Schenker Correspondence Project

Handwritten letter from Cube to Schenker, dated January 24, 1927

Duisburg, Rhld.
Mühlheimerstr. 141/II.
24.I.27.

Sehr verehrter Meister!

Besten Dank für Brief und Korrekturen!¹ Natürlich die Sept! Wie konnte ich das wieder überhören. Ob mich die Kürze des Stückes verleitet hat? Bis jetzt habe ich es immer nur soweit gebracht, nur auf diesem Felde ehrenvolle Blessuren zu holen. Wann werde ich es einmal zu einem bescheidenen Lorbeerblättchen bringen?

Am Conservatorium bin ich angestellt. Das Lehrerexamen mach ich im Mai nach. Zur Prüfungskommission gehören drei mir bekannte Herren. Damit wird es keine Not weiter haben. Eine meiner Schülerinnen – Seminaristin – ist erfreulich begabt. Alles andere – – “Holzwolle”. Donnerstag spiele ich im öffentlichen Conservatoriumskonzert Bach, Chopin und Schubert.

Nebenbei lasse ich mich in Schulen und Gymnasien “aushängen” und versuche alles was Bezug auf unsern Beruf hat. Vielleicht werde ich demnächst auch Kritiker an einer Zeitung.

Alles von Wichtigkeit sollen Sie sofort erfahren. Einstweilen herzlichste Grüsse Ihnen und Ihrer Frau Gemahlin

von
Ihrem
[ sign’d: ] Cube.

© Heirs of the Felix-Eberhard von Cube, published with kind permission.
© Transcription William Drabkin, 2006.

Handwritten letter from Cube to Schenker, dated January 24, 1927

Duisburg, Rhineland
Mühlheimerstrasse 141/II
24 January 1927

Most honoured Master,

Best thanks for your letter and the corrections!¹ The seventh, of course! How could I possibly have missed hearing it? Might I have been misled by the brevity of the piece? Until now, I have only ever gotten as far as sustaining honourable wounds on this field; when will I, for once, succeed in gaining a modest laurel leaf?

I have been appointed at the Conservatory. I will take the teacher’s examination in May. The examining committee comprises three gentlemen who are known to me; there will be no further problems with it. One of my female pupils – a seminarist – is delightfully gifted. All the rest: “wood-shavings”. On Thursday I am playing Bach, Chopin and Schubert in a public concert at the Conservatory.

In addition, I have been “hanging out” in schools and grammar schools, and try everything that is related to our profession. Perhaps I shall soon become a critic for a newspaper, too.

I shall report anything of importance to you immediately. For the time being, most affectionate greetings to you and your wife from

Your
[ sign'd: ] Cube

© Translated by William Drabkin 2006.

COMMENTARY:
Format: 1-p letter, holograph message and signature
Sender address: Duisburg, Rhineland, Mühlheimerstrasse 141/II
Recipient address: --

FOOTNOTES:

¹ In his previous letter, OJ 9/34, [5], December 31, 1926, Cube sent Schenker an analysis with which he felt confident, asking for comments and corrections. Schenker’s reply does not survive, and we do not know what piece Cube had analysed; but it is clear from the tone of what follows here that he is somewhat embarrassed by the mistake he had made.

SUMMARY:
Acks S's reply and corrections. There will be no problem with his teacher's examination in May. Reports on recent activities.

© Commentary, Footnotes, Summary William Drabkin 2006

Drabkin, William
Cube, Felix-Eberhard von
DE
Cambridge University Faculty of Music-Ian Bent
Cube, Felix-Eberhard von; Schenker, Heinrich; Duisburg Conservatory; examination; pupil; Bach; Chopin; Schubert
Handwritten letter from Cube to Schenker, dated January 24, 1927
letter
OJ 9/34, [6]
1927-01-24
2006-06-09
Cube
This document is published with the permission of the heirs of Felix-Eberhard von Cube, March 2006.
Schenker, Heinrich (1927-1935)--Schenker, Jeanette (1935-c.1942)--Ratz, Erwin (c.1942-c.1955)--Jonas, Oswald (c.1955-1978)--University of California, Riverside (1978--)
IPR: The heirs of Felix-Eberhard von Cube; Transcription, Translation, Commentary, Footnotes, and Summary: William Drabkin.
Duisburg
1927