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,