Letters of Franz Liszt Volume II Part 81

Ever faithfully yours,

F. Liszt

364. To Alfred Reisenauer

Dear Friend and Art-Comrade,

I beg you to send me here, in ma.n.u.script, your capital orchestration of the 3rd Mephisto-waltz. Don't take the trouble to alter anything in this ma.n.u.script or to write anything new; send it me just as I have seen it. When it has been copied the printed edition will follow, with the name of Reisenauer attached to it.

In all friendship,

F. Liszt

Weimar, September 1st, 1885

365. To the Editor of the "Allgemeine Musikzeitung," Otto Lessmann, in Charlottenburg

[Was published in the Allgemeine Musikzeitung of September 1885]

Dear Mr. Editor,

With regret, and a firm conviction, I repeat to you in writing that Theodor Kullak's forgetfulness ought to be made good by his heirs. Otherwise it would be severely denounced as unfaithfulness to his position as an artist. A fortune of several millions gained by music-teaching ought not to remain buried without any regard to music students. Unless the heirs prefer to found a Kullak-Scholarship, I consider that they are in duty bound to endow the four existing musical scholarships--those in the names of Mozart, Mendelssohn, Meyerbeer, Beethoven--with 30,000 marks each: total 120,000 marks.

With well-known opinions, mindful of the artist's standing, I am yours truly,

F. Liszt

Weimar, September 5th, 1885

366. To Casar Cui

Very honored Friend,

The very gracious propagandist, the Countess of Mercy-Argenteau, has already received a transcription of your brilliant "Tarentelle." I will send a second copy of it to Bessel (Petersburg), and shall ask him to give it to you, trusting that you will not disapprove of the few liberties and amplifications that I have ventured to make in order to adapt this piece to the programmes of virtuosi pianists.

Sincere feelings of esteem and attachment.

F. Liszt

Munich, October 18th, 1885

367. To Countess Mercy-Argenteau

Dear admirable Propagandist,

It is your habit to write the most charming letters in the world.

Before receiving your last I had sent you from Weimar my transcription of Cui's "Tarentelle." If you will condescend to ill.u.s.trate it with your fingers it will receive its full meed of light.

I am sure you will be so kind as to send my note to Cui, who, I hope, will not be vexed with the varying readings and amplifications I have ventured to make, with a view of bringing the pianist still more forward. In this kind of transcription some sort of distinction is wanted.

Tomorrow evening I shall be in Rome,--Hotel Alibert. Please send me word there of your safe receipt of the ma.n.u.script.

Constant homage, admiring and sincere.

F. Liszt

Innsbruck, October 24th, 1885

368. To Eduard Reuss in Carlsruhe [Pianist, pupil of Liszt's.]

My dear Friend,

Thanks and praise for your capital orchestral arrangement of the "Concerto pathetique." It appears to me effective, well- proportioned, and done with a refined and due understanding of it. I had but little to alter in it; but some additions to the original are desirable, in order to allow full scope to the piano virtuoso. ["This 'Concerto Pathetique' seems to me a murderous piece, with which first-rate virtuosi can make an effect," writes Liszt, on the 10th November, to Reuss.] Hence, in different places, there are altogether somewhere about fifty to sixty bars which I add to your ma.n.u.script. The beginning is also to be ten bars sooner, and the ending to conclude with twenty-two bars more.

I hear an orchestration of the same "Concerto pathetique" spoken of, as having been produced in Moscow. I do not know it myself, and after yours there is no use in it. I received in Weimar, almost simultaneously with yours, a letter from Joseffy in New York, begging me to instrumentate the piece. I shall answer him very soon that your score is already completed, and that he is to apply to my friend Eduard Reuss if he is disposed to perform the "Concerto" with orchestra in America. [Joseffy played the "Concerto Pathetique" in this form from a copy, in the spring of 1886, in New York.]

Enclosed is my recommendation to Hartel with regard to the publishing. Send it together with your ma.n.u.script, of which it is not necessary to make a copy--only my scribbling of the additions must be copied out clean and clearly on an extra sheet.--

Probably Hartels will not show themselves disobliging. If they undertake the publication I should still like to read through the last proof-sheets.

The most charming recollection remains to me of Carlsruhe.

[Namely, of the "Tonkunstler-Versammlung" of the "Allgemeine Deutsche Musikverein," from the 27th May to the 1st June, 1885.]

The Grand Duke was so gracious and truly kind!--

a.s.sure your wife of my sincere attachment.

Faithfully yours,

F. Liszt

Hotel Alibert, Rome, November 4th, 1885

369. To Breitkopf and Hartel

[This is Liszt's last autograph letter to the Firm; a later one on the same subject (on the 16th June, 1886) is only signed by him]

My dear Sirs,