Letters of Franz Liszt, Volume 2: From Rome to the End

F >> Franz Liszt; letters collected by La Mara and translated >> Letters of Franz Liszt, Volume 2: From Rome to the End

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Dear Friend,

Herzogenberg's [Formerly Director of the Leipzig Bach-Verein,
then Kiel's successor at the Berlin Hochschule, which post he
lately resigned.] "Deutsches Liederspiel pleases me very much.
The very first chorus with its mixed species of tempi 6/4-3/2 and
6/4-3/2 is fresh and pithy, and the whole work seems to me.
excellent, pleasant and effective. Hence I should much like to
recommend its being performed.

Where does Herzogenberg live? Has he any appointment anywhere?
Let me know, when you can, something of his former and present
work.

(N.B.--It would be worth while, later, carefully to arrange the
"Deutsches Liederspiel" for orchestra.)

I observe with special pleasure that Grutzmacher has chosen a
Suite of St. Saens'. St. Saens will not, however, be able to
come,--the less so as a few years ago his appearance in quite a
harmless concert in Baden-Baden brought down upon him hideous
rebukes and reproaches from the Parisian Press. And the tone in
France is not yet more temperate; still it is right that German
artists should prove themselves fair and just towards foreigners,
and, as long as Auber's and Gounod's Operas are given in all
German theaters, I see no good reason against considering and
performing other works by French composers. Among modern
composers I regard St. Saens as the ablest and most gifted.

I am much satisfied with the choice you have made of my things,
dear friend, and thank you cordially for it--at the same time I
must express my sincere regret that I am unable to attend the
Tonkunstler-Versammlung, and remain, with much esteem, yours most
sincerely,

F. Liszt

Pest, May 5th, 1874

147. To Princess Julie Waldburg at Castle Wurzach

Madame La Princesse,

I feel that I am quite inexcusable. You have been so kind as to
send me some charming Lieder, and to accompany them with the most
gracious lines in the world. How could I fail to thank you for
them immediately? What rusticity!--Deign to think of this no
longer, Princess; and permit me not to "judge" your songs,--
magisterial competency would fail me utterly,--but to tell you
that I have read them with much pleasure. The one of which the
style and impassioned accent please me particularly is dedicated
to Mme. Ehnn--"Liebeshoffnung"; but I do not mean to depreciate
the others.

The oriental interval of the augmented fourth, which I scent in
the "Mondlied," would be written, I think, more simply thus:--

[Here, Liszt writes a 2-bar musical score excerpt]

and further on

[Here, Liszt writes another musical score excerpt]

(C instead of B-sharp). And to prove to you, Princess, my
attention in reading your works, I will venture to observe to you
that in the French Romance "Comme a vingt ans" the prosody is
neglected in the third couplet. Instead of the printed version
(with two syllables omitted) it should run something like this:--

[Here, Liszt writes a 7-bar musical excerpt at the point where
the words "Je vis le len--de--main, non plus au hord de l'onde
mais as--si--se as che--min la jeune fi--le blonde" are sung.]

If I still had, as in Vienna, the honor of finding myself in your
neighborhood, I hope you would grant me a word of indulgence; and
meanwhile, Madame la Princesse, I venture to beg you to accept
the most respectful homage of

Your very humble and inexcusable servant,

F. Liszt

Pest, May 10th, 1874

148. To Peter Cornelius

Dearest Friend of my Heart,

Again a request. You alone can help me, and give me in German a
faithful poetical rendering of Lamartine's "Hymne de l'enfant a
son reveil."

Years ago I used to sing this hymn, from my inmost heart, to my
three children; you remember them...

And now the composition (what an unknown word for it!) is to
appear in print, and the publisher Taborszky in Pest will send
you my manuscript together with a copy of the poem. In case any
prosodical alterations should seem appropriate, be kind enough to
write them down distinctly in notes on a separate sheet of paper.

Tomorrow I travel direct to Rome, and shall spend the summer and
autumn in the Villa d'Este (Tivoli). There, at length, our
"Stanislaus" shall be pushed forward. [Cornelius translated the
text to the Oratorio "Stanislaus."]

With friendliest greetings to all your circle, I am, dearest
Cornelius, ever your heartily devoted

F. Liszt

Pest, May 16th, 1874

149. To A.F. Eggers in Liverpool

[From a copy of the draft of a letter by Dr. Mirus, Weimar.]

[Villa d'Este, June 21st, 1874]

Dear Sir,

Your friendly communication rests upon a harmless mistake. You do
not seem to know that for 26 years past I have altogether ceased
to be regarded as a pianist; hence I have for a long time not
given any concerts, and only very occasionally played the piano
in public, for some very special reason, to aid some charity or
to further some artistic object, and then only in Rome, Hungary
(my native country), and in Vienna--nowhere else. And on these
rare and very exceptional occasions no one has ever thought of
offering me any remuneration in money. Excuse me therefore, dear
Sir, that I cannot accept your invitation to the Liverpool
Musical Festival, inasmuch as I cannot in any way think of
wearying the public with my "whilom" piano-playing.

Respectfully yours,

F. Liszt

150. To Walter Bache

Dear and Honored Friend,

I am often with you in kindest remembrance and cordial sympathy
with your admirable efforts, but unfortunately I rarely get any
letters written to the friends I value most, for my time is
wasted with a number of wearisome and useless notes. I have just
despatched one of this sort to a Mr. E. in L. The good man
invites me to the Festival to be held there, asks me to consider
the matter, and even offers me a remuneration in money for
playing--without imagining that I have anything else or better to
do than to accept such invitations. To me concert tours would be
absolutely senseless; to fulfil my duties in Pest and Weimar
gives me trouble and interruptions enough. All the other things
need not be enumerated.

The summer and autumn (till my return to Pest in January '75) I
mean to spend here quietly and at work. Last Monday and Tuesday I
had the special pleasure of a visit from Bulow. And we thought of
you in all friendship.--Bulow is now going to Salzungen (near
Meiningen) for a couple of months, to recover from the terrible
fatigues of his concert tour, and next October goes again to
London.

Remember me most kindly to Mr. Dannreuther with assurances of
faithful attachment, and do me the favor to give the enclosed
notes of thanks to Messrs. Hueffer and Gounod.

Our very able and dear patroness, Madame Laussot, told me that
you, dear Bache, will probably soon be wandering towards Italy.

A hearty welcome, therefore, to the old place where again is
resting your old and sincere friend,

F. Liszt

June 2lst, 1874

(Villa d'Este,--Tivoli, per Roma--Italia.)

151. To Dr. Franz Witt

[Villa d'Este, Early Summer, 1874.]

Much-esteemed Sir and Friend,

The lively recollection I entertain of the truly edifying Church-
music performances in Eichstatt under your direction [On the
occasion of the 3rd General Assembly of the Cacilien-Verein in
Eichstatt, August 1871] increases my regret that I am unable to
accept your friendly invitation to the 5th General Assembly of
the Cacilien-Verein in Ratisbon (between the 1st and 7th August)
[The Assembly was held on the above-mentioned days.]. A wearisome
piece of work will keep me here till my return to Pest in January
'75. Next summer, however, I hope again to pay you a visit, and
to gather excellent precepts and examples from you. Meanwhile I
am reading your Essays with peculiar satisfaction, and more
especially your com-positions in the "Musica sacra" and the
"Fliegende Blatter." "Fliegend" [flying] must here be taken in
the higher, angelic sense; in the latter sense O salutaris hostia
sounds altogether comforting Musica angelorum, such as pleasantly
animates all your Church tone-works.

152. To Dr. Franz Haberl

[A portion of this letter is printed in Dr. Mirus' brochure, "Das
Liszt-Museum in Weimar" (1892), which contains many interesting
relics of Liszt.]

[Villa d'Este, Early Summer, 1874.]

Much-esteemed Sir and Friend

To my sincere regret I find myself prevented from attending the
Cacilien-Verein in Ratisbon.

The efforts and performances of the Verein I follow with the
deepest interest, and anticipate that its promoters--who are so
capable, careful and learned--will accomplish all that is truly
of advantage in Church music. And in this Ratisbon has for many
years past deserved to rank first, and you, my much-esteemed
friend, deserve the fullest recognition that can be offered for
the abundant services you have rendered in the cause. Accept my
grateful thanks for kindly sending Vittoria's Missa pro
defunctis, [A six-voiced Requiem given by Dr. Haberl at the 5th
General Assembly of the Cacilien-Verein in Ratisbon in 1874, and
published in the "Musica divina," Annus II., Tom. I, by Pustet]
which was brought to me by the Chaplain of the Anima Church. Will
you be so kind as to get Herr Pustet to send me also, through
Leukoch, [Perhaps ought to read Leuckart?] "Mannuale breve
canticum," etc.? [A little book of Chorales by Joh. Georg
Mettenleiter]

In spite of the grievous news of your continued sufferings I do
not give up the hope of seeing you here again soon, and of taking
all friendly care of you; and you shall not in the least degree
be troubled or wearied; merely recruit from your over-exertions
by living simply and comfortably amid quiet and congenial
surroundings.

Hence I take the liberty again of inviting your Reverence to
spend the next months with me here in the Villa d'Este, where you
will find rest, quiet and cosiness, mild air, glorious scenery,
pleasant walks, good eating, good wine, books, music, pianos to
make use of ad libitum, and a temperature mentally agreeable.

Cardinal Hohenlohe requests me to say that you will be heartily
welcome, and this message is communicated with unmixed pleasure
by your very respectful and sincerely grateful

F. Liszt

153. To Edmund von Mihalovich

Very Dear Friend,

Your Prologue to the Nibelungen in course of performance at the
Walhalla-Roszavolgyi has royally amused me. [A joke of
Mihalovich, who had nicknamed several mutually known people with
the names and characters out of the Nibelungen] I wish that
Wagner may find in Messrs. Betz, Scaria, Niemann, etc.,
interpreters as well suited to their roles as Richter-Wotan,
Dunkl-Loge, Abranyi-Thor and Gobbi-Mime.

At Bayreuth "fervet opus" The preparatory piano rehearsals are
going on; celebrated artists are growing thick on the ground,
like the suitors at Penelope's court. Joseph Rubinstein suspends
his commercial occupations, and returns from Cracow to drive the
four-in-hand accompaniment of Rheingold. The architects,
painters, decorators, machinists, costumiers and their people are
continuing their work; therefore, in spite of difficulties and
obstacles, the great work of Art of this century--Wagner's
Tetralogy of the Nabelungen--will come to pass, and I hope to be
present at the first performance with my very dear friends Mi and
Do. [Mihalovich was called Mi by Liszt, and Count Apponyi Do.]--
Meanwhile let us go on patiently at our own modest work, and
endeavor to make it as suitable as possible. Next winter we will
make an exchange of our latest sheets of music. I will bring a
pretty thick packet to Sir Hagbar. [An Opera by Mihalovich
(Hagbar and Sigurd)]

Schuberth promises me the "Geisterschiff" in the autumn; we will
then launch it at once with Sgambati, who has just composed
several Lieder, exquisite in sentiment. I have recently written,
as an Impromptu, without any forethought, an Elegie in memory of
Mme. de Moukhanoff, entitled "Schlummerlied im Grabe" [Slumber
Song in the Grave.]

Your kind wishes for my repose are being realised here. I pass my
days very peaceably, and my evenings alone, in reading, writing
or playing. Since the departure of Bulow, who gave me his most
eminent company for two days (in the middle of June), I have, so
to say, seen nobody. He is now making his villeggiatura at
Salzungen near Meiningen, returns to England in the month of
November, and will not go to America till the autumn of '75.

Pay me a visit sometimes in thought, dear Mi, and believe me ever
your very cordially devoted friend,

F. Liszt

Villa d'Este (Tivoli), July 30th, 1874.

Let me hear something about Do and Horpacs. [An estate of Count
Emmerich Szechenyi, the former Austro-Hungarian ambassador in
Berlin, whom Liszt frequently visited.] I will write to them
later.

154. To Peter Cornelius

[The letter is addressed to Neuenahr, where Cornelius had gone
for a water-cure, shortly before his death. The translation of
the Cacilia-legend he did not accomplish.]

Dear and valued Friend,

You have again presented me with a marvellous gift. Your German
translation of Lamartine's "Hymne de l'enfant a son reveil" is
exquisitely successful, and retains all the fragrance and aroma
of the original poem.

"Kein Wurmlein vergissest Du...Das Zicklein an Staude und
Beere...Am Milchkrug Mucklein saugt den Saft...Und die Lerche das
Kornlein picket."...

["No worm dost Thou e'er forget...The kid amid the shrubs and
berries...The fly that sips the sweetest juice...And the lark
that pecks the blade of corn."...]

All and everything fits in so exactly with the music, syllable by
syllable, that it seems as if the poem and music had sprung up
together. Verily, dear friend, you are an extremely kind and most
perfect magician. Now do not be vexed with me if my grateful
appreciation of your skill should prove somewhat covetous, and I
again ask you to do me a favor. A little French poem of 48 short
lines, "Sainte Cecile, Legende," by Madame Emile Girardin
(Delphine Gay) is awaiting your poetic courtesy. Allow me to send
you my finished composition of this Cacilia, the musical
foundation of which is furnished by the Gregorian antiphone:
"Cantantibus organis, Caecilia Domino decantabat." It is to be
hoped that I have not spoilt it, and I trust to your friendly
kindliness to send me a German translation of it before the next
Cacilia Festival (22nd November), soon after which it shall be
printed, and a performance of it given in Pest.

The delay with the edition of your two Operas I sincerely regret.
They deserve much greater appreciation and a much wider
circulation than hundreds of others that are printed, and the
publication of the pianoforte scores is sure to effect this for
them. Meanwhile I am glad that you have made use of my suggestion
to base the Overture of the "Barber" on the pleasantly
characteristic motive--

[Here, Liszt illustrates with a 4-bar musical score excerpt.]

Next summer we shall meet in Munich.--With hearty thanks, your
sincerely attached

F. Liszt

Villa d'Este (Tivoli), August 23rd, 1874

If you should see Frau Schott in Mainz, give her my kindest
remembrances. For some time past various manuscripts have been
lying ready which I should have liked to hand over to Schott's
house of business; but fear that they might arrive at an
inopportune moment. The very title, "Drei symphonische Trauer-
Oden" ["Three Symphonic Funeral Odes"] might prove alarming; and
besides, the scores--all about 20 pages in length--would have to
be published simultaneously with the pianoforte transcriptions
(for one or two performers). Well, "we can wait."...

I am working pretty industriously at the "Sanct Stanislaus." Of
this you will tomorrow receive a full report--and an urgent
request for speedy, energetaeally accentuated pains over the
essential but not lengthy alterations of the text.

155. To Ludwig Bosendorfer in Vienna

[Head of the celebrated pianoforte manufactory, now
Commerzienrath (Councillor of Commerce)]

Dear friend,

With my sincere thanks for your interesting reports of the Vienna
musical world I would gladly have given you something of the same
kind in return. But there is here nothing whatever in the way of
novelties or specialities in the way of concerts; be content,
therefore, if my letter today mentions only one, but to me a very
important artistic item--namely, the frequent use of your piano,
which, among other virtues, possesses a wondrous power of not
getting out of tune [Unverstimmtheit]. Since its despatch from
Vienna not a tuner has touched it, and yet it keeps in beautiful
tune, and steadily resists all variations and effects of
temperature.

Till the end of January I shall remain quietly at work here; then
go direct to Pest--and by the middle of April on to Weimar. My
thoughts and efforts require now only peace and seclusion. These
are things that suit me best in my old age, and uphold me in
spiritual intercourse with my dear and true friends. As such I
greet you and your wife heartily and sincerely.

F. Liszt

Villa d'Este, August 28th, 1874

156. To Adelheid von Schorn in Weimar

Dear and Most excellent One,

For our grand coup you come in completely in your role of
providence, which you fill with such complete good grace, and
with an admirable mastery! I cannot tell you what immense comfort
your letter brings me, with its assurance of your speedy arrival
in Rome. Try not to delay it beyond the 25th-30th November, and
if possible come sooner. Princess Wittgenstein is still very
suffering, and has kept her bed entirely for six weeks; your
company and the inspirations of your solicitude will do her more
good than all the Allo-and Homoeopaths put together.

I beg that you will write to her speedily to announce your
coming, for she is ignorant and must be kept in complete
ignorance of the plot we have hatched with Princess Marie [The
daughter of Princess Wittgenstein.], the happy success of which
you will crown. (questions of detail will be easily settled to
your satisfaction, in such a manner that the stay in Rome will be
thoroughly pleasant to you.

It is understood that you will not mention the question of where
you will live to Princess W., who has already only too much worry
about her own rooms. In my opinion it would be best for you to go
to the Hotel d'Amerique, Via Babuino (close by the house of the
Princess and of the one where I live), and to spend some days
there, until you see where you can settle yourself comfortably,
whether at the Pension (also very near the Babuino) where your
cousin Octavie stayed, or elsewhere.

When you reach Bologna, please let me know by telegram on what
day you will arrive; I will meet you at the station, and it will
be a real joy to me to escort you to your first abode in Rome.

Thank you with all my heart, and yours ever,

F. Liszt

Rome October 12th, 1874 (Vicolo de Greci, 43.)

The Princess is living at Via Babuino 59.

Your letter was only returned to me from Tivoli yesterday
evening.

I shall remain here, or at the Villa d'Este, till the end of
January.--

157. To Breitkopf and Hartel

Very dear Sirs,

The kind reception you gave the last sending of my somewhat
cumbersome manuscripts and revisions pleased me greatly. I will
always gladly do what I can to not increase the publishers'
worries, and henceforth print only what has been carefully worked
out and will prove tolerably acceptable.

With regard to the form in which the Songs and Wagner-
transcriptions are to be published, you may act altogether as you
think best. I did certainly think that the convenient and neat
edition in small octavo would be preferable (like the last
edition of Chopin and my "Etudes transcendantes"): hence in from
5 to 6 little volumes:--

1. Beethoven (The "Adelaide" and other Songs);
2. Mendelssohn (6 Songs);
3. Robert and Clara Schumann;
4. Robert Franz;
5 to 6 (?). Wagner-transcriptions.

This would in no way prevent the songs and pieces of several
pages (such as the "Adelaide," Mendelssohn's Songs, the
"Tannhauser-March," the "Rienzi-Fantasia," etc.' being sold
singly--in the same small 8vo form which, candidly speaking, I
always like best. As long ago as the year '39 I induced Haslinger
to publish Schubert's songs in an edition of this kind--and at
that time it seemed rather a doubtful innovation. Also about
placing the words below the music. I wish this, for the sake of
the poetical delivery in all of the songs, except the "Adelaide,"
because the poem roams about rather too freely in rococo style.
Let us leave "the flow'ret at the grave" to bloom on quietly
without retouching it again.

I must unfortunately again trouble you to send me all the proofs.
It is a matter of great moment to me to have the things arranged
as accurately and as appropriately for the piano as possible. And
for this I require the last proofs, in order finally to revise
them in reading and playing them over. (For the printer's
consolation be it remarked that no new alterations shall now crop
up again; my zeal in correcting shall be confined to making some
pedal marks and fingerings.) First of all I should like to try
over Sgambati's duet arrangement of the "Ideale" with him; and
you will doubtless do me the favor of sending me the proof sheets
stitched together before I leave here (at the end of January).--

I leave the matter concerning the small honorarium confidently to
your well-known kindly disposition, and remain, very dear Sirs,

Yours respectfully and most obediently,

F. Liszt

Villa d'Este, November 24th, 1874

158. To Count Albert Apponyi in Budapest

[From an undated rough draft of a letter in the possession of
Herr O. A. Schulz, bookseller in Leipzig. (The date has been
ascertained from a letter to Mihalovich.)--The addressee was the
well-known Hungarian statesman.]

[Villa d'Este, December 6th, 1874]

Dear and Very Honored Friend,

Your excellent letter of the 27th November reached me here
yesterday evening. I hasten to give you my very sincere thanks,
and to add a frank reply on the question of the Academy of Music.

First of all I think the "moyen violent" [violent means] of
Huszar, which will deliver us from barren tittle-tattle, is
right; let us throw the Seeschlange [sea serpent] into the
Danube, and if he wants an epitaph here is one: "It is better to
do nothing than to do stupidities."

Now, are we the stupid ones?--The Government is much interested
in this affair; the Sovereign's decision has been obtained; I
know not what official publication has followed. You yourself,
dear Count, have brilliantly persuaded the Chamber of Deputies
that the said Academy would be of use in raising Art in Hungary;
my necessary humble reserve has been taken by the public as
consent.--Is it possible now to take no account of such
precedents, and to draw back when it is a question of advancing?
I do not think so, and I am quite of your opinion, as wise as it
is opportune.

In spite of the difficulties of a position embroiled with divers
worries, and in spite of the scantiness of the financial means,
we ought to stick to our affirmative position and not in the
least to give way.

As to my "personal convenience," which you are good enough to
take into such kind consideration, permit me to assure you anew
that I aspire to one only blessing--quiet time for work in my own
room. Orare et laborare. The point of honor, which no one
understands better than yourself, attaches me to Hungary, our
country. May I fulfil there all my duty of gratitude!--

I shall be back at Pest (Fischplatz) on the 10th February, and
shall rejoice to hear the Ballade of our valiant friend
Mihalovich, to whom I shall write tomorrow.

Yours from my heart,

F. Liszt

159. To Edmund von Mihalovich

Dear Excellent Friend,

I wrote the day before yesterday to Do, and was about to continue
with a letter to you when a telegram called me subitissimo back
to Rome. The thread of my ideas has not been broken on the
journey, and I resume our conversation, a trois, on the long
gestation--omen of abortion--of the Hungarian Academy of Music.

I trust that my very dear and honored friends will be convinced
of my perfect disinterestedness in the question; the idea of an
Academy is in no way mine if I become sponsor to it, it will be
in self-defence and without any connivance at paternity whatever;
I even refuse to help in the procreation of the marmot [brat];
and, far from making myself, before my time, in any way its
champion or propagandist, I hesitate over the difficulties which
are opposed to its birth. I have explained these many a time to
my Budapest friends, and the difficulties have increased rather
than diminished during these last three years...

1stly. The financial situation of the country appears to be such
that one must scruple to burden the budget with an expenditure
beyond urgent needs. My patriotism is sufficiently sincere and
lively to counsel me to abstention, including every renunciation
that is compatible with my strict duty.

2ndly. It would be a poor luxury to add a third music school to
the two schools already existing (meagrely) at Pest. If one
cannot emulate with honor the similar establishments of Vienna,
Leipzig, etc.--what is the good of troubling any further about
it? Now, to give a vigorous impulse to Art among us, we must
first unite and fuse into one spirit a set of professors of well-
known capability,--a very arduous and ungrateful task, the
accomplishment of which demands much intelligence, and a
sufficient amount of cleverness and of money.

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