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vC 31 : 11-1-30

Handwritten letter from Schenker to Cube, dated November 1, 1930

Lieber Herr Prof v. Cube!

Im August erhielt ich (nach Galtür) von H Weisse|1 einen Bf mit Beilagen, der mir sehr viel Freude machte. Über “dringende Empfehlung” Dr Furtwänglers2 hat sich der vielgenannte Ministerialrat Dr Leo Kestenberg (preuss. Unterrichtsministerium)3 mit einemr Briefchen Einladung an Weisse gewandt, Vorlesungen in Berlin abzuhalten. Selbstverständlich ging es Beiden schon vornherein um meine Lehre. Weisse erklärte seinen {2} Standpunkt (Schenker) u. schlug 10 Themen vor, da es um 3 Vorlesungen geht. Prof. Kestenberg anwortete in Worten, die eine verblüffende Erkenntnis von der Bedeutung meiner Lebensarbeit enthüllen. Gerade Schenker berühre ihn sehr sympathisch, gerade er sei zeitgemäß geworden, da man die klassischen Grundgesetze zurückzugewinnen sucht, gerade seine Theorie stehe “in engster Verbindung mit der Praxis”(!) Nicht einmal Musiker konnten sich bis heute zu dieser entscheidenden Erkenntnis emporschwingen, erst ein offizieller Ton eines Berliner Ministerialrates bringt die Wende. Weisse wird am 6 Dez. die {3} erste Vorlesung vor Lehrern in Berlin halten u. dann 2–3 mal an anderen Stellen.

Ich teile Ihnen das freudige Ereignis mit, damit Sie gegebenfalls, wann die Zerstörungswüterische um Sie herum gar zu arg toben, Schutz u. Zuflucht bei den Worten u. den Taten Kestenbergs finden mögen. Prof. Jöhde[sic]4 scheint ausgespielt zu haben, Halm|5 ist schon gestorben, so scheint denn Kestenberg, wohl auch sehr unter dem Einfluß Furtwänglers, eine Wendung zu mir zu machen. Freilich aber, meine Sache ist schwieriger. Erst bis der “fr. S.” herausgekommen sein wird, dann mag der Selbstunterricht beginnen u. {4} sich im Schulunterricht fortsetzen.

Haben Sie Nº 15 u. 16 der “Rheinischen Theater u. Musikztg” gesehen u. darin den Aufsatz Albersheims’ über mich?6

Mein “Jb. III7 erscheint in höchstens 3 Wochen!

Mit bestem Gruß
Ihr
[ sign’d: ] H Schenker

1.11.30

Was treiben Sie? Wie werden Sie getrieben?

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

Handwritten letter from Schenker to Cube, dated November 1, 1930

Dear Professor von Cube,

In August I received (in Galtür) a letter from Mr. Weisse1 with enclosures that gave me great joy. As a result of “an urgent recommendation” from Dr. Furtwängler,2 Dr Leo Kestenberg (Prussian Ministry of Education),3 whose name I have often mentioned, approached Weisse with an note invitation to give lectures in Berlin. Naturally it was understood from the outset by both that the subject would be my theory. Weisse explained his {2} standpoint (Schenker) and suggested ten topics, as there are to be three lectures. Prof. Kestenberg replied in terms that revealed an asstonishing understanding of the significance of my life’s work. Schenker in particular is supposed to have struck him as very agreeable, he in particular has become the man of the hour, since we are trying to regain the basic classical principles; his theory in particular stands "in the closest relationship with musical practice”(!) Until now, not even musicians could rise up to this most critical recognition; it took the official tone of a government minister in Berlin to bring about this turn of events. On December 6 Weisse will give his {3} first lecture in Berlin before an audience of teachers and then [repeat it] two or three times elsewhere.

I am communicating this happy event so that, when the viciously destructive people all around you are making things too difficult for you, you may find protection and comfort in Kestenberg’s words and deeds. Professor Jöde4 seems to have done all he could, Halm is now dead,5 thus Kestenberg—almost certainly under Furtwängler’s influence, too—seems to be making an approach to me. Admittedly, however, my subject is more difficult: not until Der freie Satz is published can self-study begin and {4} continue in the school curriculum.

Have you seen issues 15 and 16 of the Rheinische Theater- u. Musikzeitung, which includes Albersheim’s article about me?6

Volume 3 of my Yearbook7 will appear in three weeks, at most!

With best greetings
Yours,
[ sign’d: ] H. Schenker

November 1, 1930

What are you working on? What is keeping you going?

© Translation William Drabkin 2006.

COMMENTARY:
Format: 4p letter, oblong format, holograph message and signature
Sender address: --
Recipient address: --

FOOTNOTES:

1 Click on Hans Weisse.

2 Wilhelm Furtwängler [create biogfile and link].

3 Leo Kestenberg (1882-1962), who taught at both the Stern Conservatory and the Klindworth-Scharwenka Conservatory in Berlin, and was appointed to the Ministry of Science, Art, and Education in 1918, rising to a high position in the division of Art. His name frequently comes up in the correspondence as someone favorably disposed toward the dissemination of Schenker’s ideas by German educators.

4 Fritz Jöde (1887-1970), German music pedagogue, especially important in youth music. In the 1920s he was active in Berlin, where he founded (1923) the first state-run youth music school. He wrote numerous books on music pedagogy and edited several collections of songs, including the popular Der Kanon (1925).

5 August Halm (1869–1929), music theorist and long-time friend of Schenker’s. Halm’s death was noted in the brief discussion of the secondary literature on the Eroica Symphony.

6 Gerhard Albersheim, “Heinrich Schenker: Grundlagen und Bedeutung seines Werkes.” A copy is preserved in Schenker’s Scrapbook (OC 2/p. 80) and also as OJ 12/23.

7 Das Meisterwerk in Der Musik, vol. 3, which bears the publication date 1930 but was not actually brought out until early 1931. The volume, which is shorter than either of the previous “yearbooks” in the series, is dominated by the analysis of Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony.

SUMMARY:
Dr. Leo Kestenberg of the Prussian Ministry of Art and Education has, at Furtwangler's recommendation, asked Hans Weisse to deliver three lectures on S's theory in Berlin, repeated elsewhere. C should take heart from this turn of events.

Drabkin, William
Schenker, Heinrich
DE
Cambridge University Faculty of Music-Ian Bent
Schenker, Heinrich; Cube, Felix-Eberhard von; Weisse, Hans; Kestenberg, Leo; Prussian Ministry of Education; Furtwängler, Wilhelm; lectures; Berlin; Jöde, Fritz; Halm, August; Albersheim, Gerhard; Der freie Satz; Free Composition; Rheinische Theater- und Musikzeitung; Das Meisterwerk in der Musik; Masterwork in Music; Jahrbuch; Yearbook
Handwritten letter from Schenker to Cube, dated November 1, 1930
vC 31
1930-11-01
2006-11-03
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 (1930-87)—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
1930

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