Schenker Correspondence Project

Handwritten letter from Schenker to UE, dated June 23, 1908

[ Excerpt from a 2-page letter accompanying final proofs of Ein Beitrag zur Ornamentik and discussing distribution of complimentary copies. ]

[ ... ] Ich werde dafür Sorge tragen, daβ Ihr Miβvergnügen genau so groβ werde, wie das meine war, als ich, von der Fertigstellung des II. Bands für Cotta abzusehen gezwungen, mich vollständig Ihrem Auftrag mitten in der Saison,¹ doch so viele Schönhe[iten?] hingab. [ ... ]

Am Samstag Nachmittag [ ... ] will ich Sie besuchen, u. bei dieser Gelegenheit werde ich Ihnen auch eine kleine Liste von ^einigen sehr wertvollen Fachleuten in Deutschland vorlegen, an die das Werk² zu senden wäre, schon im Interesse der "Edition" u. ihrer Popularisirung in Deutschland. (Die Fachleute sind seit der Ausgabe meiner Harmonielehre bei Cotta starke Anhänger von mir u. steh[en] in wissenschaftlicher Verbindung mit mir.)

[ ... ]

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© Heirs of Heinrich Schenker.
© Transcription Ian D. Bent 2005.

Handwritten letter from Schenker to UE, dated June 23, 1908

[ Excerpt from a 2-page letter accompanying final proofs of Ein Beitrag zur Ornamentik and discussing distribution of complimentary copies. ]

[ ... ] I shall take care that your displeasure will be just as great as mine was, since, forced to break off from the completion of vol. II for Cotta, I gave myself over entirely to your assignment right at the height of the season,¹ thus sacrificed so many beautiful things[?]. [ ... ]

I will call on you on Saturday afternoon [ ... ] and on that occasion I will also present you with a little list of ^some highly esteemed experts in Germany to whom the book² should be sent, just in the interests of UE, and of increasing its reputation in Germany. (Since the publication of my Theory of Harmony by Cotta, these experts have become strong supporters of mine and are in scholarly contact with me.)

[ ... ]

© Translation Ian D. Bent 2005.

COMMENTARY:
Format: Holograph letter and signature, 2pp

FOOTNOTES:

¹ Saison: S uses this word to apply to his teaching year, starting in October, but is probably referring here to the Vienna concert season, hence musical events.

² The 2nd edn of Ein Beitrag zur Ornamentik (UE, 1908).

SUMMARY:
[ NMTP II = Kontrapunkt:] Forced to break off work in order to complete Ein Beitrag zur Ornamentik for UE. [ NMTP I = Harmonielehre:] Experts in Germany have become supporters since publication.