Schenker Correspondence Project

Diary entry by Schenker, dated February 15, 1908

Samstag 15.2 [:] Bei Hofrat Wiener|¹ (10–11h. Vorm), in Sachen der K.K. Professur für Theorie.² Ein anstrengendes Gespräch, ^ich mußte in Form eines Monologes Andeutungen meiner Tendenzen geben, ohne daß sonst ein konkretes Substrat zur Verhandlung gestanden wäre. Indessen gefiel mir der Einwurf, es könnte meine Art, die Theorie vom Kunstwerk zu abstrahieren, die Jugend zum Anblick und zum Genuß einer Regellosigkeit führen, noch ehe sie ein Geleise ihres Denkens in festeren—gleichgiltig, ob auch in irrtümlichen!—Regeln erhielten. Ich suchte diesen ^{nur scheinbar geistvollen} Einwand dahin richtigzustellen, daß es die scheinbaren ^angeblichen Regellosigkeiten der Kunstwerke sich ^{doch wieder} in Einheiten höherer Gesetze sammeln, ^{deren Wahrheit} die zu fassen, sicher leichter ist, als die Unwahrheit der unsinnigen, und fehlerhaften Regeln, ^die von heute ^{vorgetragen werden}. Ich getraue mich, sagte ich, ohne Gefahr für die Jugend, an dieselben Schüler die Lehre der Wahrheit, d.i. der wirklichen Kunst vorzutragen, denen man heute ^eben unter der unverantwortlichen Ausrede der „Jugend“, nur unkünstlerische Irrtümer zumutet. — Davon am Nachmittag bei rp. Bericht erstattet.³

© Universal Edition A.G., Wien.
© Transcription Ian D. Bent 2005.

Diary entry by Schenker, dated February 15, 1908

Saturday February 15[, 1908] : With Privy Councillor [Karl von] Wiener¹ (10–11 a.m.) concerning the Imperial-Royal Professorship in Theory.² A difficult interview. ^I was required to give some idea of my inclinations in the form of a monologue, without any concrete basis having been set for negotiations. In the course of this, I was pleased when he leveled at me the objection that my method of abstracting theory from the work of art could lead today’s youth into acquiring a taste for anarchy before their minds have been given a track on which to proceed by fixed rules, regardless of whether or not they are also erroneous! I sought to correct this objection ^{which only appears to be rational} by arguing that the apparent^allegedly anarchic procedures in artworks come together ^again in the unities of higher laws, ^{the truth of} which is easier to grasp than the untruth of the nonsensical and faulty rules ^{that are given out} today. I venture, said I, without endangering the younger generation, to lay the doctrine of truth, i.e., of genuine art, before these same pupils, from whom people today, on the irresponsible excuse of ‘youth,’ expect only inartistic errors. In the afternoon, gave a report of this to rp.³

© Translation Ian D. Bent 2005.

COMMENTARY:
Format: diary entry

FOOTNOTES:

¹ Official of the Austrian Ministry of Culture and Education, who was currently on the Board of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde to oversee developments in the Conservatory, and who was to become President of the newly state-owned Conservatory, the Akademie für Musik und darstellende Kunst, on January 1, 1909, and serve until ousted in 1919.

² First mention of this occurs in the diary, OJ 1/7, p.74.

³ “rp”: identity uncertain. —Nothing came of this interview. There is nothing in the correspondence with the Conservatory or Wiener, and no reference to it that I have yet found in the diary.

SUMMARY:
[Professorship in Music Theory:] Interview with Karl von Wiener.

© Commentary, Footnotes, Summary Ian D. Bent 2005.

Bent, Ian
Schenker, Heinrich
[ Professorship in Music Theory:] Interview with Karl von Wiener.
DE
Cambridge University Faculty of Music-Ian Bent
IPR: Heirs of Heinrich Schenker; Transcription, Translation, Commentary, Footnotes, and Summary: Ian D. Bent 2005.
Schenker, Heinrich; Wiener, Karl von; Conservatory or Music; Akademie für Musik und darstellende Kunst; Professorship in Music Theory; monologue; objection; anarchy; rules; laws; pedagogy; teaching method; rp
Diary entry by Schenker, dated February 15, 1908
diary entry
academic; musicology; music theory
OJ 1/7, p.78
1908-02-15
2006-01-10
Schenker diary
All reasonable steps have been taken to locate the heirs of Heinrich Schenker. Any claim to intellectual rights on this document should be addressed to the Schenker Correspondence Project, Faculty of Music, University of Cambridge, at [email protected].
holograph diary entry
Schenker, Heinrich (1908-1935)--Schenker, Jeanette (1935-c.1942)--Ratz, Erwin (c.1942-c.1955)--Jonas, Oswald (c.1955-1978)--University of California, Riverside (1978--)
IPR: Heirs of Heinrich Schenker; Image: University of California, Riverside; Transcription, Translation, Commentary, Footnotes, and Summary: Ian D. Bent.
Vienna
1908