Schenker Correspondence Project

Handwritten letter from Halm to Schenker, dated January 11, 1920

11. I. 20.

Verehrter Herr Professor!

Zu Ihrem Brief¹ könnte ich zunächst in Beziehung auf die geschäftliche Frage mich äußern.² Daß Ihr Verleger nun einsieht, daß Sie zu Wort kommen müssen, oder daß er auch gut dabei fährt, wenn er Wichtiges u. Nachhaltiges bringt, freut mich sehr. Der Gedanke der Kleinen Bibliothek aber nicht gleichermaßen[?], d.h. nicht unbedingt.³ Ich meine, die typischen Analysen sollten genügen; eine ganze zweite Existenz der Kunstwerke in Analysen stelle ich immer ungern vor.⁴ Von meinem Bedürfnis aus müßte ich wünschen, Sie schrieben die Musikgeschichte, für die wir bis jetzt kaum kümmerliche Surrogate haben, u. wenn das nicht möglich, da nach meinem Wissen oder Vermuten Wichtiges noch ganz unaufgeklärt ist (wer hat zuerst mit klarem Bewußtsein ihrer funktionellen Wirkung eine ^die Kadenz, {2} die Sequenz gebraucht? Das kümmerte ja die Musikgeschichtenvefasser gar nicht!) einzelne Abschnitte von Musikgeschichte; was ich in Ihren Büchern nach dieser Richtung fand, erweckte mir sehr stark diesen Wunsch, den ich Ihnen hiemit vortragen will. Der Verleger wird, denke ich, auch an das mit Mut hingehen. (Ich selbst weiß viel zu wenig u. kann an dergleichen nicht denken, u. wer außer Ihnen sollte das können?)

Mit besten Grüßen u. Wünschen
Ihr
[ sign’d: ] A. Halm

Es fiel mir noch ein, daß Sie schon um die Möglichkeit in ein anderes Land, sei es auch nur Deutschland, zu ziehen, sich zu wahren, sich anstatt einmaliger Abfindung mit österreich. Geld regelmäßige Einkünfte sichern sollten, u. zwar eben auch Prozent daraus, anderen Ländern fließenden Einnahmen in der betreffenden Währung u. mit Einberechnung des Verleger- (u. womöglich (?) Buchhändleraufschlags.[)]

© 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 January 11, 1920

January 11, 1920

Dear Professor!

In response to your letter,¹ I could for the moment give my opinion regarding the business matter.² I am very happy that your publisher now accepts that you must have a say, or that he will do well if he provides something important and lasting. However[?], the idea of the “Little Library” likewise no, that is, not necessarily."³ I mean typical analyses should suffice; only reluctantly do I imagine an entire second existence of works of art in analyses.⁴ Based on my needs, I would have to wish that you might write a history of music, for which up to now we barely have paltry surrogates; and if that is not possible, individual sections of music history, since things of importance are yet wholly unclarified according to my knowledge or supposition (who first employed a ^the cadence, {2} the sequence, with clear awareness of its functional effect? That [question] does not occupy authors on music history at all!). What I found in that direction in your books stirred in me very strongly the wish that I want to present to you here. The publisher will approach it eagerly, I think. (I know far too little and cannot consider something of that sort, and who other than you should be able to do it?)

With warm greetings and wishes,
Yours,
[ sign’d: ] A. Halm

It occurs to me additionally, that if you follow through on the possibility of moving to another country, even if it is only Germany, you should assure yourself of regular proceeds instead of a one-time settlement in Austrian currency, and moreover also a percentage of earnings going to other countries, in the relevant currency, including publishers’ (and where possible (?)) the retailers’ mark-up.

© Translation Lee Rothfarb, 2006.

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

FOOTNOTES:

¹ i.e. perhaps lost, since S’s most recent letter was DLA 69.930/8, October 27, 1919, and Halm has already written two letters since that date.

² Federhofer transcribes all of this letter except for the opening and the postscript in Heinrich Schenker: Nach Tagebüchern und Briefen, p. 140.

³ The publisher is UE. Schenker had orginally used the title “Kleine Bibliothek” for what became Der Tonwille. Hellmut Federhofer transcribes a large section of Schenker’s reply of January 18, 1920 to Halm’s letter of January 11 in Heinrich Schenker: Nach Tagebüchern und Briefen, pp. 141–142.

⁴ In the essay “Musik und Volk,” Von schwäbischer Scholle. Kalendar für schwäbische Literatur und Kunst (Heilbronn: Eugen Salzer, 1922), p. 70, Halm spoke disparagingly—and with unwitting accuracy!—of a “proliferation of such analyses” that would “gradually form a large literature, so that at some point opposite the bookcase with masterworks another would stand with analyses of them.”

SUMMARY:
Expresses reservations about Kleine Bibliothek plan; wishes S might write history of music. —PS: Advises S to insure a regular income before moving to Germany.

© Commentary, Footnotes, Summary Lee Rothfarb 2006

Rothfarb, Lee
Halm, August
Expresses reservations about Kleine Bibliothek plan; wishes S might write history of music. —PS: Advises S to insure a regular income before moving to Germany.
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; Kleine Bibliothek; Little Library; Der Tonwille; UE; music history; cadence; sequence; emigration; Germany; income; earnings; percentage
Handwritten letter from Halm to Schenker, dated January 11, 1920
letter
academic; musicology; music theory
OJ 11/35, 15
1920-01-11
2006-04-09
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 (1920-1935)--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
1920