Schenker Correspondence Project

Handwritten letter from Schenker to Cotta, dated June 5, 1908

[ not in Schenker’s hand: ] Schenker
[ in Schenker’s hand: ]
Sehr geehrter Herr !

Ich sehe ein, daß sich die Anonymität nicht mehr gut aufrechterhalten läßt;¹ auch signiere ich den „Cp.“ (den Sie, sofern nicht wieder irgend eine bedeutendere Störung dazwischen kommt, in kürzester Frist haben sollen) bereits mit vollem Namen. Wollen Sie daher H. R. M. Breithaupt (nicht Breithausen, wie Sie schrieben), dem Autor des sehr bekannt gewordenen Werkes über die Technik des Klavierspiels² meine Adresse u.s.w. angeben. Es wird mich interessieren, mit ihm in Verbindung zu treten.

Für Ihre Mühe besten, besten Dank
Ir egeb
[ sign’d: ] H Schenker
5. Juni 08.
Wien —

© Heirs of Heinrich Schenker with the permission of the Deutsches Literaturarchiv Marbach, Cotta-Archiv (Stiftung der Stuttgarter Zeitung), Marbach am Neckar.
© Transcription Ian D. Bent 2005.

Handwritten letter from Schenker to Cotta, dated June 5, 1908

[ not in Schenker’s hand: ] Schenker
[ in Schenker’s hand: ]
Dear Sir,

I can see that it is no longer possible to sustain complete anonymity;¹ what is more, I am already going to put my full name to Counterpoint (which you should have in no time at all now, so long as no futher major interruption intervenes). Accordingly, please give Mr. Breithaupt (not Breithausen, as you write),—the author of the book on piano playing technique that has become very well-known²—my address etc. I will be interested to be in contact with him.

Very many thanks for all your trouble.
Yours truly,
[ sign’d: ] H. Schenker
June 5, 1908
Vienna —

© Translation Ian D. Bent 2005.

COMMENTARY:
Format: holograph letter and signature, single sheet recto
Sender address: --
Recipient address: --

FOOTNOTES:

¹ S is replying to OJ 9/31, [19] = CA 78, June 2, 1908. The anonymity referred to is that of the first edition of Harmonielehre, published as “von einem Künstler” (by an artist); S's name appeared on the title-page for the 1910 edition, after Kontrapunkt had been published with his name.

² Rudolf Maria Breithaupt, pupil of Liszt, piano professor at the Berlin Hochschule für Musik. S is presumably referring to his Die natürliche Klavierthechnik. Die freie, rhythmisch-natürliche Bewegung (Automatik) des gesamtes Spielorganismus (Schulter, Arme, Hände, Finger) als Grundlage der "klavieristischen" Technik, 2nd edn (Leipzig: Kahnt Nachf., 1905).

SUMMARY:
[ NMTP I = Harmonielehre:] Anonymity no longer sustainable: give address etc. to Rudolf Breithaupt.

© Commentary, Footnotes, Summary Ian D. Bent 2005.

Bent, Ian
Schenker, Heinrich
[ NMTP I = Harmonielehre:] Anonymity no longer sustainable: give address etc. to Rudolf Breithaupt.
DE
Cambridge University Faculty of Music-Ian Bent
IPR: Heirs of Heinrich Schenker; reproduced here by kind permission of the Deutsches Literaturarchiv, Cotta-Archiv (Stiftung der Stuttgarter Zeitung), Marbach am Neckar; Transcription, Translation, Commentary, Footnotes, and Summary: Ian D. Bent 2005.
Schenker, Heinrich; Cotta, J. G.; NMTP; vol. I; Harmonielehre; Harmony; anonymity; Breithaupt, Rudolf Maria; vol. II; Kontrapunkt; Counterpoint; piano technique; book
Handwritten letter from Schenker to Cotta, dated June 5, 1908
letter
academic; musicology; music theory
CA 79
1908-06-05
2005-08-23
Cotta
All reasonable steps have been taken to locate the heirs of Heinrich Schenker. Any claim to intellectual rights on this document 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
J.G. Cotta’sche Nachfolger/Stuttgarter Zeitung (1908-c.1954); Cotta-Archiv, Schiller-Nationalmuseum, Marbach a. N., Germany (c.1954-)
IPR: Heirs of Heinrich Schenker; reproduced here by kind permission of the Deutsches Literaturarchiv, Cotta-Archiv (Stiftung der Stuttgarter Zeitung), Marbach am Neckar; Transcription, Translation, Commentary, Footnotes, and Summary: Ian D. Bent.
Vienna
Stuttgart
1908