Schenker Correspondence Project

Handwritten postcard from Schenker to Cube, dated July 22, 1929

{recto}
Postkarte

[top-left corner, picture, captioned: Pfannkirchen[?], Oberöster.]

[Absender:] Schenker
Galtür, Tirol

[An:] H Prof. [/] Felix v. Cube
Duisburg (Rhld)
Pulverweg [/]41

[postmark:] || GALTÜR | 23.VII.29 | 1600m [illeg] ||

[for message-continuation, see below]

{verso}
Mein lieber Prof. v. Cube!

Herzlich dankend bestätige ich vorläufig den Empfang Ihrer Sonaten.¹ Prof. Oppel|² kommt Anfang August (mit 2 Söhnen) zu mehrtägigem Besuch hierher (schon zum 3. Mal), ich will auch denn sofort erkundigen, wie er es bei Peters, Br. & H. macht.

Weisse|³ hatte die Veröffentlichung des 1. Strquartettes in der “U. E.” mir zu danken (natürlich honorarlos), die nächsten Chorgesänge gab er auf Subscription in dem gleichen Verlage.⁴ Doch wie gesagt auf alles das komme ich später zurück. Gern verrate ich Ihnen zum Beschluß, daß mir Ihr Hinneigen zu klavieristischem Figurenwerk Freude macht. An Diminutionskunst ist Not, doch[?] dim. auch zum Pathos, {recto} Pathos ohne dim. u. namentlich wie seit Wagner ein Pathos-perpetuum tötet die Musik[.]

Von uns Beiden Ihnen beste Grüße u. Wünsche f.[ d. Sommer.

Ihr
[ sign’d:] H Schenker
Galtür
22.7.29

© In the public domain.
© Transcription William Drabkin, 2006.

Handwritten postcard from Schenker to Cube, dated July 22, 1929

{recto}
Postcard

[top-left corner, picture, captioned: Pfannkirchen[?], Oberöster.]

[From:] Schenker
Galtür, Tirol

[To:] Prof. Felix v. Cube
Duisburg (Rhineland)
Pulverweg 41

[postmark:] || GALTÜR | 23.VII.29 | 1600m [illeg] ||

[for message-continuation, see below]

{verso}
My dear Professor von Cube!

With cordial thanks I hereby acknowledge the receipt of your sonatas.¹ Professor Oppel² is coming here at the beginning of August (with two sons) for several days’ visit (this is his third time [in Galtür]); I will then enquire straightaway how he is getting on with Peters [and] Breitkopf & Härtel.

Weisse³ has me to thank for the publication of his First String Quartet by Universal Edition (naturally without a fee); he gave the choral songs that followed to the same publisher on a subscription basis.⁴ Yet, as I have said, I shall return to all of that later. I gladly reveal to you, in conclusion, that your inclination toward pianistic figuration[?] brings joy to me. There is a [currently] a shortage of the art of diminution; indeed[?] diminution [belongs][?] also in the service of seriousness, {recto} Pathos without diminution and, specifically, a perpetuum of seriousness, as we have had since since Wagner, is death to music.

With best greetings and wishes for the summer from the two of us,
Yours,
[ sign’d: ] H. Schenker
Galtür, July 22, 1929

© Translation by William Drabkin 2006.

COMMENTARY:
Format: printed picture postcard, holograph addresses, message-continuation, and signature recto, holograph mesage-beginning verso
Sender address: Galtür, Tirol
Recipient address: Duisburg (Rhineland), Pulverweg 41

FOOTNOTES:

¹ Enclosed with OJ 9/34, [19], July 18, 1929.

² Reinhard Oppel [create biogfile and link]. Schenker’s remarks about the publication of works by Oppel and Weisse are in response to a query in OJ 9/34, [19], July 18, 1929, in which Cube speaks of his hopes of having his first two piano sonatas published.

³ Click on Hans Weisse. Schenker’s remarks about the publication of works by Oppel and Weisse are in response to a query in OJ 9/34, [19], July 18, 1929, in which Cube speaks of his hopes of having his first two piano sonatas published.

⁴ In his next letter, vC 27, August 10, 1929, Schenker does indeed make good his word: not only does he deliver a lengthy, detailed critique of Cube’s sonatas, he also goes into some detail about the difficulties in getting music published.

SUMMARY:
Acks sonatas with OJ 9/34, [19]; reports on Reinhard Oppel and on Hans Weisse's recent publication success; S approves of C's use of pianistic diminution.

© Commentary, Footnotes, Summary William Drabkin 2006.

Drabkin, William
Schenker, Heinrich
DE
Cambridge University Faculty of Music-Ian Bent
Schenker, Heinrich; Cube, Felix-Eberhard von; sonatas; Oppel, Reinhard; Weisse, Hans; string quartet; Universal-Edition; UE; diminution; Wagner
Handwritten postcard from Schenker to Cube, dated July 22, 1929
vC 26
1929-07-22
2006-10-13
Cube
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.
Felix-Eberhard von Cube (1929-87)—Heirs of F.-E. von Cube (1987-present day)
IPR: In the public domain; Image: Heirs of Felix-Eberhard von Cube; Transcription, Translation, Commentary, Footnotes, and Summary William Drabkin.
Vienna
1929