Handwritten letter from Harden to Schenker, dated November 24, 1894 [printed letterhead with handwritten date:] Sehr geehrter Herr, der Artikel über das Streichquartett1 wird mir sehr willkommen sein. Eben so Strauß,2 namentlich wenn Sie Lust haben, dabei von Offenbach3 zu reden, den ich Laie über all Maßen liebe. Brahms möchte ich Sie bitten, noch zurückzustellen. Es wird so entsetzlich viel gebrahmst. Ist er denn so groß? Mir scheint er aus zweiter Hand, ein Großer in kleiner Zeit. Aber ich verstehe nichts davon. Auch die jüngste deutsche Musik, einschließend Humperdinck,4 ist höchst erwünscht. Ich fand ja nun, daß Sie bei H. voriges Mal nicht glücklich waren, u. ich war über Ihre Vorwürfe5 betroffen. Rosenthal5 und Rubenstein6-Briefe wären höchst erfreulich, bitte, thun Sie das Mögliche dafür! Es wird mir sehr lieb sein, wenn wir in guter Verbindung bleiben. Herzlichen Gruß von Ihrem ergebenen [postscript] © In the public domain. |
Handwritten letter from Harden to Schenker, dated November 24, 1894 [printed letterhead with handwritten date:] Dear Sir, I would welcome the article on the string quartet.1 Strauß2 as well, especially if you feel like discussing Offenbach3 in passing, whom I, as a layman, love beyond all measure. I'd like to request that you put Brahms on hold. There's so terribly much Brahmsing going on. Is he really so great? He seems derivative to me--a great man in small times. But I don't understand anything about this. Even the most recent German music, including Humperdinck,4 is extremely pleasant. I just now learned that you were not successful with H[umperdinck] the last time, and I was distraught over your reproaches.5 Rosenthal5 and Rubenstein6 letters would be exceptionally delightful; please, do your best to get them! I would very much like it if our relations remain collegial. Sincere greetings from your faithful [postscript] © Translation William Pastille 2006. |
COMMENTARY: FOOTNOTES: 1 The article in question is uncertain. Evidently Schenker had written to Harden proposing an article on the string quartet, and presumably also some coverage of Brahms. 2 Presumably Johann Strauß the Younger (1825-99). 3 Jacques Offenbach (1819-80). 4 The German composer Engelbert Humperdinck (1854-1921), who assisted Wagner in preparing the first performance of Parsifal in 1881-82 at Bayreuth, and who was private music tutor to Wagner's son, Siegfried, in 1889-90. (NGDM) 5 See OJ 11/42, [19], October 11, 1894, for Harden's rebuttal of these. 5 Click on Moriz Rosenthal. 6 Click on Anton Rubinstein. Since Rubinstein had just died four days earlier, on November 20, 1894, Harden is presumably interested in publishing some correspondence between the two well-known pianists. 7 Click on Neue freie Presse. SUMMARY: © Commentary, Footnotes, Summary William Pastille, 2006
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