Letters of Franz Liszt
Chapter 85 : The parcel containing the "Conzertstuck," "Momento capriccioso,"4 S

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 Divertiss.e.m.e.nt.

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 a.s.suredly necessary operations But after that one must determine and act without troubling too much about which way the wind blows and what clouds are pa.s.sing. .--.

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 embarra.s.sments in connection with the performance, embarra.s.sments 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 ma.n.u.script 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 antic.i.p.ated. 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 pa.s.sant, notice here and there repet.i.tions, 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 fas.h.i.+on.

O never-resting, ever-welling genius, full of tenderness! O my cherished Hero of the Heaven of Youth! Harmony, freshness, power, grace, dreamings, pa.s.sion, 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 pa.s.sages, 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 friends.h.i.+p,

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 G.o.d'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 distinguis.h.i.+ng 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.