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.