Schenker Correspondence Project

Handwritten letter from Halm to Schenker, dated November 3, 1919

3.XI.19

Sehr geehrter Herr Professor! Ich möchte Ihnen gern ausführlich für Ihren lieben u. stärkenden Brief danken,¹ muß das aber verschieben;² vergessen will ichs gewiß nicht. Vorerst sende ich Ihnen eine unlängst erschienene Serenade;³ es wird mir sehr willkommen sein, wenn Sie mir Ihre Stellung dazu mitteilen, aber tun Sies nur wenn Sie wirklich Zeit haben; jedenfalls werde ich ein längeres Ausbleiben eines Briefs darüber nicht mißverstehen. Ich hoffe, die geplante Übersiedelung möge Ihnen nach Wunsch gelingen u. Sie mögen einen wohnlichen Platz in Deutschland finden—leicht ist das heute nicht. Aber den Zeitungsberichten nach, bei denen ich oft mit Besorgnis an Sie denken mußte, ists bei Ihnen ja noch viel schwerer {2} zu leben als bei uns. Ich begrüße herzlich u. mit besten Wünschen.

Ihr [ sign'd: ] August Halm

[P.S.] Haben Sie schon eine bestimmte Stadt für Ihren Aufenthalt im Auge? Also bitte haben Sie noch ein paar Wochen Geduld bis ich besser antworte.

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

Handwritten letter from Halm to Schenker, dated November 3, 1919

November 3, 1919

Dear Professor, I would gladly like to thank you at length for your delightful and encouraging letter,¹ but must postpone that.² I certainly do not want to forget it. For now, I am sending you a serenade that appeared not long ago;³ I would very much welcome it if you would give me your opinion on it, but do it only if you really have time; in any case I will not misinterpret it if no letter about it comes for a longer time. I hope your planned emigration succeeds according to your wishes, and that you may find a comfortable living arrangement in Germany—that is not easy today. However, according to newspaper reports, in light of which I often had to think of you with concern, it is surely even more difficult to live where you are [in Austria] {2} than where we are [in Germany]. With cordial and best wishes,

Yours, [ sign’d: ] August Halm

[P.S.] Do you already have a specific city in mind for your residence? Please bear with me for a few more weeks until I answer more fully.

© Translation Lee Rothfarb, 2006.

COMMENTARY:
Format: single half-sheet, recto and verso
Sender address: --
Recipient address: --

FOOTNOTES:

¹ DLA 69.930/8, October 27, 1919 (postcard).

² Federhofer mentions this letter in Heinrich Schenker: Nach Tagebüchern und Briefen, p. 140, regarding Halm’s skeptical reaction to Schenker’s consideration of relocating to Germany.

³ Halm is probably referring to one of the three serenades (two in G major, one in C major) for string trio that first appeared in Hausmusik, ed. F. Jöde, volumes 4-5 (Wolfenbüttel, 1919), later published in volumes 11-12 (Kassel: Bärenreiter, 1933) in the series devoted to Halm’s chamber music.

SUMMARY:
Acks DLA 69.930/8, October 27, 1919, sends a serenade and asks for comments. Sends best wishes for relocation to Germany and inquires as to city.

© Commentary, Footnotes, Summary Lee Rothfarb 2006

Rothfarb, Lee
Halm, August
Acks DLA 69.930/8, October 27, 1919, sends a serenade and asks for comments. Sends best wishes for relocation to Germany and inquires as to city.
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; serenade; emigration; relocation; German; Austria; conditions; city
Handwritten letter from Halm to Schenker, dated November 3, 1919
letter
academic; musicology; music theory
OJ 11/35, 11
1919-11-03
2006-03-21
Halm
This document is deemed to be in the public domain as of January 1, 2000, and is published with the agreement of the heirs of August Halm 2006.
holograph message and signature.
Schenker, Heinrich (1919-1935)--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
1919