Schenker Correspondence Project

Handwritten letter from Schenker to Jonas, dated April 1, 1931

Sehr geehrter Herr Doktor Jonas!

Vor Allem beglückwünsche ich Sie zum Erfolg bei D^r E.|¹ Endlich. —

Beiliegend eine Visitenkarte Mozart’s, die ich selbst in der Druckerei habe herstellen lassen. Ihnen brauche ich kaum zu sagen, was mich beim Anblick dieser Worte, der höchsten Offenbarung, die aus Geniemund uns kam, so glücklich u. dankbar, wider Gott stimmt. (Näheres über die Herkunft der Stelle in einem besonderen Aufsatz.²) – In Tw. 5 finden [Sie] {2} die nötige Auskunft³: es geht um die c^moll Fuge II, ich selbst habe die Handschrift u. darin das + gesehen. (Die Hdsch. gehört der Ges. d. Musikfr.)

Sehr eilig! Mit bestem Gruß
Ihr
[ sign’d: ] H Schenker
1.4.31

© In the public domain.
© Transcription John Rothgeb 2006.

Handwritten letter from Schenker to Jonas, dated April 1, 1931

Dear Doctor Jonas,

First off, I congratulate you on your success with Dr. Einstein.¹ Finally. —

Enclosed is a calling-card of Mozart’s, which I myself have had produced at the printery. I hardly need tell you how the sight of these words, the highest revelation, which came to us from the mouth of genius, made me feel so happy and thankful toward God. (More about the origin of the passage in a special essay.²) In Der Tonwille 5 you will find {2} the necessary information:³ it concerns the C-minor Fugue of Book II; I have personally seen the manuscript and the + in it. (The manuscript belongs to the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde.)

In a hurry! With warmest greetings,
Yours,
[ sign'd: ] H. Schenker
April 1, 1931

© Translation John Rothgeb 2006.

COMMENTARY:
Format: 2-p letter, oblong format, holograph message and signature
Sender address: --
Recipient address: --

FOOTNOTES:

¹ Alfred Einstein [create biogfile and link]. He was editor of the Zeitschrift für Musikwissenschaft 1918–33.

² No publication by Schenker on this topic is known. Given the intensity of work on Der freie Satz during this period (see especially OJ 5/18, 43), it is likely that the planned documentation of Mozart’s calling card was never completed.

³ See OJ 12/6, [8] and footnote.

SUMMARY:
Congratulates J on forthcoming publication, and responds to his question about discussion in Der Tonwille of a Bach fugue copied out by Beethoven; encloses calling-card of Mozart.

© Commentary, Footnotes, Summary John Rothgeb 2006.

Rothgeb, John
Schenker, Heinrich
Congratulates J on forthcoming publication, and responds to his question about discussion in Der Tonwille of a Bach fugue copied out by Beethoven; encloses calling-card of Mozart.
DE
Cambridge University Faculty of Music-Ian Bent
IPR: In the public domain; Transcription, Translation, Commentary, Footnotes, and Summary: John Rothgeb 2006.
Schenker, Heinrich; Jonas, Oswald; congratulations; Einstein, Alfred; Zeitschrift für Musikwissenschaft; essay; article; Mozart; Visitenkarte; calling card; visiting card; Tonwille; Bach, J. S.; WTC Bk II; C minor fugue; Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde
Handwritten letter from Schenker to Jonas, dated April 1, 1931
letter
academic; musicology; music theory
OJ 5/18, 6
1931-04-01
2006-05-03
Jonas
This document is deemed to be in the public domain as of January 1, 2006. Any claim to intellectual rights should be addressed to the Schenker Correspondence Project, Faculty of Music, University of Cambridge, at schenkercorrespondence@mus.cam.ac.uk.
letter; holograph message and signature
Oswald Jonas (1931-1978)—Special Collections, University of California, Riverside (1978-)
IPR: In the public domain; Image: Special Collections, University of California, Riverside; Transcription, Translation, Commentary, Footnotes, and Summary: John Rothgeb.
Vienna
1931