Letters of Franz Liszt
Chapter 65 : The Prince [Of Hohenzollern-Hechingen] continues to show me the same amiable friends.h.

The Prince [Of Hohenzollern-Hechingen] continues to show me the same amiable friends.h.i.+p as ever, so that it is hard to me to leave Lowenberg. Seifriz will write you word a couple of weeks beforehand to which concert your coming here would be most advantageous. The concert season does not begin till November, and, with the exception of the winter months, when the musical performances take place, a great proportion of the members of the orchestra is absent. His Highness adheres always firmly and faithfully to the endeavors of the "New German School," and is desirous of supporting it still further. On this account I think it would be desirable to elect Seifriz as a member of the Committee of the Allgemeane Deutsche Musikverein. I also vote especially for Stein (of Sondershausen), Eduard Liszt, Herbeck, Ambros, David--without a word against the rest of the names which you have proposed.

As regards the other points of your letter I write as follows:--

1. I believe that N.'s reliability and extensive influence in the affairs of the Mozart Society are a bit hypothetical. You find out more exactly what he is likely to accomplish.

2. I will undertake with pleasure the examination of the ma.n.u.scripts and the decision as to what works shall be performed at the general a.s.sembly--but please do not give me the t.i.tle of President, but simply the name of Reporter or Head of the musical section.

3. I entirely agree with the intention of distributing Pohl's ["On the Tonkunstler-Versammlung in Leipzig in 1859."] pamphlet gratis to the members of the Society.

Of course the two speeches by yourself and Draseke must be included in it. Should it be necessary, I will gladly contribute a few thalers towards the publication.

4. According to my opinion the Society should not be placed under the protection of the Grand Duke "until everything is ready."

According to what he has said to me there is no doubt about his acceptance of it, but still it is indispensable that you should write to H.R.H. about it. Pohl and Gille will be the best to help you in composing the letter to the Grand Duke, and perhaps they will sign their names to it also. Later on we shall have to discuss in what form and fas.h.i.+on other German Princes are to be invited to give their countenance to the Society-or not.

5. Wagner's photograph has unfortunately been locked up in the Altenburg against my wish. I cannot therefore be of any help with it--and can only advise you to write to Wagner himself, in order to learn which of his likenesses would be the most suitable for publication in the Modenzeitung.

.-.I shall be in Berlin by the evening of the day after tomorrow, and shall probably stay there till the 24th-26th of this month.

May I also beg you to remind Pohl of his promise to send me my arrangement of the Dance of Sylphs (from Berlioz' "Faust")? I am now wanting this little piece, of which I did not keep any copy.

It is the same with my arrangement of the "Tannhauser" Overture, which I left behind with Pflughaupt. Get Pohl to send me the Dance of Sylphs and the "Tannhauser" Overture as soon as possible to Bulow's address in Berlin. I will then send him my thanks in writing, and will quietly wait for the catalogue of music in his possession out of my library (which he wanted to send me some days after my departure!).

How is it with regard to Damrosch's leaders.h.i.+p of the orchestra at Weymar? Pohl must tell me all about it.

Has Bronsart's marriage taken place yet?

If it is not giving you too much trouble, I should be glad to receive the pamphlets, marked with red pencil, by Bronsart, Laurencin, Wagner, and Ambros, while I am in Berlin. The publication of Zellner's brochure on "Faust" shall meanwhile be left to the geniality and munificence of Schuberth. A propos of La.s.sen's songs (which Schuberth boasted that he should bring out so quickly that last evening he was with you!), the first book only--say three songs!--and not the second, has come out, although Schuberth presented me with two books, relying on my being absent-minded and preoccupied! But he has such an extraordinary talent for tricks of that kind that it would be almost a pity if he did not exercise it here and there!.-.

With friendliest greetings to your wife,

Most faithfully,

F. Liszt

Lowenberg, September 16th, 1861

[Shortly after this Liszt departed from Lowenberg. He took the road which the Princess Wittgenstein had gone before him, and went, by way of Paris, to Rome.]

END OF LETTERS OF FRANZ LISZT, VOL. I.