* * * * *
LEIPZIG, April 4, 1839.
MY DEAR FRIEND,--How happy I was to get your “Concerto Pastorale,” you
know by my last letter. If I did not write about it again, it was
because, though I had played it and got acquainted with it to a certain
extent, I had yet many technical difficulties to master, and much more
to study, before I could arrive at a free enjoyment of the work. And so
it remained until I rehearsed it with orchestra, when for the first time
I heard it properly, and began to understand it. Since then it has, if
possible, grown still dearer to me; and I am sure it will become one of
my favorites amongst your works. Every time I play it I like it better
and better. We had two regular orchestral rehearsals, repeating the
whole piece, as well as single movements. And so, when the evening came,
it went very well and correctly, and you would have been
satisfied,--that is, with the orchestra, not with me, I am afraid; for
that night I was the victim of a dreadful cold (which, by the way, I
have not got rid of yet), and at one time--it was just at the beginning
of the Solo in the Adagio--a spasmodic fit of coughing threatened to
bring me to a dead stop. So my playing was not as spirited as I should
have liked it to be; but I got through it pretty correctly, excepting
the octave passage,--some parts coming out better than they had ever
done whilst I was studying them. The public applauded tremendously, and
entered into the spirit of the work with more sympathy and feeling than
I should have given them credit for. You know I am not generally an
admirer of the public; but this time they did try to get at the meaning
of the piece, and some of them had really arrived at a right conclusion
and understanding. A desire was expressed on all sides to hear it again.
But unluckily, this is just the end of our concert season; and now comes
the annual fair, and our unmusical time, and I shall not play again here
till next autumn. How long can I keep the parts? When will you want them
in London? And now, my dear friend, once more a thousand thanks for the
pleasure you have given us all; thanks for the fine composition you have
contributed to our concerts; thanks in particular for having intrusted
it to me.
We recently played a most remarkable and interesting Symphony by Franz
Schubert. It is without doubt one of the best works we have lately
heard. Throughout bright, fascinating, and original, it stands quite at
the head of his instrumental works. Spohr’s Symphony, which we performed
before, I suppose you will give in the Philharmonic. Lachner’s I liked
but little; the others liked it less. David can tell you all about
these. I have written a new Theatre-Overture[38] that has been quite a
source of pleasure to me; also a Psalm (again _vide_ David); some Songs
without words (according to the “Hegira” of David), some with words; and
now a Trio in D, and a Symphony in B, of which I will tell you more when
they are finished.
Good-by, etc.,