Letters of Franz Liszt
Chapter 63 : Kahnt can publish the arrangement of the Reapers' Chorus sooner or later, as he li

Kahnt can publish the arrangement of the Reapers' Chorus sooner or later, as he likes. The date of the Tonkunstler-Versammlung can remain fixed for the 15th August. I think it would be advisable for you to come soon to Weymar (perhaps at Easter), and to come to a direct understanding with Dingelstedt, M[usic]

D[irector] Montag, and some others among those who are princ.i.p.ally concerned in the matter.

I would propose to you Dr. Gille, in Jena, as a lawyer, and a zealous co-operator in this affair. He is very ready to help, and reliable.--

Are you really thinking of still giving the "Prometheus" at the Tonkunstler-Versammlung? It certainly would not be incompatible with the "Faust" Symphony (which I wish for in any case)--but I fear that it will bring in its train too much vexation and annoyance.

We will speak further about this.

Weissheimer will tell you some things with regard to the programmes.

Riedel ought to conduct Beethoven's Ma.s.s.

With heartfelt greetings, your

F.L.

Weymar March 4th, 1861

P.S.--Advise Schuberth once more to bring out the book of songs by La.s.sen immediately--as he promised me.

254. To Peter Cornelius in Vienna

Your letters, dearest friend, are ever a joy to my heart, as also this time on the 2nd April [Liszt's name-day]. Although on that day I felt the absence of the Princess the most keenly, and the Altenburg was for me equally perturbed, yet the loving attachment of a few friends touched and filled me with comfort. Remain ever to me, as I remain to you, faithful and steadfast, trusting in G.o.d!--

Unfortunately I have been able to do but very little work this winter. Revisions and proof-correcting took up almost my whole time. The two last Symphonic Poems, "Hamlet" and the "Hunnenschlacht," will come out directly. I will send them to you, together with a dozen Quartets for men's voices which Kahnt is publis.h.i.+ng. By the end of July the choruses to "Prometheus"

and the "Faust" Symphony will also be out. If we should not see each other sooner, I count on you, for certain, to be here for the Tonkunstler-Versammlung (5th, 6th, 7th August), to which I give you, dearest Cornelius, a special invitation. I hope that Eduard, [Liszt's cousin] Tausig, Porges, Laurencin, [Count Laurencin, a writer on music in Vienna] Kulke, Doppler, [Franz Doppler (1821-83), a flute virtuoso; music-conductor at the Royal Opera in Vienna. He arranged with Liszt some of the latter's "Hungarian Rhapsodies" for orchestra.] are coming--and I beg you to give them a preliminary intimation of my invitation. The next number of Brendel's paper will give the programme--with the exception of the third day, which cannot be fixed until later.

Perhaps you will give us a fragment of your "Cid." In any case I wish your name not to be wanting; and, if you should not have anything else ready, a couple of numbers from the "Barber Abul Ha.s.san Ali Eber" shall be given. The charming canon at the beginning of the second act would be the best.

I am delighted to think that you have been entirely absorbed for a time in "Tristan." In that work and the "Ring des Nibelungen"

Wagner has decidedly attained his zenith! I hope you have received the pianoforte arrangement of "Rheingold" which Schott has published. If not I will send it you. You might render a great service by a discussion of this wonderful work. Allow me to stir you up to do this. The summer days allow you now more working hours; realize some of these with "Rheingold." The task for you is neither a. difficult nor a thankless one; as soon as you have seized upon the princ.i.p.al subjects representing the various personages, and their application and restatement, the greater part of the work is done. Let us then sing with Peter Cornelius,--

"O l.u.s.t am Rheine, Am heimischen Strande! In sonnigem Scheine Ergluhen die Lande; Es lachen die Haine, Die Felsengesteine Im Strahlengewande Am heimischen Strande, Am wogenden Rheine!"

[Free translation,--

"O joy of the Rhine And its homelike sh.o.r.e! Where the bright suns.h.i.+ne Gilds the landscape o'er; Where the woods are greenest, The skies serenest, In that home of mine By the friendly sh.o.r.e Of the billowy Rhine!"]

On the 30th of this month I am going to Paris for a couple of weeks--and towards the end of May I shall meet my daughter Cosima in Reichenhall, where she has to go through the whey-cure. Thank G.o.d, she is again on the road to recovery! You can imagine what grief took possession of me when I saw Cosima last winter suffering from a similar complaint to Daniel!--

I have satisfactory tidings from the Princess from Rome. The climate is having a very beneficial effect on her nerves, and she feels herself, in that respect, far more at home than in Germany...

She writes wonders to me about the last cartoons of Cornelius, [The celebrated painter was the uncle of the addressee.] and her personal relations with the great master have proved most friendly.

What will become of me in the latter part of the summer does not yet appear. But let us hold fast to our meeting again here at the beginning of August.

Yours from my heart,

F. Liszt

April l8th, 1861

A thousand hearty greetings to Tausig.

255. To Hoffmann von Fallersleben

Dear, excellent friend,

I have received the enclosed note for you from the Princess. It comes to you with my most heartfelt greetings. Please forgive me for not having this time sent you my good wishes on the 2nd April; [Hoffmann's birthday, and at the same time Liszt's name- day] but as long as the Princess's absence lasts I recognize only sorrowful anniversaries and no festivals of rejoicing. Meanwhile rest a.s.sured that I think of you always with faithful friends.h.i.+p, and remain ever truly devoted to you.

F. Liszt

April 18th, 1861

P.S.--I send you herewith the "Vereins-Lied"--and three other of your songs.

256. To Peter Cornelius

[Autograph in the possession of Constance Bache.]

Dearest Cornelius,

Will you quickly sign the accompanying announcement to the Tonkunstler-Versammlung with your good, beautiful name? You must not fail me on this occasion in Weymar!

And yet another request, dearest friend. Will you go and see F.

Doppler and tell him that I very much wish he could arrive with you on the 4th August at latest? I hope he will not refuse me this pleasure--and if it is not inconvenient to him will he also bring his flute and undertake the part in Faust?

With regard to the travelling expenses I have already written to my cousin Eduard; he is to put a couple of hundred florins at your disposal; for it goes without saying that neither you nor Doppler will be allowed to spend a groschen out of your own purse for the journey.

You will meet Eduard here--and also Wagner, Hans, Draseke, Damrosch, Tausig, La.s.sen, and my daughter (Madame Ollivier).

To our speedy meeting then, my best Cornelius!

Bring your "Cid" with you as far as it is done, and kindly dedicate some days to your heartily devoted

F. Liszt

Weymar, July 12th, 1861

P.S.--Shortly after the Tonkunstler-Versammlung I shall be leaving Weymar for a long time.--