Letters of Franz Liszt
Chapter 94 : "Words seem to me to intercept feeling rather than to express it; and actions, ala

"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, pa.s.sion 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 amba.s.sador 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 Ma.s.s. 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 Ma.s.s for men's voices ("Editio nova").

The three Patronatsscheine [tickets of members.h.i.+p] 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 n.o.ble 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 n.o.ble 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 n.o.ble 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 cla.s.ses; 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, n.o.bility 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 grat.i.tude 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 G.o.d 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 Ma.s.s 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.

G.o.d'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.