Schenker Correspondence Project

Handwritten letter from Halm to Schenker, dated July 28, 1921

28.VII.21

Lieber u. verehrter Herr Professor!

Zuerst auf Ihre Werke, u. zwar auf die Beethoven-Sonaten-Einzelausg.¹ aufmerksam gemacht hat mich ein Herr M. Hanz², jetzt Oberlehrer (Titel wahrscheinlich “Studienrat”) am Lehrerseminar in Heilbronn am Neckar. Er ist eigentlich Naturwissenschaftler u. Mathematiker von Beruf; sicher wird er sich über die zugedachte Gabe³ außerordentlich freuen; doch glaube ich, daß sie bei m. Freund Schmid,⁴ Oberlehrer u. Musikdirektor in Nagold (Württemberg) musikalische fruchtbarer angelegt wäre.

{2} Von den genannten Sachen ist noch nichts an mich gelangt. Ich wohne nicht mehr in Eßlingen, sondern in Wickersdorf bei Saalfeld a. d. Saale, Thüringen. Habe ich Ihnen geschrieben, daß ich im Mai m. großes C dur Konzert,⁵ von F. Busch⁶ aufgeführt, in Stuttgart gehört habe? Erfolg im Konzert sehr gut; in den Zeitungen verschieden, meist flau oder noch weniger! Im Oktober wurde es zum erstenmal aufgeführt in Ulm, wobei ich die Klavierstimme gespielt habe, (so daß ich zu wenig vom Ganzen hörte). Ich bin gern hier (in der Freien Schulgemeinde). Daß Cotta den Kp. weggibt,⁷ ist mir insofern leid, als ich mich gefreut hatte, daß der alte schwäb. Verlag wieder etwas Wichtiges von großem Stil herausbringt.

[ remainder written vertically on the left, top to bottom: ]

Aber wenn es für Sie so vorteilhafter ist, so ist mir es natürlich auch lieber. Den Winter war ich zieml. fleißig; vielleicht finde ich auch bald einen Verleger.

Herzliche Grüße von Ihrem
[ sign’d: ] A. Halm

© In the public domain; published with the permission of the heirs of August Halm, March 2006.
© Transcription Lee Rothfarb, 2006.

Handwritten letter from Halm to Schenker, dated July 28, 1921

July 28, 1921

Dear Professor!

A Mr. M. Hanz², now a senior teacher (title is probably “lecturer”) in the teacher’s college in Heilbronn on the Neckar, first made me aware of your works, specifically of the Beethoven sonatas, individual editions.¹ He is actually a scientist and mathematician by profession. He will surely be extraordinarily happy about the intended gift.³ But I believe that it would be musically more fruitfully placed with my friend Schmid,⁴ senior teacher and music director [at the teacher’s college] in Nagold (Württemberg).

{2} Nothing of the mentioned items has yet reached me. I no longer live in Esslingen but in Wickersdorf near Saalfeld on the Saale, Thuringia. Did I write you that in May I heard my large C-major concerto⁵ performed by Fritz Busch⁶ in Stuttgart? The success at the concerto was very good; in the newspapers, mixed and mostly dull or even less! It was performed in October for the first time in Ulm, where I played the piano part (so that I heard too little of the whole). I am happily here (in the Free School Community). That Cotta is giving up Counterpoint|⁷ makes me sorry insofar as it made me happy that the old Swabian publisher was issuing something important and of grand style.

[remainder written vertically on the left, top to bottom: ]

But if it is so much more advantageous for you, then it is naturally also preferable to me. I was rather productive in winter. Maybe I will also find a publisher soon.

Cordial greetings from Your
[ sign’d: ] A. Halm

© Translation Lee Rothfarb, 2006.

COMMENTARY:
Format: 2-p letter, half-sheet, holograph message and signature
Sender address: --
Recipient address: --

FOOTNOTES:

¹ Schenker’s complete edition of the Beethoven piano sonatas was published 1921–23, so presumably Halm is talking here of the Die letzten fünf Sonaten Beethovens, i.e. the Erläuterungsausgabe of Opp. 109, 110, 111, and 101, which were published individually (1913–20).

² M. Hanz (or Ganz): unidentified.

³ „intended gift“: no letter survives from S for eighteen months prior to this letter, hence it is unclear to what this refers.

⁴ Theodor Karl Schmid: long-time friend of Halm's, who wrote an essay "Tonsetzer der Gegenwart, August Halm," Neue Musikzeitung 31 [1910], 469-74, in which he proclaimed Halm the "most modern composer" after Bruckner. He was a Senior Lecturer (Oberlehrer) at the Nagold
Teacher's Institut (Lehrerseminar) 1912-1938. He was a major force in
the school and had a significant effect on the musical life in Nagold (ca.
50 km southwest of Stuttart). Schmid closely followed Halm's
music-educational model. See Vom Lehrerseminar zum Aufbaugymnasium,
(Nagold, Calw: Verein der Freunde des Staatlichen Aufbaugymnasiums, 1991),
pp. 79-83.

⁵ Halm’s Concerto in C Major for Large Orchestra with Obligato Piano (Stuttgart: G.A. Zumsteeg, 1913), published under the auspices of the Society for the Publication of the Works of August Halm (Gesellschaft zur Veröffentlichung der Werke August Halms), founded in July 1910 at the instigation of Gustav Wyneken, Halm’s close friend, fellow teacher, and eventually brother-in-law when he married Wyneken’s sister, Hilda, in April 1913.

⁶ Fritz Busch [create biogfile and link].

⁷ S informed Cotta on January 23, 1921 (CA 188) that Hertzka had indicated his readiness to “cover the costs” not only of the second half-volume of Kontrapunkt but also of further volumes. Cotta signified its readiness to cancel the binding contract between them and surrended stocks of previous publications on February 5 (OJ 9/31, [46]), and the details are discussed betwee Cotta and UE during that month.

SUMMARY:
H discusses an "intended gift," and the merits of M. Hanz and K. T. Schmid to receive it. H reports that he has moved from Esslingen to Wickersdorf, and that his Concerto for Large Orchestra has been performed by Fritz Busch in Stuttgart, and comments on Cotta's hand-over of Kontrapunkt.

© Commentary, Footnotes, Summary Lee Rothfarb 2006

Rothfarb, Lee
Halm, August
H discusses an "intended gift," and the merits of M. Hanz and K. T. Schmid to receive it. H reports that he has moved from Esslingen to Wickersdorf, and that his Concerto for Large Orchestra has been performed by Fritz Busch in Stuttgart, and comments on Cotta's hand-over of Kontrapunkt.
DE
Cambridge University Faculty of Music-Ian Bent
IPR: In the public domain; Transcription, Translation, Commentary, Footnotes, and Summary: Lee A. Rothfarb 2006.
Halm, August; Schenker, Heinrich; gift; Hanz, M.; Ganz, M.; Schmid, Karl Theodor; Esslingen; Wickersdorf; Heilbronn; Nagold; C major Concerto; Busch, Fritz; performance; Stuttgart; Ulm; Freie Schulgemeinde; Free School Community; Cotta, J. G.; Kontrapunkt; Counterpoint;
Handwritten letter from Halm to Schenker, dated July 28, 1921
letter
academic; musicology; music theory
OJ 11/35, 19
1921-07-28
2006-05-12
Halm
This document is deemed to be in the public domain as of January 1, 2000, and is published with the permission of the heirs of August Halm, March 2006.
holograph message and signature.
Schenker, Heinrich (1921-1935)--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: Lee Rothfarb.
Esslingen
1921