Schenker Correspondence Project

Handwritten letter from Schenker to Hertzka (UE), dated December 17, 1910

[ UE date-stamp: ] 17. Dez. 1910
[ UE document-stamp: ] 0017

Sehr geehrter Herr Direktor!

Aus dem Ausland kommen mir schmeichelhafte Drukbarkeitsbezeugungen für die “chromatische Fantasie“¹ zu. Bei Gelegenheit zeige ich Ihnen die Dingen.

Eben darum habe ich eine Bitte : schenken Sie ein Exemplar an einen Musiker Otto Vrieslander, in Leutstätten bei München.² Es wird Zeichen[?] tragen.

Hier in Wien ist man vielfach beleidigt. Ich höre diese Botschaft mit Vergnügen, denn noch fehlt mir erst der Dank seitens der Aufgebrachten³ dafür, was sie völlig Neues von mir zum ersten Mal gelernt u. – gestohlen haben. Die ewig alte Taktik: stehlen u. lernen, u. gleichzeitig über denjenigen herfallen, von dem man es hat, nur um die Quelle vor der Öffentlichkeit zu verbergen, aus {2} der man schöpft. Doch es wird ihnen nichts nützen. Ich war, bin[corr] u. bleibe der Stärkere.

Besten Dank für Ihre Mühe im Vorhernein !

Mit ergebenen Grüßen
Ir
[ sign’d: ] H Schenker
17. Dez. 1910

[Written large across para.1:] R

© In the public domain.
© Transcription Ian D. Bent 2006.

Handwritten letter from Schenker to Hertzka (UE), dated December 17, 1910

[ UE date-stamp: ] 17. Dez. 1910
[ UE document-stamp: ] 0017

Dear Director,

I have been receiving flattering attestations from abroad as to possibilities for publication of the Chromatic Fantasy & Fugue.¹ When a suitable occasion arises, I will show them to you.

For that very reason, I have a request: send a copy to a musician, Otto Vrieslander in Leutstätten near Munich.² It will produce results[?].

Here in Vienna, you get insulted time and again. I hear this message with pleasure, for I get no thanks whatsoever from those whom I have reared,³ for the totally new things that they have learned first from me and—stolen. The age-old tactic: steal and appropriate, and simultaneously launch an attack on the person from whom you have [stolen] it, but being careful to conceal from the public the source {2} from which you are working. Yet it will avail them nothing. I was, I am, and I shall remain the stronger one.

Many thanks in advance for your trouble!

With greetings,
Yours truly,
[ sign’d: ] H. Schenker
December 17, 1910

[ Written large across para.1: ] R

© Translation Ian D. Bent 2006.

COMMENTARY:
Format: 2-p letter, holograph message and signature
Sender address: --
Recipient address: --

FOOTNOTES

¹ “chromatische Fantasie” underlined in crayon, pres. by S. —“Druckbarkeit” lit. “printability”: S may be saying, in this elusive sentence, that he has received praise for the published work, or indications that many copies are being bought in other countries, or expressions of interest in translating its textual matter into other languages.

² Otto Vrieslander [create biogfile and link].

³ In this startling remark, S is not necessarily referring directly to his own private pupils (of whom we do not have a complete list as early as this), but to those who have benefited from his publications to date.

SUMMARY
[J. S. Bach: Chromatic Fantasy & Fugue:] S has received praised from abroad and asks for a copy to be sent to Vrieslander. S expresses defiance at the Viennese tendency toward intellectual plagiarism.

© Commentary, Footnotes, Summary Ian D. Bent 2006.

Bent, Ian
Schenker, Heinrich
[J. S. Bach: Chromatic Fantasy & Fugue:] S has received praised from abroad and asks for a copy to be sent to Vrieslander. S expresses defiance at the Viennese tendency toward intellectual plagiarism.
DE
Cambridge University Faculty of Music-Ian Bent
IPR: in public domain; Transcription, Translation, Commentary, Footnotes, and Summary: Ian D. Bent 2006.
Schenker, Heinrich; Hertzka, Emil; UE; Bach, J. S.; Chromatic Fantasy & Fugue; CF&F; praise; abroad; Vrieslander, Otto; Vienna; plagiarism
Handwritten letter from Schenker to Hertzka (UE), dated December 17, 1910
letter
academic; musicology; music theory
WSLB 73
1910-12-17
2006-05-22
UE
Hertzka
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.
letter; holograph message and signature
Universal Edition Archive (1910-1976)—on permanent loan to the Stadt- und Landesbibliothek Wien (1976-)
IPR: In the public domain; Image: Universal Edition, A.G.; Transcription, Translation, Commentary, Footnotes, and Summary: Ian D. Bent.
Vienna
1910