoczy March" should be--"Paraphrase symphonique." It has +more than double the number of pages of Berlioz's well-known one, +and was written before his. From delicacy of feeling for my +illustrious friend I delayed the publication of it until after +his death; for he had dedicated to me his orchestral version of +the Rakoczy, for which, however, one of my previous +transcriptions served him, chiefly for the harmonisation, which +differs, as is well known, from the rudimentary chords usually +employed in the performances of the Tsiganes and other little +orchestras on the same lines. Without any vanity I simply +intimate the fact, which any musician can verify for himself. + +At last I have just written to my most honored and more than +obliging collaborator, Mr. Lagye. His excellent French +translation of my four Psalms is being engraved. As soon as it is +out you shall have it. + +In about ten days I shall join the Wagners, and shall spend more +than a month with them at the Palazzo Vendramin, Venice. + +Cordial regards to your husband, from your + +Very grateful and affectionate + +F. Liszt + +The director of the subscription concerts at Weimar is going to +give Benoit's "La Guerre," and at the next Musical Festival +Benoit's "Sanctus" and "Benedictus" will be heard. [Both these +intentions of Liszt came to nothing, owing to external causes.] + + + +312. To the Editor of the "Allgemeine Musikzeitung," Otto +Lessmann, at Charlottenburg + +Dear Mr. Editor, + +As I am very much hindered in my work by overmuch sending of +scores, other compositions, and suchlike writings, I beg you to +make it known that I wish in future not to have my attention +claimed in this manner. I have modestly refrained for many years +past from contributing to collections of autographs. + +Yours truly, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, November, 1882 + + + +313. To Adelheid Von Schorn + +Monday, November 20th, 1882 + +Venezia la bella: Palazzo Vendramin. + +Dear Friend, + +I don't intend you to hear first through others of my safe +arrival here. Thank Heaven! the Wagners and all the family are in +perfect health. + +Your brother will write you word from Nuremberg that the method +of whist, so to say invented and certainly perfected by you, is +being spread on to the Durerplatz also under your name at L. +Ramann's. To get rid of all the aces first of all is really +glorious. + +With the exception of one incident, which stricter people than +myself would call a regular fleecing on the part of the Custom +House at Milan, whereby I parted with about 70 francs as a fine +for having brought 50 cigars (!), all my journey passed off very +well. At Zurich I met with the same kind reception on the part of +several members of the Committee--with the President of the town, +Mr. Roemer, at their head--as at the Musical Festival last July. +The proprietor of the Bellevue Hotel, Mr. Pohl (no relation to +his namesake at Baden), insisted on my accepting gratis a +charming room, with dinners, suppers and excellent wines. Such +munificence would have given a fit of fever to the late Hemleb of +the Erbprinz, and his associates will scarcely imitate Mr. Pohl's +amiable proceeding. So I will beg you to recommend the very +comfortable Hotel Bellevue, in the front ranks, to any of your +friends and acquaintances who may pass through Zurich. Without +promising that they will be received gratis, I can assure them +that they will find the beautiful view on to the lake, good +rooms, an excellent cuisine, and attentive service. The Duke of +Altenburg and other princes have stayed in it, and inscribed +their names in the hotel album. + +Your friend Ada Pinelli is still here with the Princess Hatzfeld, +at Palazzo Malipieri. I shall go and see her tomorrow. I shall, +however, practise great sobriety in the matter of visits. Wagner +does not pay any, and I shall imitate him on this point to the +best of my ability. My illustrious friend has lodged me +splendidly in a spacious apartment of the Palazzo Vendramin, +which formerly belonged to Madame la Duchesse de Berry. Her son, +the Duke della Grazia, is at present the owner of it, and Wagner +is the tenant for one year. The beautiful furniture still bears +the impress of the old princely regime, and is perfectly +preserved. The main inhabited part of the Palazzo Vendramin is in +the best possible condition, so that Wagner did not have to go to +any special expense, not even for stoves and other requisites, +which are often neglected. + +Ever since my first stay in 1837 I have been enamoured of Venice: +this feeling will not grow less this time, but quite the +contrary. + +Cordial and very devoted friendship. + +F. Liszt + +Try to learn something about Bulow, and send me word. It was +heart-breaking to me not to see him again at Meiningen. + + + +314. To Freiherr Hans Von Wolzogen + +My Dear Freiherr, + +.--. Wagner is perfectly within the truth when he says that +without the extraordinary munificence of H.M. the King of Bavaria +the performances of "Parsifal" at Bayreuth would have been +endangered, and only the sympathy of the public, outside the +Wagner Societies, made the continuance of them possible. But does +it follow from this that the Wagner Societies are useless, and +that this is the opportunity for disbanding them? To my thinking, +No, for they keep up a wholesome agitation, and support the +"Bayreuther Blatter," which essentially promote the good cause. +There does not seem to me to be any advantage in changing the +name Society [Verein] into Fellowship [Genossenschaft]. Wagner's +great name and most important personality are what are most +needed here. Moreover the parliamentariness of the Societies will +not be averse to the absolute authority of the creator of so many +immortal works. In merely minor matters variety of opinions may +be made apparent; in all essentials we are really and truly one. +On this account I desire the continuance, consistency, and +increasing welfare of the Societies.-- + +It goes without saying that Wagner must reign and govern as +legitimate monarch, until the complete outward realization of his +Bayreuth conception--namely, the model performance of his entire +works, under his own aegis and directions at Bayreuth. It behoves +all who sympathise in the historico-civilised culture of Art in +the coming years of the closing 19th century to endeavor to +promote this aim. + +When we have attained the end in question let us sing with +Schiller and Beethoven, + +"Freude, schoner Gotterfunken!" ["Joy, thou spark from heaven +descending!"] + +Accept, dear Freiherr, the assurance of my true and high esteem. + +F. Liszt + +Venezia, November 24th, 1882 + +Pray remember me most kindly to your family. + + + +3l5. To Franz Servais + +Dear Franz, + +Your welcome lines reached me at Weimar and I thank you cordially +for them... + +I tell you again, dear Franz, that you were "born with a silver +spoon in your mouth;" after the hearing of your Opera with the +piano the success of a performance will follow.--Don't get +impatient at a little delay; the most illustrious composers, +including Meyerbeer, could not say, like Louis XIV., "J'ai failli +attendre." ["I nearly had to wait."]...But I hope that the saying +"Tout vient a point, a qui sait attendre" ["All comes to him who +can wait."] will be realised in your case without much delay. +Good courage then and Mistress Patience. + +Will you remember me very affectionately to Godebski; his +graceful bust, so perfect in its likeness to the never-to-be- +forgotten Madame Moukhanoff, is ever the precious ornament of my +little salon at the "Hofgartnerei" in Weimar. + +The large bust of Rossini which Godebski presented to the Grand +Duke ornaments the lobby of the theater, where it blooms like a +god from Olympus. Tell me what works Godebski has been doing +lately. + +When next you see Madame Judith Gautier, please express to her +anew the admiring homage of your very faithful + +F. Liszt + +Venezia, November 26th, 1882 + +P.S.--Our friends * * * might, I think, do you good service with +M. Vaucorbeil, and could tell him also, as a "by the way," that I +take a lively interest in your work. Would you perhaps think it +advisable to let some fragment of it be given at a public +concert? I am remaining here till New Year's Day with the +Wagners, at the superb Palazzo Vendramin; then I shall return +direct to Budapest. + + + +316. To Adelheid von Schorn + +Venezia, December 8th, 1882 + +Dear Friend, + +Your sad news about Bulow's bad state of health are much the same +as his wife gave to Daniela. Let us hope for more reassuring +news! + +Here, in Palazzo Vendramin, a peaceful and most united family +life goes on without monotony. But I cannot speak of the things +which touch me most, except clumsily. So it is better to keep +from doing so. The Princess writes to me from Rome that she shall +be delighted to obtain possession of the two water-colors of +Gleichen for the splendid portfolios of drawings belonging to her +daughter, of which the mother, since the years at Weimar, has +regally provided the greater part. These portfolios are among the +finest collections in Europe. + +Joukowski [Widely known by his "Parsafal" sketches and the +portraits of Liszt and of Wagner's family], who has been delayed +by a funeral and by the floods, will arrive here today. Neither +funerals nor floods have been able to prevent Lassen from scoring +our Symphonic Intermezzo "Uber allen Zauber Liebe" ["Above all +magic Love"]. I hope Lassen will conduct it at the Court concert +on New Year's Day, and I beg you to go and hear it and let me +know about it. .--. + +I beg Gille to send me the volume "Die deutsche Buhne von einem +Weimaraner" ["The German stage, by a Weimarer"]. Do you know who +it is? According to the index he seems to ignore the doings of +the Weimar theater during the last thirty years, which is not +very honorable to a Weimarer, and looks very like a cowardly +action of a low standard. + +Your cordially devoted + +F. Liszt + +Saturday Morning, December 9th + +Joukowski arrived last night, and we began at once to sound your +praises. + +Daniela has written to you. I will send you the programme of the +performance of Goethe's "Geschwister" ["Brothers and Sisters"], +which will take place tomorrow at Princess Hatzfeld's. Those old +books of operas, such as "Les Indes galantes" ["The gallant +Indies"], and other antiquities, re-edited in Paris, may +peaceably repose at the "Hofgartnerei;" unless you prefer to lend +them to some one who likes works of that kind, which are sought +by some. + + + +317. To Professor Carl Riedel + +Dear Friend, + +Draseke's "Requiem" is such a first-rate work, and is so likely +to obtain a good reception from the public, that I again +recommend the performance of it at the next Tonkunstler- +Versammlung. Draseke will presumably also agree to it in the end. + +Gustav Weber's Trio, Op. 5, published by Siegel, and dedicated to +me, I consider an eminent work, worthy of recommendation and +performance. I am sure you think the same. + +I should like to add to the vocal programme of the Tonkunstler- +Versammlung two songs by your name-sake Riedel, now +Hofkapellmeister in Brunswick. [Hermann Riedel, born 1847, made a +special success with songs from Scheffel's "Trompeter von +Sakkingen."] If they should be ascribed to you they will please +you all the better for that. And a propos, why do you let your +valuable, excellent works be so seldom heard in public? I shall +reproach you further with this injustice to yourself when we come +to talk over the programme, and I hope that you won't continue to +overdo your reserve as a composer. Without pushing one's-self +forward one must still maintain one's position, to which you, +dear friend, are fully entitled. Will you be so kind as to tell +Hartel to send me here quickly 25 sheets of to line, and 25 +sheets of 12 line music paper (oblong shape, not square) for +cash, together with a few of the small books of samples, +containing all kinds of music paper, which I have recommended +several musical friends of mine here and elsewhere to buy. One +can rub out easily on this paper, which is one of the most +important things--that is to say, unless one tears up the whole +manuscript, which would often be advisable. + +A happy Christmas, and a brave New Year '83. + +Ever your faithfully attached + +F. Liszt + +Venezia, Palazzo Vendramin, December 9th, 1882 + + + +318. To Arthur Meyer in Paris, Presidet of the "Presse +Parisienne" + +[Copied in the Gazette de Hongrie at Budapest, February 1st, +1883] + +Monsieur le Directeur, + +My telegram of this morning expressed to you my excuses and deep +regret at being unable to be of use in the programme of your +Festival. [Liszt had been asked to take part in a Festival which +was given at the Grand Opera for the benefit of the sufferers +from the inundations in Alsace-Lorraine. "The Dame of Liszt in +France," they wrote, "is synonymous with triumph, and we know +that it is also synonymous with kindness."] + +It would certainly be an honor to me to take part in it, and I am +by no means oblivious of the gratitude I owe to Paris, where my +youthful years were passed. Moreover it would be, it seems to me, +a becoming thing that, after the generous and striking sympathy +shown by Paris--also by a festival at the Grand Opera--to my +compatriots on the occasion of the inundation of Szeged, an +artist from Hungary, who has been favored by so much French +kindness, should make his public acknowledgments at your +approaching grand performance. + +Unfortunately my age of 72 years invalidates me as a pianist. I +could no longer risk in public my ten fingers--which have been +out of practice for years--without incurring just censure. There +is no doubt on this point; and I am perfectly resolved to abstain +from any exhibition of my old age at the piano in any country. + +Please accept, Monsieur le Directeur, my thanks and best +compliments. + +F. Liszt + +Budapest, January 28th, 1883 + + + +319. To the Composer Albert Fuchs + +Your "Hungarian Suite" [For Orchestra, dedicated to Liszt] is an +excellent and effective work. While springing from the musical +ground of Hungary, it nevertheless remains your own property, as +there are no imitations or used-up ornamentations in it, but +rather much new employment of harmonies, and always a national +coloring. For the dedication you are heartily thanked by + +F. Liszt + +Budapest, February 4th, 1883 + + + +320. To Saissy, Editor of the "Gazette de Hongrie in Budapest + +[From a rough copy in the possession of Herr O. A. Schulz, +bookseller in Leipzig.] + +I come to ask your advice, dear Monsieur Saissy; please give it +me quite frankly, without any reserve, and tell me whether you +think it is an opportune moment for my letter (which I enclose), +relative to my pretended animadversion against the Israelites, to +be published or not. If you think it is, I beg you to insert it +in the next number of the Gazette de Hongrie; otherwise it shall +remain unprinted, as I shall not send it to any other paper. + +As the proverb says, "Silence is gold"; but perhaps, under the +given circumstances, in view of the serious question of the +Israelites in Hungary, it would be better to speak in the current +silver money in the papers. + +Let us rectify errors, and remain modest but not timid. In +faithful devotion, + +F. Liszt + +Budapest, February 6th, 1883 + + + +321. To The Editor of the "Gazette de Hongrie" + +[Published in the Gazette de Hongrie of February 8th, 1883, +Budapest. A translation of it also appeared in German papers; +amongst others, in Lessmann's Allgemeine Musikzeituug, at the +wish of the Master, who was annoyed with the aspersion against +himself of having promoted the Antisemitic movement.] + +Mr. Editor, + +It is not without regret that I address these lines to you; but, +as there has been some report spread here about my pretended +hostility to the Israelites, I ought to rectify the mistake of +this false report. + +As is well known in the musical world, many illustrious +Israelites, Meyerbeer first and foremost, have given me their +esteem and friendship, and the same in the literary world with +Heine and others. + +It seems to me that it would be superfluous to enumerate the many +proofs I have given, during fifty years, of my active loyalty +towards Israelites of talent and capacity, and I abstain in like +manner from speaking of my voluntary contributions to the +charitable institutions of Judaism in various countries. + +The motto of my patron saint, St. Francois de Paule, is +"Caritas!" I will remain faithful to this throughout my life! + +If, by some mutilated quotations from my book on the Gipsies in +Hungary, it has been sought to pick a quarrel with me, and to +make what is called in French une querelle d'Allemand, I can in +all good conscience affirm that I feel myself to be guiltless of +any other misdeed than that of having feebly reproduced the +argument of the kingdom of Jerusalem, set forth by Disraeli (Lord +Beaconsfield), George Eliot (Mrs. Lewes), and Cremieux, three +Israelites of high degree. + +Accept, Sir, etc., + +F. Liszt + +February 6th, 1883 + + + +322. To Rich and Mason in Toronto + +[From a rough copy in the possession of Herr O. A. Schulz, +bookseller in Leipzig] + +[1883] + +Dear Sirs, + +The Rich and Mason Grand Piano which you have so kindly sent me +here is a pattern one. And as such will artists, judges, and the +public recognise it. + +Together with my hearty thanks I wanted at the same time to send +you the Liszt portrait for which you wished. It was painted by +Baron Joukowski, son of the highly honored tutor and friend of +Alexander II., a man who will also be ever famous in Russian +literature. Now, however, this Liszt portrait has been such a +success that they wanted to have a second one like it for the +Joukowski Museum. The painter kindly consented to the request, +which has necessitated a delay of 2 to 3 months in my sending off +the first portrait to Toronto. + +Joukowski had also prepared the sketches for the "Parsifal" +scenery in Bayreuth, which were followed by a successful +performance. + +Excuse, dear Sirs, the delay in my acknowledgments, and accept +the assurance of my high esteem. + +F. Liszt + + + +323. To Madame Marie Jaell in Vienna + +[Autograph in possession of Herr Commerzienrath Bosendorfer in +Vienna.--The addressee was the widow of Alfred Jaell, and was a +pianiste and composer in Paris.] + +Chere Admirable [Dear Admirable One], + +I give you at once a most cordial welcome to Budapest. Have you +already made your arrangements for concerts here? Can my very +excellent friend Bosendorfer be of use to you as an agent? To my +regret I am not in a position to help you in that, on account of +my being so very decidedly out of touch with the principal +concert arrangers of the neighborhood, who impertinently make a +pitiable trade for the benefit of Art...the art of their own +pocket and predominance. + +To our right speedy meeting! Will you let me make acquaintance +with your new compositions, and accept the homage of my admiring +sympathy and affection? + +F. Liszt + +Budapest, February 12th, 1883 + +Have you had anything to do with a serious and really +distinguished composer,--Rendano? He is giving his concert in +Vienna one of these next days. + + + +324. To Adelheid Von Schorn + +If you were here, dear friend, you would perhaps find means to +put into some sort of order the hundreds of letters that rain +upon me from everywhere. These bothers and burdens of the +amiability with which I am credited are becoming insupportable, +and I really long, some fine day, to cry from the housetops that +I beg the public to consider me as one of the most disagreeable, +whimsical and disobliging of men. + +To our cordial meeting at Weimar in the early days of April. + +Ever your very affectionate and grateful + +F. Liszt + +Budapest, February 14th, 1883 + + + +325. To Otto Lessmann + +Your sad news [After Wagner's death on the 13th February] pierces +my heart. Worthily have you said of the great, undying hero of +Art, "May the memory of him lead us on the right road to truth!" + +I abstained from going at once to Venice and Bayreuth, but no +sensible man will on that account doubt my feelings. Until +Passion Week I remain here; then according to what my daughter +arranges I shall either go to Bayreuth or elsewhere, wherever my +dearly beloved daughter may be. + +Hearty thanks, dear friend, for your satisfactory, truthful +adjustment of my position, which is neither a doubtful nor a +cowardly one, in the Jewish question. + +The watchword and solution of that question is a matter for the +perseverance of the Israelites and for the all-ruling Divine +Providence. + +Yours faithfully and gratefully, + +F. Liszt + +Budapest, February 18th, 1883 + +I shall send that number of your weekly paper (16th February) to +Cardinal Haynald, my gracious patron of many years' standing--who +was also the President of the Liszt-Jubilee Festival in Budapest. + + + +326. To Lina Ramann + +My very dear Friend, + +Ever since the days of my youth I have considered dying much +simpler than living. Even if often there is fearful and +protracted suffering before death, yet is death nonetheless the +deliverance from our involuntary yoke of existence. + +Religion assuages this yoke, yet our heart bleeds under it +continually!-- + +"Sursum corda!" + +In my "Requiem" (for men's voices) I endeavored to give +expression to the mild, redeeming character of death. It is shown +in the "Dies irae," in which the domination of fear could not be +avoided; in the three-part strophe + +"Qui Mariam absolvisti, +Et latronem exaudisti, +Mihi autem spem dedisti" + +lies the fervent, tender accent, which is not easily attained by +ordinary singers...The execution is also made more difficult by +the 2 semitones, ascending in the 1st Tenor, and descending in +the 2nd Tenor and 1st Bass. Progressions of this kind are indeed +not new, but singers so seldom possess the requisite crystal- +clear intonation without which the unhappy composer comes to +grief. + +Our 3rd Elegie, "The funeral gondola" ("la gondola funebre"), +written unawares last December in Venice, is to be brought out +this summer by Kahnt, who has already published my 2 earlier +Elegies. + +Heartfelt greetings to your respected collaborators, and ever +yours gratefully, + +F. Liszt + +Budapest, February 22nd, 1883 + + + +327. To Madame Malwine Tardieu + +Dear Benevolent One, + +To great grief silence is best suited. I will be silent on +Wagner, the prototype of an initiatory genius. + +Thank you cordially for your telegram of yesterday. [On the +success of Saint-Saens' Opera "Henry VIII." at the opera in +Paris] No one rejoices more than I in the success of Saint-Saens. +There is no doubt that he deserves it; but fortune, grand +sovereign of doubtful manners, is often in no hurry to array +herself on the side of merit. + +One has to keep on tenaciously pulling her by the ear (as Saint- +Saens has done) to make her listen to reason. + +Be so good as to send me the number of the Independance with the +article on "Henry VIII." I will ask M. Saissy, the director of +the Gazette (French) de Hongrie, professor of French literature +at the University of Budapest, to reproduce this article in his +Gazette. Saissy is one of my friends; consequently he will +publish what is favorable to "Henry VIII." + +Saint-Saens has sent me the score of his beautiful work "La Lyre +et la Harpe." Alas! everything that is not of the theater and +does not belong to the repertoire of the old classical masters +Handel, Bach, Palestrina, etc., does not yet gain any attentive +and paying consideration--the decisive criterion--of the public. +Berlioz, during his lifetime, furnished the proof of this. + +Please give my love to your husband, and accept my devoted and +grateful affection. + +F. Liszt + +Budapest, March 6th, 1883 + +With regard to Lagye, I am contrite. Various things which I had +to send off with care have prevented me from going on with the +revision of the French edition of my Lieder. It shall be done +next month. + + + +328. To Ferdinand Taborszky, Music Publisher in Budapest + +Dear Taborszky, + +As it is uncertain whether I shall still be alive next year, I +have just written an Hungarian "Konigslied" [Royal Song] +according to an old mode, for the opening of the New Hungarian +Theater in Radialstrasse. + +Herewith is the manuscript for pianoforte, two hands, and the +score with text by Kornel Abranyi [German translation by +Ladislaus Neugebauer] will follow in Easter week. + +The publishing of my "Konigslied" ought not to take place till +the first performance in the new theater in '84, + +Until then we will keep quiet about it.-- + +Yours in all friendship, + +F. Liszt + +Budapest, March 11th, 1883 + + + +329. To Baroness M. E. Schwartz + +[Autograph in the Liszt Museum at Weimar] + +Budapest, March 22nd, 1883 + +Dear and most excellent One, + +[Chere excellentissime] + +It is really extraordinary that after so many years of constant +practice in works of mercy you are not ruined. Your life seems to +me one vast symphony of generosity, munificence, charities, gifts +and attentions as delicate as they are costly. To begin with, +there are Garibaldi and his people, and to continue indefinitely +there are those poor German fellows, ill at Rome, and buried +there at your expense; and then the fighting Cretans, the infirm +people in your hospital at Jena, the societies for the protection +of animals, etc., etc. + +I admire you and bow before your perpetual kindnesses and +goodness,--all the more because you exercise them unobtrusively, +as it were in the shade, without any flourish of trumpets and +drums. + +Do not scold me for having divided the gift you confided to me +for the sufferers from the inundations at Raab. 300 florins were +amply sufficient for them, and the other 300 florins of your 50 +pounds sterling were well employed for the children's gardens (an +admirable institution of Frobel's), of which Madame Tisza, the +wife of the President of Council of the Ministers of Hungary, is +the president in this country. + +I send you herewith Madame Tisza's thanks (in Hungarian, with a +German translation), and the receipt of Count Thun,--supreme +Count (an ancient title still preserved,--"Obergespan" in German) +of the Committee of Raab. + +I preferred to send your gift in the name of Madame E. de +Schwartz, and not to mix up your nom de plume of Elpis Melena +with it. Pardon me this innocent bit of arbitrariness. + +Shall I see you again, my very dear friend, this summer at +Weimar? I hope so, and I remain sempper ubique + +Your grateful and attached + +F. Liszt + +From the middle of April until August I shall stay at Weimar, +with the exception of some excursions of a few days' duration. +Please let me know a couple of weeks beforehand when your +friendly visit will take place. + + + +330. To Baroness Wrangel in St. Petersburg + +[This lady had begged Liszt for a contribution to an album which +it was intended to present to Henselt on the occasion of a +festival in honor of his having been 25 years General Music +Inspector of the Imperial Schools in St. Petersburg, Moscow, etc. +This is Liszt's answer.] + +Madame la Baronne, + +For thirty years past I have entirely abstained from adding to +collections of autographs and of writing my name in any albums +whatever. Nevertheless I willingly make an exception today, while +thanking you for your kind words, and begging you to transmit to +my honored friend A. Henselt the short copy enclosed herewith. + +A renowned diplomatist once said to me, "To princes one should +offer only flowers gathered from their own gardens." + +Henselt belongs to the princes, and will accept the souvenir of +one of the most beautiful flowers of his own noble gardening. + +Very humble respects. + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, May 20th, 1883 + +[Liszt adds a postscript to this letter where he writes a musical +score excerpt of the Larghetto form Henselt's Concerto:] + +"Albumblatt" for Henselt. + +Motive of the wonderful Larghetto in A. Henselt's Concerto. +Larghetto. + +[Here, Liszt illustrates with a musical score excerpt of the main +theme of the Larghetto.] + +For 40 years the composer's admiring and truly attached + +Weimar, May, 1883 + +F. Liszt + + + +331. To Mason and Hamlin in Boston + +[Printed in Gottschalg's "Urania"] + +My dear Sirs, + +For what a magnificent Organ I have to thank your kindness! It is +worthy of all praise and admiration! Even average players could +attain much success on it.--I should gladly have kept this +splendid instrument in my own house, but, alas! there is not +sufficient room for it. It is now looking grand in the large room +of the Orchestral School here, an institution of importance, the +excellent director of which is Herr Professor and +Hofcapellmeister K. Mueller-Hartung--he has published some +beautiful Organ Sonatas and plays them no less beautifully.--On +the evening of its opening two renowned organists played upon it, +the Court organist A. W. Gottschalg (the publisher of the +considerable Organ repertoire, etc., etc.), and the town organist +B. Sulze, who has attained a great name through many valuable +compositions and transcriptions.--I shall probably have a visit +this summer from Prof. Dr. Naumann from Jena, Walter Bache from +London, and Saint-Saens from Paris, who, according to my opinion, +continues to be the most eminent and extraordinary king of +organists. I shall not fail to beg the three above-mentioned +virtuosi to make a closer acquaintance with your organ. For the +rest it shall not be misused and shall remain closed to ordinary +players. + +Accept, etc., + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, June 12th, 1883 + + + +332. To Madame Malwine Tardieu + +Chere Bienveillante, + +Thank you for the very agreeable news of the resumption and +continuation of the performances of "Henry VIII." No one wishes +Saint-Saens, more than I do, all the success that he grandly +deserves, both in the theater and in concerts. + +In the matter of concerts, those of the Meiningen orchestra, +under Bulow's conductorship, are astonishing, and very +instructive for the due comprehension of the works and the +rendering of them. I send you a copy of some lines written to a +friend; these will give you my impression,--one which you would +share if you heard these concerts of the highest artistic +lineage.--The parallel between the "Sigurd" of Reyer [Performed +for the first time on 7th January, 1884, at the Theater de la +Monnaie, Brussels.] and the "Siegfried" of Wagner is ingeniously +traced by your husband, and renders good preparatory service to +the success of the performances of "Sigurd." As to the +"Nibelungen" tetralogy of Wagner--it shines with an immortal +glory. In the course of the winter season the Weimar theater will +give Gevaert's "Quentin Durward." Lassen will take the utmost +pains in directing the study and performance of it. To my regret +I shall not be able to be present at the premiere here, as I am +obliged to be at Budapest before the middle of January. + +Please give Tardieu the cordial love of + +Your much attached + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, December 14th, 1883 + +Yet another young pianist, but one of the best kind,--M. Siloti, +a Russian by birth, and of good education. He was said to be the +best pupil of Nicholas Rubinstein before he came to work with me. +He obtained a marked success at Leipzig lately, which he will +continue next week at Antwerp. In spite of my aversion to letters +of introduction, I am giving him a couple of words for the +Lynens, and I recommend him to your kind attention. + + + +333. To Casar Cui + +Very Honored Friend, + +It is well known in various countries in what high esteem I hold +your works. As I am convinced that the "Suite" of which you speak +will prove itself worthy of your preceding compositions, I feel +that I am honored by the dedication, and thank you for it with +gratitude. Your musical style is raised far above ordinary +phraseology; you do not cultivate the convenient and barren field +of the commonplace...Doubtless form in Art is necessary to the +expression of ideas and sentiments; it must be adequate, supple, +free, now energetic, now graceful, delicate; sometimes even +subtle and complex, but always to the exclusion of the ancient +remains of decrepit formalism. + +At Meiningen, where Bulow's admirable conducting is working +wonders of rhythm and nuances with the orchestra, I lately had +the honor of a conversation with the Grand Duke Constantine +Constantinowitch, on the actual development of music in Russia +and of the well-known capacity of its courageous promoters. His +Imperial Highness justly appreciates their serious worth, their +noble character and intense originality; consequently, dear +Monsieur Cui, the Grand Duke accords full praise to your talents +and deserts. I take pleasure in repeating this to you, at the +same time renewing to you the assurance of my very sincere +regard. + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, December 30th, 1883 + +A young Russian pianist, M. Siloti, who has been brought to a +high state of virtuosity by the lessons and example of Nicholas +Rubinstein, is now gaining a real success in Germany. When he +comes to Petersburg I recommend him to your kindness. + + + +334. To Otto Lessmann + +Weimar, January l0th, 1884 + +Dear Friend, + +The remarkable concerts of the Meiningen Court orchestra led me +to the attempt to write a "Bulow March." I send you herewith a +Preface to this, and also an article (in French), in the form of +a letter, on my impressions in Meiningen. Will you insert both +these in your paper? Also kindly translate the French letter. + +[It follows here after the Preface in the original. A German +translation of it appeared in Lessmann's Allgemeine Musikzeitung +on the 18th January, 1884, under the title of "Letter to a +friend."] + +Faithfully yours, + +F. Liszt + +I shall stay ten days to a fortnight longer in Weimar on account +of the severe illness of Achilles [Liszt's servant]. + +Preface to the Bulow March: + +For thirty years Hans von Bulow has been expressing and actively +furthering everything that is noble, right, high-minded and free- +minded in the regions of creative Art. As virtuoso, teacher, +conductor, commentator, propagandist--indeed even sometimes as a +humorous journalist--Bulow remains the Chief of musical progress, +with the initiative born in and belonging to him by the grace of +God, with an impassioned perseverance, incessantly striving +heroically after the Ideal, and attaining the utmost possible. + +His conducting of the Meiningen Court orchestra is a fresh proof +of this. To that same orchestra this "Bulow March" is dedicated +in high esteem for their model symphonic performances, by + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, January, 1884 + +Meiningen, December, 1883 + +At seven o'clock people were at the rehearsal of the Beethoven +concert. Under Bulow's conducting the Meiningen orchestra +accomplishes wonders. Nowhere is there to be found such +intelligence in different works; precision in the performance +with the most correct and subtle rhythmic and dynamic nuances. +The fact of the opera having been abolished at Meiningen by the +Duke some twenty years ago is most favorable to the concerts. In +this way the orchestra has time to have a fair number of partial +and full rehearsals without too much fatigue, as the opera work +has been done away with. Bulow is almost as lavish of rehearsals +as Berlioz would have been if he had had the means to be...The +result is admirable and in certain respects matchless, not +excepting the Paris Conservatoire and other celebrated concert- +institutions. The little Meiningen phalanx, thanks to its present +General, is in advance of the largest battalions. It is said that +Rubinstein and some others have expressed themselves +disapprovingly about some of the unusual tempi and nuances of +Bulow, but to my thinking their criticism is devoid of +foundation... + +Besides the programme of the Beethoven concert, in the morning +there was an extra seance of the orchestra for the performance of +the Overtures to "King Lear" (Berlioz) and to the +"Meistersinger," my march "Vom Fels zum Meer," the "Ideales," and +Brahms' Variations on a theme of Haydn. Always the same and +complete understanding in the ensemble and the details of the +scores,--the same vigor, energy, refinement, accuracy, relief, +vitality and superior characteristics in the interpretation. + +An extraordinary thing! the most difficult Quartet of Beethoven, +one which on account of its complications never figures on any +programme, the grand fugue, Op. 133, is played by the Meiningen +orchestra with a perfect ensemble. On a previous occasion I also +heard at Meiningen Bach's celebrated Chaconne played in unison +with a real virtuosity by some ten violins. + +F. Liszt + + + +335. To Felix Mottl, Hofcapellmeister at Carlsruhe + +[The addressee, born in 1856, has been since 1880 at Carlsruhe, +where he was recently appointed to the post of Court opera +conductor, and since 1886 one of the conductors of the Bayreuth +Festivals. He is one of the most important conductors of the +present day, and has also come forward as a composer.] + +My Very Dear Friend, + +You have done a noble artistic deed in reinstating Cornelius's +charming Opera "The Barber of Bagdad." I hardly know of any other +comic opera of so much refined humor and spirit. This champagne +has the real sparkle and great worth. + +The one-act arrangement seems to me the most propitious. As in +Carlsruhe so elsewhere it will make its way. Write about this to +Hans Richter. "The Barber of Bagdad" might perhaps, in one act, +become a stock-opera in Vienna, and then return once more to +Weimar, where, at the first performance long ago, they behaved so +ill about it. + +Friendly thanks, and yours ever, + +F. Liszt + +Budapest, February 8th, 1884 + + + +336. To Frau Hofrathin Henriette von Liszt + +My Very Dear Cousin, + +This time I was not able to have a thorough rest in Vienna. Such +an extra [luxury] is hardly my lot anywhere. My life is one +continued fatigue. Some one once asked the celebrated Catholic +champion Arnauld (the Jansenist) why he did not allow himself +some rest. "We have eternity for that," answered he. + +I hear for the first time through you of a cousin or niece, Mary +Liszt, a concert giver. Concert givers have frequently misused +our name by playing under it in provincial towns. A pianist in +Constantinople, Herr Listmann, apologised to me for having +knocked off the second syllable of his name. On this account he +received a valuable present from the then Sultan Abdul Medgid. .- +-. + +Farewell till our next meeting in Easter week, dear cousin, from +yours ever affectionately, + +F. Liszt + +Budapest, February 8th, 1884 + +One, and even two, letters from the Princess in the month of +January have been lost. + + + +337. To Camille Saint-Saens. + +Very Dear and Most Excellent Friend, + +Before I received your kind letter I had intimated to Baron +Podmaniczki, the Intendant of the theater of Budapest, that he +ought to esteem it an honor to give your Henry VIII.--a frightful +personage in history, but brilliantly illustrated by your +beautiful music [an Opera by Saint-Satins]. The inauguration of +the new theater will take place at the end of September with the +St. Etienne, a new Opera by Erkel, the popular dramatic composer +par excellence in Hungary. His Huvtyadi Laszlo was performed 250 +times, and his "Bankban" more than 100, without ever over- +reaching the mark. Two other works are promised after the St. +Etienne, so that your Henry VIII. cannot appear till '85, for it +still has to be translated into Hungarian. + +I spoke about it in Vienna to his Excellency Baron Hoffmann, the +Intendant of the Imperial Theaters. He told me that your work is +going to be given shortly at Prague, and that he will send his +own conductor, M. Jahn, there, in order that it may be better +looked after. I beg that you will send the piano score of Henry +VIII. at once to M. le directeur Jahn (very influential), with a +few polite lines; also to do the same to M. Erkel Sandor (son of +the composer), conductor of the National Opera of Budapest. +Address to him "Theater National," Budapest. + +Very much vexed to be unable to make a place for one of your +grand works--such as your superb Mass or some Poeme symphonique-- +in the programme of our next Tonkunstler-Versammlung at Weimar +from the 23rd to the 28th May. Sauret is going to play your third +Concerto, and I will send you this overloaded programme. If you +came to hear it, it would be a very great pleasure to + +Your admiringly and cordially attached + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, April 29th, 1884 + + + +338. To Otto Lessmann + +[Weimar,] May 7th, 1884 + +Dear Friend, + +The motto of my Oratorio "Stanislaus" is "Religion and +Fatherland." In the fragment (Orchestral Interlude) which will be +given here at the next Tonkunstler-Versammlung the whole meaning +of the work is made plain. [This remained unfinished, as is well +known.] + +Farewell till our speedy meeting. + +Ever faithfully yours, + +F. Liszt + + + +339. To Camille Saint-Saens + +Very dear Friend and Confrere, + +I refused to suspect that there could be any ill-will against you +at Budapest. Nevertheless I think it is strange and most unjust +that your dramatic and symphonic works have not yet taken the +place which is due to them in Hungary. I have explained myself +clearly about them several times, but the theater menage, and +even that of the Philharmonic Concerts, is formed outside of my +influence. They are quite ready to accord me a general +consideration, with the exception of arranging particular cases +otherwise than I wished. For many people doubtful profits and +manoeuvres contrary to their dignity exercise an irresistible +attraction. The idea of honor seems to them too troublesome. + +I shall not desist in the least from my conscientious propaganda +of your 'Henry VIII' and other of your works. The new theater at +Budapest will open (at the end of September) with the 'Roi St. +Etienne', [King Stephen] a grand Hungarian Opera by Erkel +(senior). After that Baron Podmaniczky, the Intendant, has +promised to give a new Opera by Goldmark, also Hungarian in +subject, and another by Delibes. The "Henry VIII." should appear +somewhere between these three. Its performance at Prague will +determine that at Vienna, which will be soon, I hope. His +Excellency Baron Hoffmann, the Intendant of the Imperial Theaters +in Vienna, told me that he would send his artistic and musical +conductor (at the Opera), M. Jahn, to Prague. It depends on the +opinion of this person whether "Henry VIII." is given at Vienna. + +When you come again to Weimar you are sure to be received there +with sympathy, gratitude and sincere admiration by your old +attached friend, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, May 18th, 1884 + +Thanks for the photograph. You will find it well placed here near +a charming bust. The Court and town of Weimar keep their +affectionate and kind sentiments towards you. + + + +340. To Walter Bache + +Dear honored Friend, + +I am very gladly in accord with all your doings, and only protest +against the sacrifice you have in the noblest manner made for my +severely criticised works. + +The English edition of the "Elizabeth Legend" with your sister's +translation delights me. + +Tell Mr. Alfred Littleton he can send me the proof-sheets (bound) +of the piano edition, and the score, to Weimar. Along with this +the 4 four-hand pieces (published by Kahnt) might also be +published. Would it be well perhaps to begin with these? Arrange +about this as you like with Mr. Littleton. I have only to correct +the proofs, which will quickly follow. + +If you think it would do, I shall also add to the English edition +a little Preface, in the form of a letter--addressed to Walter +Bache. + +By the same post today I send you the complete enormous programme +of the Tonkunstler-Versammlung (going through 25 years). This +evening they begin with the acting performance of the "Elizabeth +Legend." + +Auf Wiedersehen! [To our next meeting!] + +I shall stay at Bayreuth from July 5th till the middle of August, +and then come back to Weimar. + +Faithfully and gratefully, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, May 23rd, 1884 + +I have told Kahnt all that concerns himself in your letter. + + + +341. To the Composer Carl Navratil in Prague + +Dear Herr Navtatil, + +I write in haste to tell you that Smetana's [Bohemian composer +and pianist (1824-84).] death has moved me deeply. He was a +genius. More in my next. In haste. + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, May 30th, 1884 + + + +342. To Baron Friedrich Podmaniczky, Intendant of the Hungarian +Opera in Budapest + +[From a rough copy in Liszt's own handwriting in the possession +of Abranyi] + +[1884] + +Monsieur le Baron, + +I have begged my friend M. de Mihalovich to lay before you a +proposition, the fate of which depends on the committee that +directs the orders for the sculptures of the new National +Hungarian Theater. + +In my humble opinion it would be unjust, and even ungrateful, to +exclude from them the likenesses of two composers of high +distinction, the late Mosonyi and Franz Doppler. + +A charming Opera of Mosonyi's of elevated taste, "Szep Ilonka" +["The fair Helen": its subject, like that of his other Opera +"Almos," was taken from Hungarian history], has been performed +here some dozen times with success, and was then consigned to +oblivion in the oubliettes of the administration. Another greater +dramatic work by Mosonyi, "Almos," has remained in manuscript, +although Baron Orczy, your predecessor as Intendant, had some +idea of producing it. + +The whole of the brave musical activity of Mosonyi at Budapest is +most honorable and meritorious, as much by his teaching as by his +numerous compositions of Church music, orchestral music, and +piano music. Many of his Hungarian pieces remain classical, as +opposed to the current wares, supposed to be of this same kind, +more frequently heard (at the present time in Vienna). + +Franz Doppler has left the best possible remembrance of his rare +talents and qualities at Budapest, where during many years he +fulfilled the duties of conductor to the theater, and shone by +his virtuosity (very celebrated in Europe) as a flute player--an +instrument which Frederick the Great condescended to use. +Doppler's Operas "Beniowszky" and "Ilka" were favorably received; +and up to the present time "Ilka" is the only Hungarian opera +admitted to the repertoire of several theaters in Germany. +Besides this Doppler has also written two acts of the "Elizabeth" +[The opera "Elizabeth," composed by Franz Erkel and Doppler, was +performed at the National Theater in 1857], by which Her Majesty +the Queen of Hungary was entertained at the theater of Budapest. + +I venture then, Monsieur le Baron, to recommend you to see about +the desirability of placing two fine reliefs of Mosonyi and +Doppler [The reliefs adorn the vestibule of the opera house.] in +a suitable position in the new theater in the Radialstrasse, and +beg you to accept the expression of my high esteem and sincere +devotion. + +F. Liszt + + + +343. To Freiherr Hans von Wolzogen + +Dear Freiherr, + +My admiration remains unlimited for the sublime genius of Wagner. + +What blissful creative power and influence has he not, ever +active from "Tannhauser" to the "Ring des Nibelungen" and the +marvellous "Parsifal."-- + +The Art of our century finds its foundation and glory therein. + +The little that I have written in letters about Wagner is at the +service of the public. + +With highest esteem yours most truly, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, June 18th, 1884 + +To our friendly meeting in Bayreuth in the middle of July. + + + +344. To the Concert-Singer Auguste Gotze + +[Daughter of Professor Franz Gotze, and--as one of the first +singing mistresses of the present day--the inheritor of his +school; she is also a talented singer, reciter, and dramatic +poetess. She lives at Leipzig.] + +Dear Friend, + +In honor of you I will willingly endeavor to add the melodramatic +accompaniment to Felix Dahn's poem. ["Die Mette von Marienburg" +[The Matins of Marienburg] Liszt's intention remained, alas, +unfulfilled.] This short work will only require a few hours but I +can seldom get any free hours for working...All sorts of +interruptions keep me from writing. + +Hearty greetings to your charming colleague, Fraulein von +Kotzebue. + +High esteem from your friendly + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, June 22nd, 1884. + + + +345 To Kornel von Abranyi + +Dear, excellent Friend, + +The best person to make a suitable instrumentation of the +"Rheinweinliedes" [Rhine-wine-song] for the Miskolcz Musical +Festival will be our friend C. Huber. [Carl Huber, conductor of +the Hungarian Provincial Singers' Union, died 1885.] This chorus +for men's voices was written in Berlin in the year '42, and +performed there several times, and afterwards in Leipzig also, +about which a "querelle d'Allermand" [groundless quarrel] soon +reached me in Paris.-- + +To bear and forbear is ever our life's task. + +As I have marked on the accompanying copy, on pages 3, 5, 7, +instead of D-flat, G-flat in the 2nd tenor, the C, F + +[Here, Liszt illustrates with a musical score excerpt showing a +cadence in B-flat] + +is to remain. + +The Gazette de Hongrie [Gazette of Hungary], and still more the +Budapester Tageblatt [Budapest daily paper], in which your son +Kornel is a collaborator, gave me the tidings of the election +doings in the cara patria. + +Without in the least taking part in politics, yet I take that +interest in them which it behoves every not uneducated man to do; +and I rejoice that Kornel Abranyi, junior, is taking his seat in +Parliament. + +Heartily, faithfully yours, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, July 1st, 1884 + +From the 12th July till the middle of August I shall be at +Bayreuth. + +Tell Huber to do the instrumentation of the "Rheinweinlied" quite +freely, according to his own will and what he thinks best, +without a too careful attention to the printed piano +accompaniment. + + + +345A. To Madame Malwine Tardieu + +[Autograph in possession of Constance Bache] + +Dear kind Friend, + +I have spoken to you several times of my excellent friend--of +more than 20 years--Walter Bache. He maintains himself worthily +in London as an artist of worth, intelligence, and noble +character. His sister has made a remarkable translation of the +"Elizabeth" into English. + +Receive the Baches (who pass a day in Brussels) in a friendly +manner. + +Cordial devotion, + +F. Liszt + +Bayreuth, August 9th, 1884 + +Tomorrow evening I shall be back at Weimar, and shall probably go +to Munich for the second series of the "Nibelungen" performances +(28th August). + +Please give my cordial regards to Tardieu. + + + +346. To the Music Publisher Rahter in Hamburg + +Dear Herr Rahter, + +Best thanks for kindly sending me the Russian "Fantasie" by +Naprawnik--a brilliantly successful concert-piece--and the +Slumber Songs by Rimsky-Korsakoff, which I prize extremely; his +works are among the rare, the uncommon, the exquisite.--The piano +edition of his Opera "Die Mainacht" [The May Night] has either +not reached me or else has got lost.--Send it me to Weimar +together with a second copy of Naprawnik's Russian "Fantasie," +which is necessary for performance. + +Many of my young pianists will be glad to make this "Fantasie" +known in drawing-rooms and concerts.-- + +With friendly thanks, + +F. Liszt + +Munich, August 28th, 1884 + + + +347. To Richard Pohl + +[Printed in the Allgemeine Deutsche Musikzeitung of 24th +October,1884.] + +My very dear Friend, + +I have long wanted to repeat my hearty thanks to you for the +faithful, noble devotion which you have always bravely and +decidedly shown to the Weimar Period of Progression in the years +1849-58. The third volume of your collected writings "Hector +Berlioz" affords another proof of this devotion, which is highly +to be valued in contrast with the far too general wishy-washy +absence of opinion. + +After the unheard-of success of more than 20 performances of "The +Damnation of Faust" by the concert societies of Lamoureux, +Pasdeloup, Colonne, in the same season in Paris--not counting the +theater, for which this work is not suitable, the French Berlioz +literature is increasing. You know Hippeau's octavo book "Berlioz +Intime," which is shortly to be followed by a second, "Berlioz +Artiste." I wish this to profit by your work. + +In reading the first volume I was painfully affected by several +passages out of Berlioz's letters, in which the discord and +broken-heartedness of his early years are only too apparent. He +could not grasp the just idea that a genius cannot hope to exist +with impunity, and that a new thing cannot at once expect to +please the ancient order of things. + +For the rest, there lies in his complaints against the Parisian +"gredins et cretins" [fools and scoundrels], whom he might also +find in other places, a large share of injustice. In spite of his +exaggerated leniency in favor of a foreign country, the fact +remains that up to the present time no European composer has +received such distinctions from his own country as Berlioz did +from France. Compare the position of Beethoven, Weber, Schubert, +Schumann, with that of Berlioz. In the case of Beethoven the +Archduke Rudolf alone bespoke the "Missa solemnis." The profit +from his rarely given concerts was small, and at the last he +turned to the London Philharmonic Society for support. + +Weber acted as Court conductor in Dresden, and wrote his Oberon +at the invitation of London. + +Schubert's marvellous productiveness was badly paid by the +publishers; other favorable conditions had he none. + +Schumann's biography testifies no patriotic enthusiasm for his +works during his lifetime. His position as musical conductor at +Dusseldorf was by no means a brilliant one... + +It was otherwise with Mendelssohn, who had private means, and +who, by his delicate and just eclecticism, clinging to Bach, +Handel, and even Beethoven, obtained continual success in England +and Germany. King William IV. called him to Berlin at the same +time with Cornelius, [This means the painter Cornelius.--Trans.] +Kaulbach, Schelling, and Meyerbeer, which he did not enjoy any +better than Leipzig. + +I make no further mention of Meyerbeer here, because he owes his +universal success chiefly to Paris. It was there that all his +Operas, from "Robert" and "The Huguenots" to his posthumous +"L'Africaine," were first performed--with the exception of "Das +Feldlager in Schlesien" [The Camp in Silesia], which also +sparkled later in Paris as "L'etoile du Nord." + +Now let us see how things went with Berlioz in his native land. + +Like Victor Hugo, he was, after three times becoming a candidate, +elected a member of the "Institute of France,"--similarly +(without any candidature) to be librarian of the Conservatoire; +he was also a collaborator of the highly esteemed "Journal des +Debats" and officer of the Legion of Honor. + +Where do we find in Germany similar proofs of distinction? Why, +therefore, the bitter insults of Berlioz against the Paris +"gredins" and "cretins"? Unfortunately it certainly never brought +Berlioz an out-and-out theatrical success, although his nature +leaned that way. + +I send you herewith Reyer's feuilleton (Journal des Debats, 14th +September) regarding the latest brochure by Ernst "upon Berlioz." + +With hearty thanks, yours most truly, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, September 12th, 1884 + + + +348. To Sophie Menter + +My dear Friend, + +My few days' stay at your fairy-like castle Itter [In Tyrol.] +will remain a magic memory. + +When you have signed the Petersburg Conservatorium contract let +me know. You know, indeed, that I very much approve of this turn +and fixing of your brilliant artistic career. It requires no +excessive obligations, and will be an advantage to you. + +Friendly greetings to the New School from your faithful admirer +and friend, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, September 13th, 1884 + +I am here till the end of October. Later on I shall visit my +friends Geza Zichy and Sandor Teleky in Hungary. + + + +349. To Baron Friedrich Podmaniczky, Intendant of the Royal +Hungarian Opera in Budapest + +[Printed in the Pester Lloyd (evening paper of 27th September, +1884).--Liszt having sent Podmaniczky a Royal Hymn for the +opening of the New Hungarian Opera House instead of a Festal +Prelude, which the latter had requested, Podmaniczky wrote to the +Master on the 17th September, 1884, that the motive of the hymn +having been borrowed from a revolutionary song would prove an +"unsurmountable obstacle" to its performance. The letter was also +signed by Alexander Erkel as conductor. Whereupon Liszt wrote the +above reply.] + +Dear, Hochgeborener [Many of these titles have been left in their +original language, being unused in England, and having no +equivalent with us.--Trans.] Herr Baron, + +To your letter dated the 17th of this month I have the honor of +replying as follows: that the song "Hahj, Rakoczy, Bercsenyi" was +not unknown to me is shown by the piano edition of my "Hungarian +royal hymn" published by Taborsky and Parsch, on the title-page +of which stand the words "After an old Hungarian air." I learned +to know this song from Stefan Bartolus's Anthology, and it took +hold of me with its decided, and expressive and artless +character; I at once provided it with a finale of victory, and +without troubling my head further about its former revolutionary +words I begged Kornel Abranyi, jun., for a new, loyal text with +the refrain "Eljen a kiraly," so that my "Royal hymn" might +attain its due expression both in words and music. + +Transformations are nothing rare in Art any more than in life. +From countless heathen temples Catholic churches were formed. In +the classic epoch of Church music--in the 16th century--many +secular melodies were accepted amongst devotional songs, and in +later times the Catholic antiphones were heard as Protestant +Chorales. And this went yet further, not excepting Opera, in +which Meyerbeer utilised the Chorale "Eine feste Burg" for a +stage effect, and in "L'Etoile du Nord" consecrated the "Dessauer +Marsch" into the Russian National hymn. A revolutionary tendency +is commonly ascribed to the universally known and favorite +"Rakoczy March," and its performance has been more than once +forbidden. + +Music remains ever music, without superfluous and injurious +significations. For the rest, God forbid that I should anywhere +push forward either myself or my humble compositions. I leave it +entirely to your judgment, hochgeborener Herr Baron, to decide +whether my "Royal hymn" shall be performed in the new Hungarian +Opera House or not. The score, as also the many orchestral and +vocal parts, are to be had at the publishers, Taborsky and +Parsch. + +I beg you, Sir, to accept the expression of my high esteem. + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, September 21st, 1884 + +[To this Alex. Erkel made the proposal that Liszt's "Konigslied" +("Royal Song"), instead of being performed at the opening of the +new theater on the 27th September, should be given at an "Extra +Opera performance." The Master consented, but did not appear at +this first performance of his work, which took place on the 25th +March, 1885, and met with tremendous applause.] + + + +350. To Walter Bache + +[This letter is published, as a Preface, in the English edition +of Liszt's "St. Elizabeth."] + +Very honored Friend, + +For some twenty years past you have been employing your beautiful +talent as a pianist, your care as a professor and as a conductor +to make my works known and to spread them in England. The task +seemed an ungrateful one, and its want of success menacing, but +you are doing it nobly, with the most honorable and firm +conviction of an artist. I renew my grateful thanks to you on the +occasion of the present edition of the "Legend of St. Elizabeth," +published by the well-accredited house of Novello. [The +translator of the English edition (Constance Bache) has also +translated many of Liszt's songs into English.] + +This work, which was performed for the first time in 1865 at +Budapest, has been reproduced successively in several countries +and languages. Let us hope that it will also meet with some +sympathy in England. + +Your much attached + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, October 18th, 1884 + + + +351. To the Composer Mili Balakireff, Conductor of the Imperial +Court Choir in St. Petersburg + +Very honored, dear Confrere, + +My admiring sympathy for your works is well known. When my young +disciples want to please me they play me your compositions and +those of your valiant friends. In this intrepid Russian musical +phalanx I welcome from my heart masters endowed with a rare vital +energy; they suffer in no wise from poverty of ideas--a malady +which is widespread in many countries. More and more will their +merits be recognised, and their names renowned. I accept with +gratitude the honor of the dedication [to me] of your Symphonic +Poem "Thamar," which I hope to hear next summer with a large +orchestra. When the 4-hand edition comes out you will greatly +oblige me by sending me a copy. From the middle of January until +Easter I shall be at Budapest. + +Please accept, dear confrere, the expression of my high esteem +and cordial attachment. + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, October 2lst, 1884 + + + +352. To Countess Louise de Mercy-Argenteau + +[Known through her zealous propaganda, in Belgium and France, of +the music of the New Russian School. After the death of her +husband (1888), Chamberlain of Napoleon III., she left her native +land of Belgium and removed to St. Petersburg, where she died in +November 1890.] + +October 24th, 1884 + +Certainly, my very dear and kind friend, you have a hundredfold +right to appreciate and to relish the present musical Russia. +Rimski-Korsakoff, Cui, Borodine, Balakireff, are masters of +striking originality and worth. Their works make up to me for the +ennui caused to me by other works more widely spread and more +talked about, works of which I should have some difficulty in +saying what Leonard once wrote to you from Amsterdam after a song +of Schumann's: "What soul, and also what success!" Rarely is +success in a hurry to accompany soul. In Russia the new +composers, in spite of their remarkable talent and knowledge, +have had as yet but a limited success.--The high people of the +Court wait for them to succeed elsewhere before they applaud them +at Petersburg. A propos of this, I recollect a striking remark +which the late Grand Duke Michael made to me in '43: "When I have +to put my officers under arrest, I send them to the performances +of Glinka's operas." Manners are softening, and Messrs. Rimski, +Cui, Borodine, have themselves attained to the grade of colonel. + +At the annual concerts of the German and Universal Musical +Association (Allgemeiner Deutscher Musik-Verein) they have, for +many years past, always given some work of a Russian composer, at +my suggestion. Little by little a public will be formed. Next +year our Festival will take place in June at Carlsruhe. St. Saens +is coming; why not you, too, dear friend? You would also hear +something Russian there. + +When you write to St. Saens, please tell him of my admiring and +very constant friendship. By the work of translation which you +have bravely undertaken, I think that you are doing wisely and +skilfully in freeing yourself from the bondage of rhyme, and in +keeping to rhythmic prose. The important point is to maintain the +lyric or dramatic accent, and to avoid the "desastreuses salades +de syllabes longues et breves, des temps forts et faibles" +[disastrous mess of long and short syllables, and of the strong +and weak time]. The point is to make good prose without any other +scruples whatever. It is said that M. Lamoureux is admitting the +"Steppes" by Borodine into one of his programmes. We shall see +what sort of a reception it will have. For the rest, I doubt +Lamoureux's venturing so soon on the Russian propaganda. He has +too much to do with Berlioz and Wagner. + +Do not let yourself be disconcerted either by the "ineffable" +carelessness, or by the square battalions of objections such as +these: "It is confusion worse confounded; it is Abracadabra" +[Senseless jabber.]--etc. + +Without politeness or ceremony I tell you in perfect sincerity +that your instinct did not lead you astray the day when this +music so forcibly charmed you. Continue, then, your work with the +firm conviction of being in the right path. + +Above all I beg that you will not falsely imagine that I am +taking hold of the thing wrong end foremost. When you knock I +shall not merely say, Enter, but I myself will go before you. To +return to Paris and show myself off there as a young composer or +to continue the business of an old pianist in the salons does not +attract me in the least. I have other things to do elsewhere. + +Faithful homage. + +F. Liszt + +P.S.--I do not know what date to put to these lines. I wrote the +first page on the receipt of your bewitching letter. I meant to +reply to it in full, but all sorts of pressing obligations and +botherations intervened...I have also been to the inauguration of +the statue of Bach at Eisenach, illustrated by three concerts, +composed exclusively of numerous works of Bach's (the Mass in B +minor first and foremost); then I was present at a more curious +concert at Leipzig: on my return I had a severe attack of +illness, which prevented me for several days from writing. In +short, this letter ought to have reached you three weeks ago. +Tomorrow, 25th October, I leave Weimar, and shall not return here +till after Easter. If you condescend to continue writing to me, +please address to Budapest (Hungary) till the end of November. A +prompt answer shall follow. + +F. Liszt + + + +353. To Madame Malwine Tardieu + +Budapest, December 7th, 1884 + +Dear Kind Friend, + +Really and truly when it sometimes happens that I obtain success +I rejoice less over that than over the success of my friends. +Thank you for the pleasant tidings of the brilliant success of +Ossiana [Madame Marie Jaell, the well-known artiste, a friend of +Liszt's.] at Godard's concert. .--. + +You do not tell me where the little notice appeared (with my name +at the heading) which you were so good as to send me. [In the +Gaulois, from the pen of Fourcaud, and, later, in the Album of +the Gaulois, to which the most celebrated tone-poets had +contributed a piece of music as yet unpublished.] One of my works +is mentioned in it with the greatest eulogy--the Gran Mass--which +was so unhappily performed at Paris in '66, and more unhappily +criticised then...The mistake I made was not to have forbidden a +performance given under such deplorable conditions. A +philanthropic reason, which is valueless in matters of Art, kept +me from doing so. I did not wish to deprive the fund for the poor +of the assured receipts of more than 40,000 francs. Pardon me for +recalling this vexatious affair, which makes me all the more +sensible of the flattering attention which the same work is +receiving. + +To my great regret the performances of Henry VIII. by our very +valiant friend St. Saens, which were to have taken place at +Weimar and Budapest, are put off. Mediocrity, as Balzac said, +governs even theaters. Anyhow its power must sometimes be +intermittent. Please say many cordial things to your husband from +your much attached + +F. Liszt + +On Wednesday I shall be in Rome, and back here towards the middle +of January. + + + +354. To Freiherr Hans Von Wolzogen + +Dear Freiherr, + +Hearty thanks for your kind letter. To include me in your noble, +zealous, high-minded efforts in matters for the glorification of +Wagner and according to the wishes of his widow, is to me ever a +duty and an honor. + +Faithfully yours, + +F. Liszt + +Rome, December 18th, 1884 + + + +355. To Camille Saint-Saens + +[End of 1884 or beginning of 1885.] + +Very Dear Friend and Companion in Arms, + +Your sympathy for the "Salve, Polonia" [Orchestral Interlude from +the unfinished Oratorio Stanislaus. It was given at the +Tonkunstler-Versammlung in Weimar in 1884, at which Saint-Saens +was present.] makes me quite happy. Still writing music, as I am, +I sometimes ask myself at such and such a passage, "Would that +please St. Saens?" The affirmative encourages me to go on, in +spite of the fatigue of age and other wearinesses. + +If you do me the honor of playing one of my compositions at the +Carlsruhe Festival please choose which it shall be: perhaps the +Danse macabre [Dance of Death] with orchestra; or--which I think +would be better, for the public would rather hear you alone--the +Predication aux oiseaux [St. Francis preaching to the birds, +followed by Scherzo and March. [Saint-Saens did not go to +Carlsruhe.] + +Cordial wishes for the year '85, and ever your admiringly +attached + +F. Liszt + +Give my best remembrances from Budapest to Delibes. + + + +356. To Countess Mercy-Argenteau + +What wonders you have just accomplished with your Russian concert +at Liege, dear admirable one! From the material point of view the +Deaf and Dumb and Blind Institutions have benefited by it; +artistically, other deaf and dumb have heard and spoken; the +blind have seen, and, on beholding you, were enraptured. + +I shall assuredly not cease from my propaganda of the remarkable +compositions of the New Russian School, which I esteem and +appreciate with lively sympathy. For 6 or 7 years past, at the +Grand Annual Concerts of the Musical Association ("Allgemeiner +Deutscher Musik-Verein"), over which I have the honor of +presiding, the orchestral works of Rimsky-Korsakoff and Borodine +have figured on the programmes. Their success is making a +crescendo, in spite of the sort of contumacy that is established +against Russian music. It is not in the least any desire of being +peculiar that leads me to spread it, but a simple feeling of +justice, based on my conviction of the real worth of these works +of high lineage. I do not know which ones Hans von Bulow, the +Achilles of propagandists, chose for the Russian concert he gave +lately with the Meiningen orchestra, of an unheard-of discipline +and perfection. + +I hope Bulow will continue concerts of the same quality in +various towns of Germany. + +The best among my disciples, brilliant virtuosi, play the most +difficult piano compositions of Balakireff, etc., superbly. I +shall recommend to them Cui's Suite (piano and violoncello). + +Considering the rarity of singers gifted at once with voice, +intelligence and good taste for things not hackneyed,--there is +some delay in regard to the vocal compositions of Cui, Borodine, +etc. Nevertheless the right time for their production will come, +and for making them succeed and be appreciated. In France your +translation of the words will be a great help, and in Germany we +must be provided with a suitable translation. + +A portion of the articles which you kindly sent me upon your +concert at Liege shallbe inserted in the Neue Zeitschrift fur +Musik. I shall endeavor to find another paper also, although my +relations with the Press are by no means intimate. + +Rahter, the musical editor at Hamburg, and representative of +Jurgenson in Moscow, will offer you in homage three of my Russian +transcriptions,--Tschaikowsky's "Polonaise"; Dargomijsky's +"Tarentelle" with the continuous pedal bass of A, A; and a +"Romance" of Count Michel Wielhorsky. Let us add to these the +"Marche tscherkesse" of Glinka, and, above all, the prodigious +kaleidoscope of variations and paraphrases on the fixed theme + +[Here, Liszt illustrates with a musical score excerpt] + +It is the most seriously entertaining thing I know; it gives us a +practical manual, par excellence, of all musical knowledge; +treatises on harmony and composition are summed up and blended in +it in some thirty pages, which teach the subject very fully-- +above and beyond the usual instruction. + +My very amiable hosts at Antwerp, the Lynens, have invited me to +return there this summer at the time of the Exhibition, of which +M. Lynen is the president. I am tempted to do so after the +Carlsruhe Festival, as I keep a charming remembrance of the +kindness that was shown to me in Brussels and Antwerp. + +In about ten days I return to Budapest, whence you shall receive +a photograph of the old, sorry face of your constant admirer and +devoted servant, + +F. Liszt + +Rome, January 20th, 1885 + +A pertinacious editor keeps asking me for my transcription of +Gounod's "Ste. Cecile." If amongst your old papers you should +find the manuscript of it, will you lend it me for a fortnight, +so that it may be copied, printed, and then restored to its very +gracious owner? + +February and March my address--Budapest, Hungary. + + + +357. To Camille Saint-Saens. + +Very honored, dear Friend, + +In order not to become too monotonous I won't thank you any more. +Nevertheless your transcription of my Orpheus for Piano, Violin +and Violoncello charms me, and I beg that you will send it either +to Hartel direct, so that he may publish it at once, or else to +yours very gratefully, so that I may remit it to him, after +having had the pleasure of reading and hearing it at Budapest, +whither, by next Thursday, will have returned + +Your much-attached fellow-disciple, + +F. Liszt. + +Florence, Tuesday, January 27th, 1885. + +Goodbye till we meet in May at Carlsruhe. + + + +358. To Madame Malwine Tardieu. + +I am writing to the director of our "Musik-Verein" to write to +you, dear friend. You will tell Mademoiselle Kufferath, better +than any one else can, how agreeable it will be to everybody, and +to myself in particular, if she takes part in the concerts at +Carlsruhe--in the last days of May. [This did not come to +anything. Saint-Saens' "Deluge," in which she was to have sung, +was not performed at Carlsruhe, and meanwhile Fraulein Kufferath +married and gave up her artistic career.] + +Our "Musak-Verein" has not the advantage of material wealth; +nevertheless we have existed bravely for 25 years without getting +into debt, and faithfully put in practice our principal rule, +which is to perform every year in different towns the valid works +of contemporary composers of any country whatsoever (exclusive of +works for the theater, with the exception of occasional vocal +numbers). This rule, which is difficult to maintain, considering +the expenses and the difficult preparations, distinguishes us +from other musical societies and gives us the character of +pioneers of progress. We have not been behindhand with the group +of composers of young Musical Russia, Rimsky-Korsakoff, Borodine, +Cui, etc., for we have been giving their works for four years +past. + +The very gracious Countess of Mercy-Argenteau has been making +them known lately at Liege, with a brilliant success, quite +justified by the qualities of the works and the charm of the +patroness. + +Will you, dear friend, be so kind as to express my +acknowledgments to Mr. de Fourcaud, [Musical and Art +Correspondent of the Paris Gaulois, with outspoken Wagner +tendencies and opinions.] and accept the expression of my cordial +affection? + +F. Liszt. + +Budapest, April 6th, 1885. + +In a few days I shall be back at Weimar. + + + +359. To Lina Ramann. + +[Weimar] April 27th, 1885. + +I am sending you at once, my very dear friend, the volumes of +scores which I have by me in Weimar. [Works of Palestrina's.] The +celebrated Missa Papoe Marcelli is not amongst them, but can +easily be found; the last edition of it by Amelli, Milan, the +editor-in-chief of the Church-Music paper there. I got him to add +a few indications of expression because, according to my opinion, +without such indications any further editions of Palestrina and +Lassus--the two great Cardinals of old Catholic Church-music-- +would serve only for reading, and not for actual performances. Of +course no one can fix with absolute certainty the figures to the +basses of Palestrina and Lassus; yet there are determining points +from which one can steer. + +The best model of all is and will continue to be--Wagner's +arrangement of Palestrina's "Stabat Mater"--with marks of +expression and plan of the division of the voices into semi- +chorus, solos, and complete chorus. + +Wagner made this model arrangement at the time when he was +conductor in Dresden. It appeared 15 years later, published by +Kahnt. It is to be hoped that people will gradually regulate +themselves by this with judgment--and time. + +Faithfully yours, + +F. Liszt + + + +360. To Camille Saint-Saens + +Thank you cordially, my very dear friend, for the concession you +are willing to make to me. + +The Society of Musicians, in which I have taken part for 25 +years, holds to the principle of producing the works of living +Symphonic composers of all countries. I claim then your superior +and continued share in it, and remain your admiring and attached +friend, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, May 8th, 1885 + + + +361. To Alexander Siloti + +[Well known as one of the most gifted pupils of Liszt, and one of +the first pianists of the present day. Born 1863, and lives now +in Paris] + +In Weimar it is wisest to keep oneself negative and passive. +Therefore, dear Siloti, attempt no "Liszt-Verein." + +[In consequence of the above letter the Liszt-Verein (Liszt +Society) was not founded in Weimar, as Siloti intended, but in +Leipzig in 1885, where it has flourished brilliantly under the +direction of Professor Martin Krause.] + +With thanks, yours truly, + +F. Liszt + +May, 1885 + + + +362. To the Composer J.P. von Kiraly in Eisenstadt + +[From a copy by Director Aug. Gollerich in Nuremberg.] + +Dear Friend, + +Ninety years ago my father was preparing for his duties as book- +keeper to Prince Nikolaus Esterhazy in Eisenstadt. At that time +he often took part, as an amateur, among the violoncellos in the +Prince's frequent Court concerts, under the conductorship of the +happy great master Josef Haydn. My father often told me about his +intercourse with Haydn, and the daily parties he made up with +him. In 1848 I visited the dear, affectionate Father Albach at +the Franciscan monastery of Eisenstadt, and dedicated to him my +Mass for men's voices, which will be brilliantly performed here +very shortly. May the simple, artless genius of Haydn ever rule +over the Eisenstadt Kindergarten conducted by your daughter. + +"Joke and earnest!" Bravo, friend! The work honors the master who +knows so well the Muses. In Oedenburg and Eisenstadt surely every +one will subscribe. At the beginning of July I shall send you a +small contribution for the Kindergarten. Perhaps later on I shall +be able to do more; unfortunately I am anything but well off, and +must content myself with a small amount. + +F. Liszt + +Antwerp, June 5th, 1885 + + + +363. To Ferdinand Taborszky, Music Publisher in Budapest + +Antwerp, June 8th, 1885 + +Very dear Friend, + +From Weimar, where I shall once more be in ten days' time, you +will receive at the beginning of July some short Hungarian +pianoforte pieces, which I shall orchestrate later on, entitled: + + To the memory of +Stephan | Szechenyi +Franz | Deak +Josef | Eotvos +----------------------- +Ladislas | Telek +Michael | Vorosmarti +Alexander | Petofi + +The last piece has already been published by Taborszky, but must +have a few more concluding bars in the new edition. + +"Mosonyi's Trauerklange" (Mosonyi's funeral music), which you +have already had by you for fifteen years, shall make No. 7. Our +friend Mosonyi, so excellent and full of character, and so pre- +eminent a musician, must also not be forgotten. + +The seven numbers make altogether sixty pages of print. All the +new pieces are perfectly ready, written out in manuscript, only +requiring a copyist, whom I cannot find while I am on my journey. +[Liszt's intention to orchestrate the pieces remained +unfulfilled.] + +When I send you the manuscripts I will write all further +particulars with regard to the publishing of them. + +First of all, dear friend, will you be so kind as to go to my +house with Frau von Fabry? I stupidly forgot there--in the +bedroom, not in the salon--the beautiful and revised copy of a +composition for piano and violin or violoncello, together with +the transcription of the same for pianoforte alone. The title is +"La lugubre Gondola" (the funeral gondola). As though it were a +presentiment, I wrote this elegie in Venice six weeks before +Wagner's death. + +Now I should like it to be brought out by Fritzsch (Leipzig), +Wagner's publisher, as soon as I receive it from you in Weimar. +[Published by Frizsch] Hearty greetings to your family. + +Ever faithfully yours, + +F. Liszt + + + +364. To Alfred Reisenauer + +Dear Friend and Art-Comrade, + +I beg you to send me here, in manuscript, your capital +orchestration of the 3rd Mephisto-waltz. Don't take the trouble +to alter anything in this manuscript or to write anything new; +send it me just as I have seen it. When it has been copied the +printed edition will follow, with the name of Reisenauer attached +to it. + +In all friendship, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, September 1st, 1885 + + + +365. To the Editor of the "Allgemeine Musikzeitung," Otto +Lessmann, in Charlottenburg + +[Was published in the Allgemeine Musikzeitung of September 1885] + +Dear Mr. Editor, + +With regret, and a firm conviction, I repeat to you in writing +that Theodor Kullak's forgetfulness ought to be made good by his +heirs. Otherwise it would be severely denounced as unfaithfulness +to his position as an artist. A fortune of several millions +gained by music-teaching ought not to remain buried without any +regard to music students. Unless the heirs prefer to found a +Kullak-Scholarship, I consider that they are in duty bound to +endow the four existing musical scholarships--those in the names +of Mozart, Mendelssohn, Meyerbeer, Beethoven--with 30,000 marks +each: total 120,000 marks. + +With well-known opinions, mindful of the artist's standing, I am +yours truly, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, September 5th, 1885 + + + +366. To Casar Cui + +Very honored Friend, + +The very gracious propagandist, the Countess of Mercy-Argenteau, +has already received a transcription of your brilliant +"Tarentelle." I will send a second copy of it to Bessel +(Petersburg), and shall ask him to give it to you, trusting that +you will not disapprove of the few liberties and amplifications +that I have ventured to make in order to adapt this piece to the +programmes of virtuosi pianists. + +Sincere feelings of esteem and attachment. + +F. Liszt + +Munich, October 18th, 1885 + + + +367. To Countess Mercy-Argenteau + +Dear admirable Propagandist, + +It is your habit to write the most charming letters in the world. +Before receiving your last I had sent you from Weimar my +transcription of Cui's "Tarentelle." If you will condescend to +illustrate it with your fingers it will receive its full meed of +light. + +I am sure you will be so kind as to send my note to Cui, who, I +hope, will not be vexed with the varying readings and +amplifications I have ventured to make, with a view of bringing +the pianist still more forward. In this kind of transcription +some sort of distinction is wanted. + +Tomorrow evening I shall be in Rome,--Hotel Alibert. Please send +me word there of your safe receipt of the manuscript. + +Constant homage, admiring and sincere. + +F. Liszt + +Innsbruck, October 24th, 1885 + + + +368. To Eduard Reuss in Carlsruhe [Pianist, pupil of Liszt's.] + +My dear Friend, + +Thanks and praise for your capital orchestral arrangement of the +"Concerto pathetique." It appears to me effective, well- +proportioned, and done with a refined and due understanding of +it. I had but little to alter in it; but some additions to the +original are desirable, in order to allow full scope to the piano +virtuoso. ["This 'Concerto Pathetique' seems to me a murderous +piece, with which first-rate virtuosi can make an effect," writes +Liszt, on the 10th November, to Reuss.] Hence, in different +places, there are altogether somewhere about fifty to sixty bars +which I add to your manuscript. The beginning is also to be ten +bars sooner, and the ending to conclude with twenty-two bars +more. + +I hear an orchestration of the same "Concerto pathetique" spoken +of, as having been produced in Moscow. I do not know it myself, +and after yours there is no use in it. I received in Weimar, +almost simultaneously with yours, a letter from Joseffy in New +York, begging me to instrumentate the piece. I shall answer him +very soon that your score is already completed, and that he is to +apply to my friend Eduard Reuss if he is disposed to perform the +"Concerto" with orchestra in America. [Joseffy played the +"Concerto Pathetique" in this form from a copy, in the spring of +1886, in New York.] + +Enclosed is my recommendation to Hartel with regard to the +publishing. Send it together with your manuscript, of which it is +not necessary to make a copy--only my scribbling of the additions +must be copied out clean and clearly on an extra sheet.-- + +Probably Hartels will not show themselves disobliging. If they +undertake the publication I should still like to read through the +last proof-sheets. + +The most charming recollection remains to me of Carlsruhe. +[Namely, of the "Tonkunstler-Versammlung" of the "Allgemeine +Deutsche Musikverein," from the 27th May to the 1st June, 1885.] +The Grand Duke was so gracious and truly kind!-- + +Assure your wife of my sincere attachment. + +Faithfully yours, + +F. Liszt + +Hotel Alibert, Rome, November 4th, 1885 + + + +369. To Breitkopf and Hartel + +[This is Liszt's last autograph letter to the Firm; a later one +on the same subject (on the 16th June, 1886) is only signed by +him] + +My dear Sirs, + +Although your shop is already saddled with two editions of my +"Concerto pathetique," I recommend you most particularly the +excellent orchestral arrangement of the same piece, [By Eduard +Reuss. It was published by Breitkopf and Hartel.] to which I have +added some bars for more completion, which should also be +included in the possible (?) later piano editions. + +The poet and the writer often make alterations. With the +engraving of music this is more difficult, though not entirely to +be put aside. + +With esteem, + +F. Liszt + +Rome, November, 1885 + + + +370. To Walter Bache + +My very dear Friend, + +Certainly your invitation takes precedence of all others. So +choose the day that suits yourself and I will appear. Without +Walter Bache and his long years of self-sacrificing efforts in +the propaganda of my works my visit to London were indeed not to +be thought of. + +Do you know your namesake (without the final E), Herr Emil Bach, +Prussian Court-pianist? I enclose herewith a second letter, which +I have answered, as I did the first, that I must not be the +occasion of expense and inconvenience to any one. Orchestral +concerts are expensive everywhere, especially in London. +Consequently I cannot encourage Emil Bach's project, and can only +dissuade him from putting it into execution. Send me word about +this. + +Gratefully and faithfully yours, + +F. Liszt + +Rome, Hotel Alibert, November 17th, 1885 + +Mr. Stavenhagen, [Now one of the most celebrated pianists] a +pianist and musician of real talent, wants to come out in London, +and is writing to you on this subject. + + + +370a. To Walter Bache + +My very dear Friend, + +It is fixed then: Thursday, 8th April, Ricevimento [Reception] at +Walter Bache's house. Enclosed is the letter of the Philharmonic +Society, together with the rough copy of my reply which I send +off today. Please observe the postscript: + +"If, in the concert at which one of my Symphonic Poems will be +performed, Mr. Walter Bache would play some Pianoforte +composition of mine, that would give me great pleasure. I permit +myself to give this simple hint without the slightest desire of +influencing your programme, which it is for you to fix."-- + +I am quite of your opinion, dear friend. The accented poaht of my +coming to London is to be present at the "Elizabeth" performance. +It was this that decided my coming, and it is to be hoped it will +be a success. [It was given on the 6th April, 1886, under the +conductorship of Mackenzie. Bache had already given it in London +in 1876.] + +I have answered Emil Bach's first and second letters to the +effect that I should not wish to involve any one in expense, and +that consequently I must dissuade him from giving an orchestral +Liszt concert. Beg Littleton personally to make my wish quite +clear to Herr Emil Bach, that his proposed concert should not be +given. .--. + +Faithfully yours, + +F. Liszt + +November 26th, 1885 + +I have just received a second letter from the "Philharmonic +Society."--To my answer to the first (sent yesterday) I have +nothing to add. + + + +370b. To the Philharmonic Society + +Very honored Directors, + +Much flattered with your kind intention to admit one of my +"Poemes Symphoniques" on to the programme of the Philharmonic +Society, during my stay in London, I beg you to accept my sincere +thanks. + +Will you please choose, according to your own pleasure, the work +which suits you best, and also ask your "conductor," Sir Arthur +Sullivan, from me, to direct it? + +For twenty years past I have been quite outside of any work as +orchestral conductor and pianist. + +Distinguished consideration and loyal devotion. + +F. Liszt + +Rome, November 26th, 1885 + +P.S.--If, in the concert at which one of my Symphonic Poems will +be performed, Mr. Walter Bache would [etc., see quotation in +previous letter]. + + + +371. To Countess Mercy-Argenteau + +Dear admirable Propagandist, + +Herewith is a different rendering of the shake, with an +indication to the left hand of the motive which is then taken up +again in full. This new shake is a little awkward to do, but not +too troublesome. Will you be so kind as to send it to Cui, and +beg him to be my emissary to the editor of the original of Cui's +brilliant "Tarantelle," for the publication of the transcription? +To my regret the smallness of my income obliges me to leave no +stone unturned to make money out of my transcriptions, [La +modicite de man revenu m'oblige a faire fleche, non pas de tout +bois, mais de fagots de mes transcriptions. The literal +translation is, "Obliges me to utilise, not the wood, but the +faggots of my transcriptions," the point of the sentence turning +upon the French idiom "faire fleche de tout bois," which in +English is rendered by a totally different idiom.--Trans.] for +which I am now paid in Germany, Russia, France, at the rate of +from twelve to 1500 marks apiece, for the copyright in all +countries. + +Observe that I choose works to be transcribed, and refuse myself +to any other demands. This year, for instance, I have confined +myself to the volume that you condescend to accept--and that you +will, I hope, bring to the light by the diamonds and pearls of +your fingers. + +Mr. Bessel therefore only has either to send me 1200 marks in +payment, or else to return me the manuscript without being +ashamed. + +Most humble and constant homage. + +F. Liszt + +Rome, November 21st, 1885 + +When you have sent me word of the result of the negotiation with +Bessel, I will write my thanks and acknowledgments to Cui. + +N.B.--The new shape should be printed as an Ossia, above the old +one. + + + +372. To Camille Saint-Saens + +Very honored Confrere and very dear Friend, + +I shall certainly be in London the first week in April. With +regard to my visit to Paris I am still very undecided, as I do +not wish to expose myself to discomfiture like that which I had +to go through in '66. [Liszt's scruples were removed; as is well +known, he went to Paris, and found himself indescribably feted +there. The triumphs of his youth were repeated once more in the +evening of his life.] + +Everywhere and always I shall be happy and proud of your +collaboration, and remain your sincere admirer and devoted +friend, + +F. Liszt + +Rome (Hotel Alibert), November 28th, 1885 + +I shall remain here till the middle of January. This summer Mme. +Montigny [Mme. Montigny-Remaury, an excellent pianist; retired +into private life on her second marriage in Vienna] spoke to me +of her marriage, which has now taken place. M. de Serres gave me +the impression of an honest man who adores his wife. I have no +news of the newly married couple. + +There is nothing more witty than your remark on the perpetual +youth of composers in Paris. In your company, dear friend, I +would gladly be of the party, in spite of my seventy-four years. + + + +373. To Eugen d'Albert + +[The most important and many-sided of the younger pupils of +Liszt] + +Admired, Dear "Albertus Magnus," + +Thank you for the dedication of your worthy, noble, effective +Concerto, which I have again read through with special pleasure, +and heard played by Stavenhagen. + +Is no edition of it for two pianofortes come out? I think such +editions are desirable--almost indispensable. They are also much +used now. + +Congratulating you on your happiness in becoming a father, with +best regards to your wife, + +Yours most truly, + +F. Liszt + +Rome, December 26th, 1885 + + + +370. To Sophie Menter + +Kind Diplomatist and Very Dear Friend, + +I am writing my most humble thanks to the Grand Duke Constantine +for his gracious invitation, together with the very kindly +intentioned consideration of my age and failing eyesight--and +especially my unfitness for pianoforte playing and orchestral +conducting. This deters me from making any pretensions to a fee; +but you know, dear friend, that my small income would not be +sufficient to pay for lodging and a carriage in Petersburg. From +the 1st to the 12th April I am detained in London. If it is not +too late then, to Petersburg comes + +Yours ever most faithfully, + +F. Liszt + +Rome, December 30th, 1885 + +In the middle of January I return to Budapest. Friendly greetings +to the New School, whom I will beg to assist me as a veritable +privy council in Petersburg. From the next letter of the Grand +Duke Constantine I await the decision whether my journey to +Petersburg in the middle of April is accepted or not. + + + +375. To Eduard Reuss + +My Dear Friend, + +Still some slight alterations and amplifications in the "Concerto +pathetique." + +The drum rhythm + +[Here, Liszt illustrates with a 2-bar musical score excerpt] + +appears to me too risky; if the drummer comes down plump on it +he will spoil the whole piece. Let's therefore put + +[Here, Liszt illustrates with 3-bar musical score excerpt] + +This rhythm will serve us twice as a transition,--and at the end. + +Before the end of this month I shall be in Budapest, and at the +beginning of April in London, for the "Elizabeth" performance +(St. James's Hall) under Mackenzie's conducting. + +Faithfully yours, + +F. Liszt + +Rome, January 10th, 1886 + + + +376. To Walter Bache + +My Very Dear Friend, + +They seem determined in London to push me to the Piano. + +I cannot consent to this in public, as my seventy-five-year-old +fingers are no longer suited to it, and Bulow, Saint-Satins, +Rubinstein, and you, dear Bache, play my compositions much better +than what is left of my humble self. + +Perhaps it would be opportune if friend Hueffer would have the +kindness to let the public know, by a short announcement, that +Liszt only ventures to appear as a grateful visitor, and neither +in London nor anywhere else as a man with an interest in his +fingers. + +In all friendship yours, + +F. Liszt + +Budapest, February 11th, 1886 + + + +77. To the Countess Mercy-Argeneau + +Very Admirable and Admired One [Tres admirable et admiree], + +Your most amiable letter did not reach me without some delay, for +I took about ten days to make the journey from Rome to Budapest. + +Madame Falk writes to me also of the concert at Liege, but I fear +I shall only have excuses to offer. On the 20th March I shall be +in Paris, where the "Gran Mass," too much criticised, and even +hissed by some low fellows (at the Pasdeloup concert in '66), is +to make its reappearance at St. Eustache on the 25th March. This +time M. Colonne will conduct it, and I am assured that it will be +better understood now... + +Invariable homage, + +F. Liszt + +Budapest, February 17th, 1886 + +Very affectionate thanks for the invitation of Argenteau. Whether +I can avail myself of it must remain in abeyance for your very +humble servant, old and enfeebled. + + + +378. To Sophie Menter + +Dear and Respected Diplomatist, + +Eight days before the 19th April (Russian style) I will be in +Petersburg. I entreat you to make as little ceremony as possible +for my humble self. The two programmes appear to me all right; I +will tell you when I get to Petersburg what my small part in them +will be. On the 19th April, then, "Elizabeth;" on the 23rd a +concert.--Tell the Committee to address their invitation to me, +for the two performances, to "Novello and Co., Music Publishers, +1, Berners Street, London." From the 1st to the 12th April I am +Novello's guest. How does it stand with regard to my lodging in +Petersburg, for which my inadequate means will not suffice?--From +you, dear friend, I shall expect to hear something definite in +London.--However honorable for me were the invitation to Warsaw I +could not comply with it now. My return to Weimar is requisite +before the end of May, on account of the Tonkunstler-Versammlung +at Sondershausen. + +Heartily and truly yours, + +F. Liszt + +Argenteau [Liege], March 18th, 1886 + +Enclosed are some lines and the photographs that friend Zet +wished for.--To write anything further under the photographs for +the use of the newspaper I consider quite superfluous. Excess +does not suit me at all.-- + + + +379. To the Countess Mercy-Argenteau + +Westwood House, Syndenham (Near London, Where Everything is +Distant). + +Wednesday, April 14th, 1886 + +Very Dear President and Brave Russophile Propagandist, + +The second performance of the "Elizabeth," which is fixed for +next Saturday, at the Crystal Palace, detains me here some days +longer than I had anticipated. + +From Tuesday next till Easter Tuesday I have asked for the kind +hospitality of the Lynens (at Antwerp). + +There is still some talk of the "Elizabeth" at the Trocadero on +the 30th April. If you were not to be there it would be an +affront to your very humble and admiring old servant, + +F. Liszt + +This time I shall stay at the Munkacsys' (Avenue Villiers, 53). + +(In great haste.) + + + +359. To Alexander Ritter in Meiningen + +Antwerp, April 20th, 1886 + +My Very Dear Friend, + +Heartfelt thanks for the dedication. Your "fauler Hans" [Ritter's +Opera, "Der faule Hans"--"Lazy Hans"] has nothing lazy in it. +With its graceful, refined wit it is excellent company for our +dear "Barber of Bagdad," which I shall shortly recommend Baron +Loen (Weimar) to take up again in conjunction with the "fauler +Hans." + +Faithfully, + +F. Liszt + +In the middle of May I shall be back in Weimar. Give my +respectful greetings to your wife. + + + +381. To Frau Amalie von Fabry + +My Dear Friend, + +I wish my rooms in Budapest to remain closed during my absence. +[Many inquisitive people were fond of going and having a look +round, so that Liszt was obliged to prohibit it.] For the rest, +His Excellency Minister Trefort must give his own commands. There +is no risk of his meeting with any opposition from my humble +self. I shall not pass this summer much quieter than the winter +and the spring. Next week I shall be at the Musical Festival at +Sondershausen; then here again until the 30th June. + +My granddaughter, Daniela von Bulow, is to be married on the 3rd +July, at Bayreuth, to the highly esteemed Art-historian Thode. +After that, I shall stay from the 5th to the 18th July with my +dear, excellent friends the Munkacsys, at their castle of Colpach +(Luxemburg). I shall be present at the entire cycle of the +Parsifal and Tristan performances at Bayreuth, from the 20th July +till the 23rd August. + +I am already more than half blind; perhaps I shall not have to +wait long for the rest... + +Ever faithfully yours, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, May 27th, 1886 + + + +382. To Madame Malwine Tardieu + +Weimar, May 29th, 1886 + +My sight is going, dear friend, and I can no longer write without +difficulty. + +Cordial thanks for your letter, and farewell till we meet at +Bayreuth, at the performances of Parsifal and Tristan. + +Your very affectionate + +F. Liszt + +I shall be at Bayreuth on the 3rd July--the wedding day of my +granddaughter Daniela. + +From the 4th to the 18th July my excellent friends the Munkacsys +will be my hosts at their castle of Colpach (Luxemburg), whence I +shall return to Bayreuth, to stay there till the last performance +on the 23rd August. + +Would you send me Victor Hugo's "Le theater en liberte"? We will +settle our accounts at Bayreuth. + + + +383. To Eduard Reuss + +My Dear Friend, + +The weakness in my eyes is increasing, and on that account I +cannot write to you "mano propria." I wish to bring good luck to +Wilhelm Franz. Meanwhile I thank you heartily for making me +godfather. + +In sincere friendship yours most truly, + +F. Liszt + +Sondershausen, June 5th, 1886 + + + +384. To Frau Reuss-Belce, Opera-Singer to the Court of Baden + +My Dear Lady, + +The thanks which I have just expressed to your husband I double +to you, as you have played the principal part in the family-drama +of Wilhelm Franz. + +With the most heartful wishes for the continued prosperity of +parents and child I remain + +Yours most truly, + +F. Liszt + +Sondershausen, June 5th, 1886 + + + +385. To Eduard Reuss + +Very Dear Friend, + +I have just received the enclosed reply from Hartel. Send him, +therefore, the score with the Piano part, and recommend him to +print this complete score--not the orchestral score alone--if +possible by next October, that is to say, end of September. Then, +for the present, two copies of the complete score will be wanted +for performance--one for the conductor and one for the soloist +who has so long had to play the Piano part out of the score, +until you, perhaps with little delay, arrange the orchestral part +for a second Piano, and the Concerto comes out in an edition like +the E-flat Concerto. + +Yours in all friendship, + +F. Liszt + +Weimar, June 22nd, 1886 + +N.B.--On the 1st July I am leaving here for a couple of months. + + + +386. To Sophie Menter + +Bayreuth, July 3rd, 1886 + +My very dear Friend, + +Tomorrow, after the religious marriage of my granddaughter +Daniela von Bulow to Professor Henry Thode (Art-historian), I +betake myself to my excellent friends the Munkacsys, Chateau +Colpach, Grand Duchy of Luxemburg. + +On the 20th July I shall be back here again for the first 7-8 +performances of the Festspiel [Festival Play]: then, alas! I must +put myself under the, to me, very disagreeable cure at Kissingen, +and in September an operation to the eyes is impending for me +with Grafe at Halle. + +For a month past I have been quite unable to read and almost +unable to write, with much labor, a couple of lines. Two +secretaries kindly help me by reading to me and writing letters +at my dictation. + +How delightful it would be to me, dear friend, to visit you at +your fairy castle of Itter! But I do not see any opportunity of +doing so at present. Perhaps you will come to Bayreuth, where, +from the 20th July to the 7th August, will be staying + +Your heartily sincere + +F. Liszt + +[This was the very last letter written by the Master's hand. He +returned in bad health from Colpach to Bayreuth. Yet once again +he heard "Parsifal" and "Tristan" then he lay down upon his +death-bed, and at 11 o'clock on the night of the 31st July his +great soul had passed away into everlasting peace.] + + + + ****************************** + + + +Supplement of Some Letters Received During The Printing: + + + +387 To Hofmarschall Freiherr Von Spiegel In Weimar + +[Autograph in the Liszt-Museum at Weimar.] + +Monsieur Le Grand Marechal, + +I am very happy to learn through you that Her Imperial Highness +the Grand Duchess has deigned to accept with kindness my +translation of the beautiful work of Beethoven which I have +permitted myself humbly to offer to her. For musicians, the +original of this work marks the summit of perfection of the +classical style (an extremely arbitrary designation, in my +opinion) among non-symphonic instrumental compositions. +Beethoven--as well as many great geniuses in the history of Art-- +is like the ancient Janus; one of his two faces is turned towards +the past, the other towards the future. The Septet to a certain +extent marks the point of intersection, and is thus unreservedly +admired both by the devotees of the past and the believers in the +future. + +On this account I thought there was a suitability in paying my +respectful homage to Her Imperial Highness by means of it, until +such time as I should be allowed to place a longer work at her +feet, and one which will more particularly express my personal +gratitude. + +It is only yesterday that the very flattering lines of Your +Excellency have reached me. It is therefore not my fault that I +have not sooner replied to the gracious request which you are +pleased to make me with reference to my journey to Weimar. + +Without any doubt I eagerly accept Your Excellency's invitation +for the month of October. Allow me only to beg you to be so good +as to let me know whether you consider it will be best for me to +arrive at the beginning or end of the month. Not being entirely +master of my time, I should be particularly glad to know from you +the most favorable week. + +I have the honor, Monsieur le Grand Marechal, to be, with +respect, Your Excellency's very humble and obedient servant, + +F. Liszt + +Paris, September 30th, 1841 + +19, Rue Pigalle (Permanent Address). + + + +388. To Eugenio Gomez, Organist of the Cathedral at Seville + +[Autograph, without address, in the Liszt-Museum in Weimar. The +addressee (born 1802) was both pianist and composer.] + +You have been pleased, my dear Monsieur Gomez, to ask my +perfectly frank opinion of your "Melodies harmonisees," and-quite +frankly [Liszt uses the same expression--tout franc--in each +case.]--I am much embarrassed by it, for it is in vain I turn +them over and over again; on every side I find only compliments +to make you about them. It is true that you could not doubt their +sincerity any more than you could the real merit of your work. It +is needless to speak of the modesty of true talent; this modesty +cannot go to the extent of foolishness, and the Artist and +supreme Architect of the spheres gives us Himself the example of +this legitimate satisfaction which the consciousness of having +done well brings us, by rejoicing over His work each day of the +Creation. + +One defect, nevertheless, and a very grave defect, which I have +discovered in your "Harmonies" by dint of searching, is, that +there are only 12 instead of 24 or 48--as all true lovers will +wish. Make haste, my dear Monsieur Gomez, set yourself to work, +and repair as quickly as possible this unpardonable defect in +your labor; and, while extending it to the utmost, think +sometimes of your most affectionate and devoted servant, + +F. Liszt + + + +389. To Madame(?). + +[Autograph, without address, date, and conclusion, in the Liszt- +Museum at Weimar.] + +[Sevilla, end of December, 1844] + +You have not told me too much of the wonders of Seville, Madame, +and, nevertheless, you could hardly have told me beforehand of +that which I have found the most charming--the letter from +Mademoiselle Caroline. Thanks to her charming lines, I found +myself in the best possible frame of mind for the enjoyment of +all imaginable chefs d'oeuvre, and I could not have been more +disposed to admiration and wonderment! During the ten days which +I have just spent in Seville I have not allowed a single day to +pass without going to pay my very humble court to the cathedral, +that epic of granite, that architectural Symphony whose eternal +harmonies vibrate in infinity!-- + +One cannot use any set phrases about such a monument. The best +thing to do would be to kneel there with the faith of the +charcoal-burner (if one could do so), or to soar in thought the +length of these arches and vaulted roofs, for which it seems that +there is even now "no longer time"!--As for me, not feeling +myself enough of the charcoal-burner or of the eagle, I am +constrained to stand with my nose in the air and mouth open. +Nevertheless my prayer sometimes climbs up like useless ivy, +lovingly embracing those knotted shafts which defy all the storms +of the genius of Christianity. + +Whatever you may think of my enthusiasm for your cathedral, it is +a fact that I have been entirely absorbed by it during the ten +days I have spent in Seville; so much so, that it was only on the +evening before my departure that I could prevail on myself to +visit the Alcazar. + +In truth, if one might wish for the re-introduction of the +bastinado, it would be to apply it exclusively to those malicious +wretches who have dared to besmear so many ravishing flights of +fancy, so many fairy-like vagaries, with lime and plaster. + +What adorable enchantment and what hideous devastation! + +The heart expands--and then contracts at every step. Little do I +care for the gardens (which, by the way, slightly resemble the +ornamental gardens of a priest); little do I care even for the +baths of Maria Padilla, which, in fact, have slightly the effect +of an alkaline; but what outlines, what harmonious profusion in +these lines, what incredible voluptuousness in all this +ornamentation! Would that I could send them you in this envelope, +such as I have felt and devoured them with my eyes! + +Here are, indeed, many marks of admiration, and you will +certainly smile at me, will you not, Madame? But what can I do? +And how, after that, can I speak to you of myself and my paltry +individuality? + + + +390. To Madame (?) + +[Autograph sketch of a letter, without address, date, and +conclusion, in the Liszt-Museum at Weimar.] + +[Probably beginning of 1845] + +What are your travelling plans for this winter, Madame? Mine are +quite unsettled. I did not succeed in leaving Spain, and the fact +is that, being well, there is no sense in searching for better +elsewhere.The only thing that provokes me is the necessity in +which I am placed of having to give up the rest of my duties at +Weymar for this winter. But I shall try to take a brilliant +revenge in the course of this very year. + +In spite of our agreement I have not sent you the bulletin of my +peaceful victories in the arena of Madrid [Liszt gave concerts in +the Teatro del Circo in Madrid from October till December +1844.](and elsewhere), because you know that there are certain +things which are moreover very simple, but which I cannot do. +More than once, nevertheless, I have regretted you in your +founder's loge--the first in front--and I have turned to that +side in expectancy of the inciting bravos which used to begin +before all the others at the brilliant passages! + +La Melinetti will doubtless have given you my ancient news from +Pau! Poor woman, with her luxury of a husband (a superfluity +which was not in the least a necessary thing for her), and her +little impulsive ways,...she has really promised me to be at +length reasonable, steady, and deliberate. I hope she will keep +her word. With a little wit, behavior, and tact, she could make +herself a very good position in Pau. Mme. d'Artigaux, [When +unmarried, as Countess Caroline St. Criq, sixteen years before +this time, she had possessed Liszt's whole heart, while hers +belonged to him. But the command of her father, Minister St. +Criq, separated eir ways, because he--was only an artist. Liszt +thought of her in his last Will, but she left this world before +him, at the beginning of the seventies.] who is the most ideally +good woman I know, takes a real interest in her. Several other +people sincerely wish her well--it only depends on herself to +take a good position there--but unfortunately she is too +outspoken, and inclined to play tricks. + +What do you know of the elegaic and seraphic Chopin? I wrote a +few lines from Pau to Mme. Sand, but my letter hardly asked for a +reply, and she has, moreover, better things to do. + + + +391. To Madame (?) in Milan + +[Autograph in the Liszt-Museum in Weimar] + +[1846] + +I am at your feet, Madame, and kiss your hands--but it is +impossible not to quarrel with you, and that seriously, over the +last lines of your letter! Through what absence of mind, let me +ask you, could you have written to me, "I do not speak to you of +our affairs because I remember that your sympathies are not with +us"? Frankly, if you were to tell me that I have never played any +but false notes on the piano, and that my calling was that of a +retail grocer, this opinion would offer, to my thinking, a +greater degree of probability. Evidently, in my double character +of citizen and musician, I am not even to exonerate myself from +the fault you [ascribe] to me. Suffer me then not to dwell longer +upon it, and deign for the future to spare me the pain which all +suspicion of this kind would cause me. + +Otherwise your letter was a great joy to me; first, as coming +from you; and then, as announcing the realization of a wish, an +idea, to the postponement of which I had resigned myself as well +as I could, but which I had hardly relinquished. Your +Sardanapalus comes in the nick of time, just as the 2000 francs +will be opportune to the poet. The mode of payment is very +simple. Belloni's sister being in Milan, she will have the honor +of calling upon you, and an return for the restoration of the +manuscript she will discharge the total of my debt, viz., two +thousand francs. Allow me only a last request, which is that you +will kindly take the trouble to read the whole libretto through +again, and, if it should be expedient, to communicate to the poet +direct any observations which you consider necessary. The notes +and commentaries which you have added on the margin of Rotondi's +libretto (which I keep very carefully) showed such a complete +virtuosity in this style of subject that one could not possibly +do better than submit with confidence to your decision.--[The +plan of composing an opera "Sardanapalus" occupied Liszt for +years.] + +Thanks to God, and to this good star which has let me live many +years pretty uprightly, "as if I were immortal," as you put it, +behold me now since the end of September in last year entirely +out of the circle of concerts--and it does not seem likely that I +shall soon return to this drudgery.--I shall remain in Weymar +till the 15th August; then I shall go and make a tour in the +Crimea by way of the Danube, probably returning by Constantinople +if I can manage it.-- + +Next spring "Sardanapalus" will be ready,--and I shall perhaps +have to speak to you about another matter at the same time, a +matter about which it is worth while speaking to you.-- + +Be good enough to acknowledge the receipt of these lines; but +pray spare me abuse, and be pleased to do me the honor of +believing without reserve or restriction in the upright sincerity +of my sympathies, and in my frank and firm good-will to transform +them into acts or deeds, according to circumstances, in the +degree of which I am capable. + +Yours ever, with admiration and friendship, + +F. Liszt + + + +392. To Frau Charlotte Moscheles (?) + +[Draft of an undirected autograph letter in the Liszt-Museum at +Weimar.--Presumably written to the wife of the distinguished +piano-virtuoso and teacher Ignaz Moscheles] + +I am most grateful to you, Madame, for wishing to keep me in +remembrance on the occasion of the publication of the Album of +Workers, and I hasten to reply as quickly and as well as I can. + +I must, nevertheless, confess to you in all sincerity that I am a +little embarrassed as to the choice to be made among the number +of useless and unusable manuscripts which I should be charmed to +put at your kind disposal. After the Arbeiter Chor [workman's +chorus] and the Arbeiter Marsch [workman's march] with which I +have just gratified two Albums in Vienna, your gracious letter +comes as a surprise rather short of apropos. How malapropos, is +it not? But let us see how to remedy this.-- + +I thought first of a "Marche funebre" for the use of the bankers; +then of an "Elegie" dedicated to the idle; next of "Jeremiades +Omnibus" [lamentations for all];--but nothing of that sort quite +satisfies me. + +In default of perfection, permit me to be satisfied with the +relative best (which will be, it seems to me, a better choice): a +Paraphrase--charitably adapted to the fingers of charitable +pianists who will have the charity to buy and to play it--of +Rossini's "Charite;" which I shall have the honor of sending to +you through Mr. Kistner early in July. An old saying of a very +old Father of the Church would, if needful, justify this choice. +"In things necessary, Unity; in matters doubtful, Liberty; in all +things, Charity!"-- + +Will you have the goodness, Madame, to remember me very kindly to +my excellent master and friend, Moscheles? and accept again, I +beg you, the expression of my respect, and of my most +affectionate sentiments. + +F. Liszt + +Weymar, June 22nd, 1848 + + + +393. To Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst + +[Portions of this, as of the previous letter, were printed in the +"Voltaire."--Addressee the famous violin virtuoso and composer +(1814-1865)] + +May 30th, 1849 + +Dear Friend, + +Weymar has not forgotten you, and I hope soon to be able, after +the return of the Hereditary Prince whom we expect for the day of +his fete, by the 24th of May at the very latest, to forward to +you the token of the distinguished remembrance in which you are +held. It pleases me to think that it will be agreeable to you, +and that it will tend to attach you more in the sequel to people +worthy to appreciate you. + +I should have desired to tell you sooner of this, but the +inevitable delays in present circumstances postpone more than one +wish. + +After the deplorable days in Dresden Wagner came here, and only +departed again in order to escape from a warrant (lettre de +cachet) with which the Saxon government is pursuing him. I hope +that at the present moment he will have arrived safe and well in +Paris, where his career of dramatic composer cannot fail to be +extended, and in grand proportions. He is a man of evident +genius, who must of necessity obtrude himself on the general +admiration, and hold a high place in contemporary art. I regret +that you have not had the opportunity of hearing his +"Tannhauser," which is for me the most lyric of dramas, the most +remarkable, the most harmonious, the most complete, the most +original and selbstwurdig (the most worthy of its country), both +in foundation and form, that Germany has produced since +Weber. Belloni has, I believe, written to you on the subject of +Wagner, to ask for information as to the actual state of the +English Opera in London. I make no doubt that if it were possible +for Wagner to obtain from the directors a tour of performances in +the course of the year for a new work ("Lohengrin," the subject +of which, having reference to the Knights of the Round Table who +went to search for the Holy Grail, is of the most poetic +interest) he would make a great sensation and large receipts by +it. As soon as he tells me the news of his arrival in Paris, +allow me to induce him to write to you direct if his plans do not +change in this matter. + + + +394. To Joseph Dessauer + +[Draft of an autograph letter, without address, date, and +conclusion, in the Liszt-Museum at Weimar.] + +[Probably at the beginning of the fifties.] + +Heartiest thanks for your Songs. I rejoice that you consider me +worthy of a dedication, and I promise you that if we meet again I +will sing you the songs by heart. Perhaps you will bring me again +into such a mood for songs as will impel me to write something of +that sort. My earlier songs are mostly too ultra sentimental, and +frequently too full in the accompaniment. + + + +395. Testimonial for Joachim Raff + +[Draft of an autograph letter, without address and date, in the +Liszt-Museum at Weimar] + +[Probably at the beginning of the fifties.] + +The talents of M. Raff as composer and musician are a fact so +evident and certain, his recent orchestral compositions as well +as his works for voice and piano furnish such forcible proofs of +it, that I consider it superfluous to add to this evidence and to +certify it further. + +Having had more opportunity than others, during the few years of +our intercourse, of appreciating his capacities (notably at the +time of the Musical Festival at Bonn for the inauguration of +Beethoven's monument in 1845,-and of those to Herder and Goethe +at Weymar in 1850, etc.), knowing thoroughly both the score of +his four-act Opera "King Alfred," given many times with great +success in Weymar under the author's conductorship, as well as +many of his manuscript works, which I sincerely esteem, I shall +always make it my duty seriously to recommend M. Raff to those of +the Musical Institutes which attach a value to the possession of +an intelligent director and one well acquainted with the +exigencies and the progress of the art. + +F. Liszt + + + +396. To Dr. Eduard Hanslick in Vienna + +[The renowned musical author and critic (born in Prague in 1825), +professor of the history of music in the University of Vienna.-- +The letter refers to the Mozart jubilee concert conducted by +Liszt in Vienna, and to Hanslick's critique, in which he censured +the want of courtesy with which Liszt, who had been invited to +conduct this concert, was treated by the committee and the +public.] + +Sir, + +The manner in which you have given an account in the Presse of +the two concerts of Sunday and Monday, corresponds entirely with +the opinion which I had of you--and you have proved yourself on +this occasion, according to your custom, an eminent critic and a +perfect gentleman. [The word "gentleman" is in English in Liszt's +letter.] + +Permit me to offer you my sincere thanks for the part you have +been pleased to devote to me, and to hope that the coming years, +in bringing us more together, will better enable me to prove the +sincere sentiments of esteem and distinguished regard, the +assurance of which I beg you to accept. + +F. Liszt + +January 3lst, 1856 + + + +397. To the Austrian Minister of the Interior, Freiherr von Bach + +[Autograph sketch of a letter in the Liszt-Museum at Weimar. The +Gran Mass was in fact engraved and published by the State +printing-press at Vienna.] + +Your Excellency, + +The interest and protection which your Excellency extends to the +spiritual interests of the empire permit me to bring forward the +wish and the petition that the Mass which I composed by order of +His Eminence the Prince Primate of Hungary for the Dedication- +Festival of the Basilica at Gran, and performed there on the 3lst +August, may be printed and published in full score and piano +score by the Royal Imperial State printing-press at the cost of +the State. + +Without improperly praising my own composition I venture humbly +to express the confidence that the Catholic significance and +spirit which form its groundwork and supplement its modest +porportions would gradually be more propagated and comprehended +by the publication of the work, so that I might hope to have +furnished a not unworthy contribution to Christian Art as well as +to the great Church and Country's Festival of the 31st August. + +In the expectation that my request will meet with that assisting +favor which is indispensable to earnest and honest artistic +effort, I have the honor to remain most obediently + +Your Excellency's most humble and devoted servant, + +F. Liszt + +Vienna, September 18th, 1856 + + + +398. To (?) in Leipzig + +[Draft of an autograph letter, without address, date, and +conclusion, in the Liszt-Museum at Weimar.--The contents refer to +the Orchestral Concert of the Tonkunstler-Versammlung, planned +and carried out at Leipzig in the beginning of June, 1859.] + +[Spring, 1859.] + +Dear Friend, + +At the same time with your letter I received from Brendel fuller +information about the Leipzig preliminaries, to which he will +also receive a fuller reply. + +I am not of opinion that the Orchestral concert is to be given up +immediately on account of the negative decision of Rietz. Very +possibly David will undertake to conduct it, and I advise Brendel +to come to a good understanding with him about it. On the other +hand it might be expected, in a case of necessity, that the +Weimar and Sondershausen orchestras would unite to carry out the +Programme. But this latter must be as strictly adhered to as was +formerly determined, and not lose its exclusive character as +"compositions by collaborators of the newspaper only"--Schumann, +Berlioz, Wagner, R. Franz, and lastly my humble self. I cannot +therefore in any respect agree to the concession enjoined by +Brendel, of admitting works of Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, etc., +nor do I see the motive of it. As far as the musical is +concerned, I consider it impossible to give such an exceedingly +rich programme on one evening without stupifying the public; that +would go beyond the ill-famed London concerts which last six +hours, not to speak of the fact that we should have to put the +recognised classics far too much in the shade!--But, above all, +such an over-loaded programme is thoroughly unsuitable to the +jubilee-celebration of the Neue Zeitschrift, which on this +occasion [ought] especially to emphasize its just claims and the +progress in Art which it aims at and supports. On this account it +is necessary to adhere to the limits of the programme originally +agreed upon. + +Finally, in case insurmountable hindrances should arise to +prevent the carrying out of this same, I have no inclination to +substitute for the Orclaestral-concert one for Chamber-music. But +the word "Evening entertainment" must, as is self-evident, be +entirely dispensed with. Our business is to raise, to educate the +audience, not to amuse them; and if indeed, as Goethe very +pertinently says, "deep and earnest thinkers are in a bad +position as regards the public," we will therefore not so much +the less, but so much the more earnestly maintain this position. +Meanwhile it is advisable to advertise the first evening's +musical performance by the expression Concert in the Gewandhaus, +until we have quite decided whether it shall be a concert with +orchestra, or only with chamber-music. [An orchestral concert +took place in the theater, when compositions by Mendelssohn, +Schubert, and Chopin were, nevertheless, included among the +others.] + +N.B.-Please not to communicate these remarks to any one except +perhaps Brendel, as the very outspoken opinions herein about the +Concert-programme must absolutely be kept secret. + + + +399. To Dr. Eduard Hanslick + +[The letter refers to Hanslick's notice of Liszt's book "Les +Bohemiens et leur musique," in the Vienna Presse (the old one).] + +Sir, + +Experience having taught me to regard as a fate attached to my +name the impossibility of publishing anything which does not +instantly gather round it opinions as contrary as they are +forcibly enunciated, I am, although quite accustomed to these +little storms, very sensitive to the kindly judgment of those +who, not letting themselves be influenced by this transitory +impulse, desire to take into consideration what I have written, +with sobriety and composure, just as you have done in your +account of my book "Des Bohemiens."-I am above all extremely +obliged to you for having admitted that, if the requirements of +my subject, and the opinion which after some twenty years of +reflection I have formed of Bohemian music, compel me to +attribute to a nomad people an art thoroughly imbued with a +poetry which could only have been developed in a wandering +nation, I have none the less endeavored to bring into prominence +everything for which this art is indebted to the comprehension +and taste which the Hungarians have always had for the music of +Bohemia. I desire in no way to diminish the merit of the works, +while at the same time I see the impossibility of considering as +emanating from them the expression of sentiments which could not +in their nature belong to them, however sympathetically they were +associated therewith.-- + +Still, the point which I notice first, in consequence of the very +violent and premature attacks of which I have been the object, is +not the one which I regard as the most important in my volume. As +a matter of fact it would signify little to me as artist to know +whether this music is originally from India or Tartary. That +which has appeared to me worthy the study of an artist is this +music itself, its meaning, and the feelings it is destined to +reproduce.--It is in trying clearly to account for these latter +that I have only found it possible to connect them with people +placed in the exceptional conditions of the Bohemians; and it is +through asking myself what the poetry of this wandering life +would be (a question so often raised), that I have become +convinced that it must be identical with that which breathes in +the Art of the Bohemians. This identity once made evident to my +mind, I have naturally sought to make it felt by and evident to +my readers. The better to succeed in this I have corroborated my +opinion by grouping together as a sort of complement various +suppositions about the question of these sources. But the +scientific side of this question has never been, in my eyes, +anything but very accessory; I should probably not have taken up +the pen to discuss it. If I have raised it, that has been the +consequence, not the aim of my work. Artist, and poet if you +like, I am only interested in seeing and describing the poetical +and psychological side of my thesis. I have sought in speech the +power of depicting, with less fire and allurement possibly, but +with more precision than music has done, some impressions which +are not derived from science or polemics-which come from the +heart and appeal to the imagination. + +Poetical and descriptive prose being little used in Germany, I +can easily conceive that, on the announcement of the title of my +book, a set of lectures, rather than a kind of poem in prose, +will be expected. I own that I would never have attempted to +lecture on a subject the materials of which did not appear to me +sufficient for this purpose. How small a number of people, +moreover, would have been interested in learning the little which +it would be allowable to affirm in this case? Whilst the +expression of the innermost and deep feelings, whatever they be, +from the moment that they have been powerful enough to inspire an +art, is never entirely unattractive, even to the more extended +circle which includes not alone musicians, but all those who feel +and wish to understand music. Thanking you once more, Sir, for +the perfect impartiality and clearness with which you have stated +and criticised the compilation of my book, I beg you to accept +this expression of my complete esteem and distinguished +consideration. + +F. Liszt + +September 20th, 1859 + + + +END OF LETTERS OF FRANZ LISZT, VOL. II. + + + +INFO ABOUT THIS E-TEXT EDITION + +This volume of "Letters of Franz Liszt" is the second volume of a +2-volume set. The letters were selected by La Mara, and +translated into English by Constance Bache. The edition used was +an original 1894 Charles Scribner edition (New York), printed in +America. Each page was cut out of the book with an X-acto knife +and fed into an Automatic Document Feeder Scanner to make this e- +text; hence, the original book was, well, ruined in order to save +it. + +Some adaptations from the original text were made while +formatting it for an e-text. Italics in the original book were +ignored in making this e-text, unless they referred to proper +nouns, in which case they are put in quotes in the e-text. +Italics are problematic because they are not easily rendered in +ASCII text, although, unlike in the first volume, they often add +some useful emphasis to Liszt's expression. + +Almost everything occurring in brackets [ ] are original +footnotes inserted into the text. The marking .--. appeared in +the original volumes and indicates points where original material +in the letters was lost or fragmented. + +Also, special German characters like U with an umlaut, and French +characters like a's and e's with various markings above them were +ignored, replaced with their closet single-letter equivalents. U +with an umlaut is U, A with a caret above it is A, and so on. +Words altered include Gotze, Tonkunstler, Gluck, Handel and +Bulow, among numerous others. + +In addition, the English spellings of words like "honour," +"colour," "humour," "splendour," "favour," "endeavour" "labour," +"vigour," "neighbour" "saviour," "behaviour" and "theatre" were +changed into American equivalents like "honor," "color," "humor," +"splendor," "favor," "endeavor" "labor," "vigor," "neighbor" +"savior," "behavior" and "theater." + +This electronic text was prepared by John Mamoun with help from +numerous other proofreaders, including those associated with +Charles Franks' Distributed Proofreaders website. Thanks to M. +Fong, N. Harris, S. Morrison, J. Roberts, R. Zimmerman, P. +Rydzewski, D. McKee, R. Rowe, E. Beach, M. Beauchamp, K. Rieff, +D. Maddock, T. Mills, B. Wyman, J. Hyllegaard, T. McDermott, M. +Taylor, K. Peterson and several others for proof-reading. + +This e-text is public domain, freely copyable and distributable +for any non-commercial purpose, and may be included without +royalty or permission on a mass media storage product, such as a +cd-rom, that contains at least 50 public domain electronic texts, +even if offered for commercial purposes. Any other commercial +usage requires permission. 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