Schenker Correspondence Project

Typed letter from Hertzka (UE) to Schenker, dated October 29, 1910

{left}
[UE letterhead]
H
Wien, 29.Okt.1910.

Wohlgeboren [/] Herrn Prof. Dr. Heinrich S c h e n k e r
W i e n
------------

Sehr verehrter Herr Doktor !

Leider habe ich Sie heute früh verfehlt. Herr v. Wöss¹ hat mir Ihre Wünsche mitgeteilt und insbesondere, dass Sie bei einer event. Notiz über die “Chromatische Fantasie” das Wort “Erläuterungen” eingeschaltet haben wollen². [in left margin: !!]

Ich bin eben dabei, an die grossen Musik-Zeitschriften und wichtigeren Persönlichkeiten eine Art Waschzettel zu verschicken, nachdem ein derartiger Faulenzer³ sich in vielen Fällen als sehr wohltätig erweist. Vielleicht hätten Sie die Güte, mir behilflich zu sein und mir eine etwa acht – zehn Zeilen-Notiz⁴ zu entwerfen und einzusenden.

Ich fahre morgen auf drei Tage nach Prag und Berlin, bin aber Donnerstag schon wieder hier; dann hoffe ich Sie⁵ bestimmt sprechen zu können, um die Sache über die IX. Symphonie⁶ zum formellen Abschluss zu bringen und auch bzgl. der Beethoven- {right} Sonaten⁷ Näheres zu hören. Ich habe vorgestern mit Direktor Bopp⁸ in dieser Sache eine längere Besprechung gehabt und wenn das Unterrichts-Ministerium kann und will,⁹ dann wird die Angelegenheit ohne Schwierigkeit zu lösen sein. Gleichzeitig gehen zwei Exemplare¹⁰ an Ihre w/. Adresse.

Mit besten Grüssen
in Hochschätzung
ergebenst
[ sign’d: ] Hertzka

© Universal Edition A.G., Wien.
© Transcription Ian D. Bent 2006.

Typed letter from Hertzka (UE) to Schenker, dated October 29, 1910

{left}
[UE letterhead]
H
Vienna, October 29, 1910

Prof. Heinrich S c h e n k e r, Esq.,
V i e n n a
----------------

Greatly revered Doctor,

Unfortunately, I missed you this morning. Mr. von Wöß¹ told me of your wishes, and in particular that in any future notice about the Chromatic Fantasy & Fugue you want to have included the word “Elucidations”². [ in left margin: !!]

I am on the point of sending a kind of blurb to the major music periodicals and important personages, since in many cases such a piece of paper³ proves highly beneficial. Perhaps you might be so good as to help me by drafting and sending me an 8–10-line notice.⁴

I am off tomorrow for three days to Prague and Berlin, but shall be back by Thursday. I then very much hope⁵ to speak with you in order to bring the matter of the Ninth Symphony⁶ to formal closure, and also {right} to hear more concerning the Beethoven Sonatas.⁷ The day before yesterday, I had a long conversation with Director Bopp⁸ on this matter, and if the Ministry of Education is able and willing,⁹ then the matter should be resolved without difficulty. Two copies¹⁰ are going off to your address as I write.

With best wishes,
And kind regards,
Yours truly,
[ sign’d: ] Hertzka

© Translation Ian D. Bent 2006.

COMMENTARY:
Format: broadsheet format, typed in left and right columns, with printed letterhead top left, holograph signature
Sender address:
Recipient address: Vienna

FOOTNOTES

¹ Click on Josef Venantius von Wöß

² “Erläuterungen ... wollen” underlined in crayon, presumably by S.

³ “Faulenzer”: in German this means a “do-nothing, lay-about”; however, in Austrian usage it is a synonym for “Linienblatt,” a sheet of lined paper.

⁴ Supplied by S on November 1, WSLB 69/71. — Strictly speaking, the word “Erläuterungen,” requested by S, does not appear in his text, although the verb “erläutern” does.

⁵ “aber Donnerstag ... Sie” underlined in crayon, presumably by S.

⁶ “die IX. Symphonie” underlined in crayon, presumably by S. By “die Sache” H means the settling of the terms of contract for S’s monograph Beethovens Neunte Sinfonie (Vienna: UE, 1912).

⁷ “Beethoven-Sonaten” underlined in crayon, presumably by S. The reference is to plans for what eventually became Die letzten fünf Sonaten von Beethoven (Vienna: UE, 1913–1920). For further details of the plan to issue this and Book II of the Well-tempered Clavier in alternation, see WSLB 69/71, November 1, 1910.

⁸ Wilhelm Bopp [create biogfile and link].

⁹ Allusion is presumably to the prospective awarding of a grant or subvention by the Ministry to S so that he can devote more time to producing these works by reducing his teaching load, a plan that never materialized.

¹⁰ of the Chromatic Fantasy & Fugue.

SUMMARY
[J. S. Bach: Chromatic Fantasy & Fugue:] H requests copy for a publisher's blurb. —He hopes to conclude terms of Ninth Symphony contract and hear more about the Beethoven [late piano] sonatas; has spoken with Bopp.

© Commentary, Footnotes, Summary Ian D. Bent 2006

Bent, Ian
Hertzka, Emil
UE
[J. S. Bach: Chromatic Fantasy & Fugue:] H requests copy for a publisher's blurb. —He hopes to conclude terms of Ninth Symphony contract and hear more about the Beethoven [late piano] sonatas; has spoken with Bopp.
DE
Cambridge University Faculty of Music-Ian Bent
IPR: Universal Edition A.G., reproduced here by kind permission; Transcription, Translation, Commentary, Footnotes, and Summary: Ian D. Bent 2006.
Hertzka, Emil; UE; Schenker, Heinrich; Bach, J. S.; Chromatic Fantasy & Fugue; CF&F; wording; blurb; Prague; Berlin; Beethoven; Ninth Symphony; monograph; contract; sonatas; Bopp, Wilhelm; Ministry of Education; complimentay copies
Typed letter from Hertzka (UE) to Schenker, dated October 29, 1910
letter
academic; musicology; music theory
OC 52/426
1910-10-29
2006-05-19
UE
Hertzka
email from Aygün Lausch (Universal Edition) to Ian Bent, 2004-09-09, confirming UE’s ownership of IPR and granting permission to post to pilot website.
broadsheet format; UE letterhead; typed body of letter; holograph signature
Schenker, Heinrich (1910-1935)--Schenker, Jeanette (1935-1938)--Oster, Ernst (1938-c.1939)—New York Public Library (c.1939-)
IPR: Universal Edition, A.G.; Image: New York Public Library, New York; Transcription, Translation, Commentary, Footnotes, and Summary: Ian D. Bent.
Vienna
1910