Letters of Franz Liszt
Chapter 59 : 239. To Dr. Franz Brendel Dear Friend, Your last proposition is the best. Come quite si

239. To Dr. Franz Brendel

Dear Friend,

Your last proposition is the best. Come quite simply to me at Weymar. As I am now quite alone at home we can hold our conference and arrange matters most conveniently at the Altenburg. I am writing at the same time to Bulow at Wiesbaden (where he is giving a concert tomorrow, Friday), to beg him to arrange with you about the day on which the meeting shall be held here. You two have to decide this. Of course you will stay with me. There shall also be a room in readiness for Kahnt.

With regard to Wagner's pardon [Wagner had been exiled from Germany for political reasons.] I am expecting reliable information shortly. It seems strange that the Dresden papers should not have been the first to give the official announcement, and that an act of pardon of H.M. the King of Saxony should be made known through the "Bohemia" (in Prague). Wagner has not yet written to me.

To our speedy meeting. Heartily your

F. Liszt

August 9th, 1860

240. To Princess Caroline Sayn-Wittgenstein.

[Portions of the above were published in the Neue Zeitschrift fur Musik of 4th May, 1887.]

Weymar, September 14th, 1860

I am writing this down on the 14th September, the day on which the Church celebrates the Festival of the Holy Cross. The denomination of this festival is also that of the glowing and mysterious feeling which has pierced my entire life as with a sacred wound.

Yes, "Jesus Christ on the Cross," a yearning longing after the Cross and the raising of the Cross,--this was ever my true inner calling; I have felt it in my innermost heart ever since my seventeenth year, in which I implored with humility and tears that I might be permitted to enter the Paris Seminary; at that time I hoped it would be granted to me to live the life of the saints and perhaps even to die a martyr's death. This, alas! has not happened--yet, in spite of the transgressions and errors which I have committed, and for which I feel sincere repentance and contrition, the holy light of the Cross has never been entirely withdrawn from me. At times, indeed, the refulgence of this Divine light has overflowed my entire soul.--I thank G.o.d for this, and shall die with my soul fixed upon the Cross, our redemption, our highest bliss; and, in acknowledgment of my belief, I wish before my death to receive the holy sacraments of the Catholic, Apostolic, and Romish Church, and thereby to attain the forgiveness and remission of all my sins. Amen.

I thank my mother with reverence and tender love for her continual proofs of goodness and love. In my youth people called me a good son; it was certainly no special merit on my part, for how would it have been possible not to be a good son with so faithfully self-sacrificing a mother?--Should I die before her, her blessing will follow me into the grave.

I owe it to my cousin Eduard Liszt (Dr. and Royal County Councillor of Justice in Vienna) to repeat here my warm and grateful affection for him, and to thank him for his faithfulness and staunch friends.h.i.+p. By his worth, his talents, and his character he does honor to the name I bear, and I pray G.o.d for His blessings on him, his wife, and his children.

Among our Art-comrades of the day there is one name which has already become glorious, and which will become so ever more and more--Richard Wagner. His genius has been to me a light which I have followed--and my friends.h.i.+p for Wagner has always been of the character of a n.o.ble pa.s.sion. At a certain period (about ten years ago) I had visions of a new Art-period for Weymar, similar to that of Carl August, in which Wagner and I should have been the leading spirits, as Goethe and Schiller were formerly,--but unfavorable circ.u.mstances have brought this dream to nothing.

To my daughter Cosima I bequeath the sketch of Steinle representing St. Francois de Paul, my patron saint; he is walking on the waves, his mantle spread beneath his feet, holding in one hand a red-hot coal, the other raised, either to allay the tempest or to bless the menaced boatmen, his look turned to heaven, where, in a glory, s.h.i.+nes the redeeming word "Caritas."-- This sketch has always stood on my writing-table. Near it there is an ancient hour-gla.s.s in carved wood with four gla.s.ses, which is also for my daughter Cosima. Two other things which have belonged to me are to be given as a remembrance to my cousin Eduard Liszt and to my much-loved and brave son-in-law Hans von Bulow.

Some of the members of our Union of the "New German School"--to whom I remain deeply attached--must also receive some remembrance of me; Hans von Bronsart, Peter Cornelius (in Vienna), E. La.s.sen (in Weymar), Dr. Franz Brendel (in Leipzig), Richard Pohl (in Weymar), Alex. Ritter (in Dresden), Felix Draseke (in Dresden), Professor Weitzmann (in Berlin), Carl Tausig (from Warsaw)-- either a ring with my sign-manual, a portrait, or coat-of-arms.-- May they continue the work that we have begun--the honor of Art and the inner worth of the artist constrains them to do so. Our cause cannot fail, though it have for the present but few supporters.--

One of my jewels set as a ring is to be sent to Madame Caroline d'Artigaux, nee Countess de St. Cricq (at Pau, France). To the Princess Constantin Hohenlohe (nee Princess Marie Wittgenstein) I bequeath the ivory crucifix (cinque-cento) which was given to me by my kind patron the Prince of Hohenzollern-Hechingen--also a pair of studs with five different stones, which form the five initials of my name.

And now I kneel down once more to pray "Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; forgive us our trespa.s.ses as we forgive them that trespa.s.s against us; and deliver us from evil. Amen."

F. Liszt

Written the 14th September, 1860, on the Festival of the raising of the Holy Cross.

SUPPLEMENT:

To Herr Gross, a member of the Weymar Grand Ducal Royal Orchestra (trombone and double-ba.s.s player), who has for a number of years looked after the copying of my works and the arranging of the orchestral and voice parts of them in the library of the Altenburg, I bequeath a present of one hundred thalers for the faithful, devoted service he has rendered me.

To the names of my friends of the New German School is to be added one more, or rather I ought to have mentioned it first; it is that of Mr. Gaetano Belloni (in Paris).--He was my Secretary during the period of my concert tours in Europe, from 1841 to 1847, and was always my faithful and devoted servant and friend.

He must not be forgotten. Moreover, whether he will or no, he belongs to the New German School, by his attachment to me, and also by the part he took later on in the Berlioz and Wagner concerts. I wish to be buried simply, without pomp, and if possible at night.--May light everlasting illumine my soul!

241. To Dr. Franz Brendel

September 20th, 1860

Dear Friend,

I send you by my friend La.s.sen [Born 1830, became Court music- director 1858, and Court conductor in Weimar after Liszt's withdrawal (1861); celebrated as a composer of songs] a little parcel of songs (eight numbers), which I beg you to give to Kahnt. Of several of them I have kept no copy--and I therefore beg Kahnt not to lose them. As regards the numbering of them (the order of succession), they are to be kept as I noted down some time ago (on a bit of paper which I gave Kahnt when he was here).

I also add a Quartet for men's voices. It is the Verein song "Frisch auf zu neuem Leben," ["Uprouse to newer life."] written for the New Weymar Verein by Hoffmann von Fallersleben. The pa.s.sage "von Philister Geschrei;" ["Of Philistine cry."] will probably amuse you, and the whole thing is kept rather popular and easy to be performed. If it does not make a bother let it be tried in Leipzig when you have an opportunity.

N.B.--If you think the designation on the t.i.tle-page "Written and composed for the New Weymar Verein" will give offence, it can be left out, and the t.i.tle can run simply, "Vereins Lied," by Hoffmann von Fallersleben, composed for male chorus by F. L. In any case I shall be glad if Kahnt can bring the little thing out soon, and will give some sort of ill.u.s.trated t.i.tle-page, expressive of the sense of the poem.

The remarks which I have added in pencil are to be engraved with it. I hope the printer will be able to read my bad writing--if not will you be so kind as to make it clear to him?

I am writing to Vienna today. The "Prometheus" parts and score will be sent to you immediately.

I expect Bronsart here at the end of this month..--.

Your statute-sketch is in all essential points as judicious as it is practical. It offers a sure basis of operations for the next Tonkunstler-Versammlung, where a.s.suredly the great majority of the members will agree with your proposals. Then the point will be to work on vigorously towards the accomplishment, and to put aside the much that is "rotten in the State of Denmark."

Before the Euterpe concerts begin I shall in any case see you.

Next Sunday I go to Sondershausen, where Berlioz' "Harold," a new Oboe Concerto by Stein, Schumann's "Genoveva" Overture, the Introduction to "Tristan and Isolde," and my "Mazeppa" will be given. The latter piece is popular to wit...in Sondershausen!--

Very sonderhauslich, [A play on the words Sondershausen and sonderbar = strange] isn't it?

Hearty greetings to your wife from your

F. Liszt

P.S.--The ninth song by Cornelius is still wanting. [The song "Wieder mocht' ich Dir begegnen" ("Once again I fain would meet thee")] But in the meantime the printing can be going on. The nine numbers form the seventh part of the "Gesammelte Lieder." If Kahnt wishes, each song can be published separately, especially the Zigeuner; Nonnenwerth, etc.

Draseke has been with me a couple of days, and is coming shortly to you. His works captivate me in a special degree, and personally I am very fond of him, which indeed I also was formerly, but this time still more. Capacity and character are there in abundance.

242. To Eduard Liszt

Weymar, September 20th, 1860

The true and loving character of your whole being, as well as of your letter, dearest Eduard, touches me always with joy, and fortifies me; but with your letter of today is mingled also somewhat of sadness. It is conceivable that the ebb of the Milanese and Hungarian Civil Service employes, with its effect on Vienna, has acted as a check upon your very justifiable and well- founded prospects of promotion. This is all the more to be regretted as, years ago, I was a.s.sured many times from a trustworthy official source that your suitability and deserts were far above the official position that you hold. Without wanting to preach to you unseasonably, let me a.s.sure you of my sincere sympathy in the disappointments you have so undeservedly to bear, and remind you also how thingsgenerally go badly in this world with the better and best sort of men. One must not let oneself be embittered by bitter experiences, and one must bear all sorts of mortifications without mortification.

I will also repeat for your amus.e.m.e.nt a droll saying of General Wrangel's: "A man should never vex himself;--if there must be vexation anywhere, let him rather vex somebody else!"--The best way, in case of extreme necessity to vex others, is to bear imperturbably many an injury and unpleasantness--without prejudice to any defense or help that may offer, when opportunity occurs--for we were not born to sleep our lives away!--

Under the given circ.u.mstances one cannot do otherwise than agree with your resolution to let your son go into the Military Academy when he is eleven years old. May this young Franz bring you all the happiness that your older Franziskus wishes you from his innermost heart.--[He did not become a soldier, but the renowned Professor of Law now teaching at the University of Halle.]

In the expectation of this we will comfort ourselves by swallowing Pfefferoni and Paprika together with Gumpoldskirchner.