Letters of Franz Liszt Volume II Part 35

[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 ma.n.u.script 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 friends.h.i.+p.--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 a.s.surances 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 a.s.sembly of the Cacilien-Verein in Eichstatt, August 1871] increases my regret that I am unable to accept your friendly invitation to the 5th General a.s.sembly of the Cacilien-Verein in Ratisbon (between the 1st and 7th August) [The a.s.sembly 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 antic.i.p.ate 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 a.s.sembly 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 cantic.u.m," etc.? [A little book of Chorales by Joh. Georg Mettenleiter]