Handwritten letter from Schenker to Cube, dated August 26, 1926 Lieber Herr v. Cube! Gestern Abends langte mir ein Brief Ihres H. Papa ein, worin er mir einen Teilbetrag hierher ankündigt, den Rest demnächst nach Wien einzusenden verspricht. Noch entringt sich ihm ein leiser Seufzer, daß ich für seine wirtschafltiche Not nicht das nötige Verständnis aufbringe, aber, mein Gott, bin ich denn dazu da? Bin ich nicht ein armer Künstler, der für die “Wirtschaft” noch überhaupt nicht in Frage kommt, geschweige als Helfer? Unterrichte ich Wir reisen Montag, 28.d.M. nach Wien. Ich arbeite am “freien Satz”, als dem letzten Band der Theorien, der Alles Wünschenswerte bringen wird. Sie bitte ich, mich zu unterrichten, ob Sie {3} zu Stande kommen? Ob Sie die nötige Grundlage finden, auf die Sie Ihre künstlerischen Bestrebungen stellen können? H. Weisse|2 schrieb mir vor kurzem, das er jetzt ein Klarinetten-Quintett vollendet hat, das bald aufgeführt wird. Von mir u. meiner Frau beste Grüße © In the public domain. |
Handwritten letter from Schenker to Cube, dated August 26, 1926 Dear Mr. von Cube! Yesterday evening I received a letter from your father, in which he announces that he has made a part payment, and promises to send the remaining amount to Vienna soon. He still lets escape a quiet sigh, that I am not taking the necessary account of his economic difficulty. But, my god, is this my business? Am I not a poor artist, who has not the slightest effect on “economy,” to say nothing of being of assistance to it? Through my works, which bring me no income whatever, do I not teach countless scholars free of charge? And can I allow myself, over and above this unpaid work, not to ask for payment for the tuition from which I earn my living in order to keep the wolf from the door? The mother of "Green Henry" {2} (Gottfried Keller)1, a simple woman, was characterized as follows: “What I learned, she did not take into consideration, because she took it as a universal obligation to communicate to me anything good that was known”; but that, or a similar, way of thinking appears to be entirely unknown to your father Would it not have rather been appropriate, that I had asked him for an “advance,” or a stricter schedule of repayment, as is so common in the world? But I would rather that the most severe hardship waltz over my pride than bring myself to take such a step. I take it, now, that your father will indeed keep his word. We are traveling on the 28th of the month to Vienna. I am working on “Free Composition,” the last volume of the Theories, which will bring together everything that is needed. Please let me know how you {3} are getting on. Have you gained the necessary foundation upon which you can present your artistic endeavours? Mr. Weisse2 wrote to me recently that he has just finished a clarinet quintet, which will be performed soon. Best greetings from me and my wife, © Translation by William Drabkin 2006. |
COMMENTARY: FOOTNOTES: 1 The Swiss author Gottfried Keller’s autobigraphical novel Der grüne Heinrich (1854–55, rev. 1880). 2 Click on Hans Weisse. SUMMARY: © Commentary, Footnotes, Summary William Drabkin 2006.
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