Schenker Correspondence Project

Handwritten postcard from Jonas to “Frau Dr. Lily" (i.e. Jeanette) Schenker, dated February 17, [1938]

{recto}

[printed heading:]
[emblem:] KV | KRYSTALL-VERLAG
Telephon U-23-410 [–] Ges. m. b. H. [–] Tele[overstamped]
WIEN, I. GRABEN 29^A (TRATTN[overstamped]
__________________________________________
[Absender:] D^r Oswald Jonas
Wien XIX
Medlergasse 2

[An:] Frau D^r [/] Lily Schenker
Gries ^b/ Bozen
Hotel Regina
Italien

[postmark:] || 19/1 WIEN 117[?] | 18.II.38 15 | * 2d * ||

[lower-right corner, in Jeanette’s hand:] Antw. 24.II.38

[for message-continuation, see below]

{verso}
17.II

Sehr verehrte gnädige Frau!

Nun indes eine sofortige Mitteilung über die Besprechung in der U.E.: Dir. W.¹ machte Vorschläge wegen kleiner Philharmonia Part., ich ^wegen der[corr] Eröffnung einer Schenker-Reihe (Einzelausgaben von Klavierwerken mit Kommentar, Fingersatz etc) – darüber hat er mich an D^r Roth² gewiesen. Nun aber: D^r Heinsheimer³ fährt nächste Woche nach Amerika und will sich über die Absatzmöglichkeiten einer eventuellen englischen Ausgabe orientieren.⁴ Bis dahin ruht gewissermaßen die Entscheidung – mindestens wird sie von dem Amerika Resultat wesentlich {recto} beeinflußt sein. Also heißt es vorläufig warten! Ich danke Ihnen noch sehr für Ihre freundliche Empfehlung⁴ und hoffe, daß Sie mit Ihrem Aufenthalt zufrieden sind. Mit ergebensten Grüße

Ihr
[ sign’d: ] Oswald Jonas

© Heirs of Oswald Jonas, published here with kind permission.
© Transcription John Rothgeb 2006.

Handwritten postcard from Jonas to “Frau Dr. Lily" (i.e. Jeanette) Schenker, dated February 17, [1938]

{recto}

[printed heading:]
[emblem:] KV | KRYSTALL-VERLAG
Telephone U-23-410 [–] Registered Company [–] Tele[overstamped]
VIENNA, I. GRABEN 29^A (TRATTN[overstamped]
__________________________________________
[From:] Dr. Oswald Jonas,
Vienna XIX,
Medlergasse 2

[To:] Frau Dr. Lily Schenker,
Gries nr. Bolzano,
Hotel Regina
Italy

[postmark:] || 19/1 WIEN 117[?] | 18.II.38 15 | * 2d * ||

[lower-right corner, in Jeanette’s hand:] Antw. 24.II.38

[for message-continuation, see below]

{verso}
February 17 [1938]

Dear Madam,

Herewith an immediate report on the discussion at Universal-Edition: Director W.¹ made suggestions concerning the small Philharmonia scores, ^concerning the founding of a Schenker series (individual editions of piano works with commentary, fingering, etc.)—on this he referred me to Dr. Roth.² But: Dr. Heinsheimer³ leaves next week for America and will inquire about the market conditions for a possible English edition.⁴ Until then the decision rests in a certain sense on—at least will be significantly {recto} influenced by—the results from America. Thus for now we have to wait! I thank you very much again for your gracious good wishes⁵ and hope that you are satisfied with your holiday. With warmest greetings,

Yours,
[ sign’d: ] Oswald Jonas

© Translation John Rothgeb, 2006.

COMMENTARY:
Format: printed postcard, printed letterhead, holograph addresses, message-continuation, and signature recto, message-beginning verso
Sender address: Vienna XIX, Medlergasse 2
Recipient address: Gries nr. Bozen, Hotel Regina, Italy

FOOTNOTES:

¹ Hugo Winter, commercial director of UE from 1910, joint director of the company with Alfred Kalmus and Hans Heinsheimer following Hertzka’s death in 1932. After Kalmus left the country in 1936, Winter remained in post until he was dismissed by the Nazis in 1938.

² Click on Hermann Roth.

³ Hans Heinsheimer (1900–93), joined the UE editorial staff in 1923, headed its opera department from 1924 to 1938, directed the company jointly with Hugo Winter and Alfred Kalmus from 1932, and emigrated to the USA in 1938, joining Boosey & Hawkes in New York, later G. Schirmer. He contributed articles to journals, and wrote a book about his life in publishing, Menagerie in F sharp (Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1947, reworked as Best Regards to Aida: the Defeats and Victories of a Music Man on Two Continents, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1968), and with Paul Stefan edited the first memorial volume on UE’s history: 25 Jahre Neue Musik: Jahrbuch 1926 der Universal-Edition (Vienna: UE, 1926).

⁴ Neither the series nor the translation (perhaps of Der freie Satz?) materialized.

⁵ communication not known to survive.

SUMMARY:
J reports on a meeting at UE re: the prospects for a proposed Schenker edition series and an English translation.

© Commentary, Footnotes, Summary John Rothgeb, 2006

Rothgeb, John
Jonas, Oswald
DE
Cambridge University Faculty of Music–Ian Bent
Jonas, Oswald; Schenker, Jeanette; Universal-Edition; Universal Edition; UE; Winter, Hugo; Roth, Hermann; Heinsheimer, Hans; Philharmonia scores; Schenker series; English translation; America
Handwritten postcard from Jonas to Jeanette Schenker, dated February 17, 1938
OJ 12/6, [48]
1935-02-17
2006-10-07
Jonas
Permission to publish on this website granted by the heirs of Oswald Jonas, March 2006.
Schenker, Jeanette (1938-c.1942)--Ratz, Erwin (c.1942-c.1955)--Jonas, Oswald (c.1955-1978)--University of California, Riverside (1978--)
IPR: Heirs of Oswald Jonas; Image: University of California, Riverside; Transcription, Translation, Commentary, Footnotes, and Summary: John Rothgeb.
Vienna
1938