Schenker Correspondence Project

Handwritten letter from Elias to Schenker, dated December 25, 1927

Wien, 25/XII-27.

Lieber Herr Doktor!

Für Ihre freundlichen Zeilen herzlichst dankend,¹ bitte ich Sie eiligst darum: machen Sie mir die Freude, die Brahms-Bände in Ihrer Bibliothek aufzustellen!²

Die 4 händigen Werke von Brahms, die ich schon lange besitze,³ sind alle noch bei mir zu Hause. Oft schon dachte ich, dass Brahms selbst sie lieber in Ihren Händen {2} wüsste als in den meinen, doch – da ich Sie eben kannte – hatte ich nie gewagt, Ihnen diese anzubieten. Durch einen besonderen Glücksfall ist es mir nun gelungen, die Hefte, die ich bei Stefan binden liess,⁴ noch ausfindig zu machen. Ich hatte die grösste Freude darüber und könnte mir nichts Schöneres wünschen als, dass auch Sie und {3} Ihre liebe Frau meine Freude teilten.

Darum bitte ich Sie nochmals recht herzlich, die Brahms-Bände als Symbol meiner Dankbarkeit, sowohl Ihnen, als auch Brahms gegenüber, anzunehmen.

Hoffentlich werden Sie die Feiertage angenehm verbringen!

Beste Grüsse Ihnen und Ihrer lieben Frau von

Ihrer
[ sign’d: ] Angi Elias

© In the public domain.
© Transcription Michaela Rejack 2006.

Handwritten letter from Elias to Schenker, dated December 25, 1927

Vienna, December 25, 1927

Dear Doctor,

Most cordial thanks for your friendly missive,¹ concerning which I hasten to ask you: give me the pleasure of installing the Brahms volumes in your library!²

The four-hand works of Brahms, which I have long owned, are all still at my home.³ I have often thought that Brahms himself would rather know they were in your hands {2} than in mine, but—since I did after all know you—I have never dared to offer them to you. Through a special stroke of luck, I have succeeded in tracking down the volumes, which I left at Stefan’s to be bound.⁴ I was overjoyed at this, and I could wish nothing nicer than that you {3} and your dear wife share my joy.

Therefore I pray you once again, with all my heart, to accept the Brahms volumes as a symbol of my gratitude, both to you and also to Brahms.

I hope you enjoy the holidays!

Best greetings to you and your dear wife.

Yours,
[ sign’d: ] Angi Elias

© Translated Michael Rejack, 2006.

COMMENTARY:
Format: 3-p letter, oblong format, holograph message and signature
Sender address: Vienna
Recipient address: --

FOOTNOTES:

¹ S’s communication does not survive.

² Perhaps she is referring to four volumes of the Brahms collected edition; if so, most likely would be vols 12 (four hands one and two pianos), and 13–15 (solo piano works), ed. Eusebius Mandyzcewski (Leipzig: B&H, 1926–27), hence just published.

³ She is presumably referring to an earlier edition of these works.

⁴ Perhaps Paul Stefan (1879–1943), Austrian writer on music, music critic, and pupil of Schoenberg, who is mentioned also in OJ 10/18, [5], June 17, 1933; but more likely a Viennese firm of book-binders.

SUMMARY:
E wishes to contribute volumes of Brahms piano works to the Schenkers.

© Commentary, Footnotes, Summary Michaela Rejack 2006

Rejack, Michaela
Elias, Angelika
DE
Cambridge University Faculty of Music-Ian Bent
Elias, Angelika; Elias, Angi; Schenker, Heinrich; Brahms; piano works; edition; library; Stefan
Handwritten letter from Elias to Schenker, dated December 25, 1927
OJ 10/18, [2]
1927-12-25
2006-06-19
Elias
This document is deemed to be in the public domain. Any claim to intellectual rights on this document should be addressed to the Schenker Correspondence Project, Faculty of Music, University of Cambridge, at schenkercorrespondence@mus.cam.ac.uk.
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: In the public domain; Image: University of California, Riverside; Transcription, Translation, Commentary, Footnotes, and Summary: Michaela Rejack.
Vienna
1927