Volume II Part 2 (1/2)

Many thanks for your ”Kunstler” You had in e of this composition--I ot so unaccustoo entirely by inclination I take up only what attractsthat enjoyine then the contradictions which the very choice of the poem necessarily roused within me It is more or less a didactic poem In it speaks to us a philosopher who has finally returned to art, and does so with the greatest possible emphasis of resolution;--in brief Schiller to the life! Besides this, a chorus for a concert!

I have no longer any feeling for that kind of thing, and could not produce it at any price I should not knohere to take : one an enore I could not at any price write a melody to Schiller's verses, which are entirely intended for reading These verses must be treated musically in a certain arbitraryabout a real flow of melody, leads us to harmonic excesses and violent efforts to produce artificial wavelets in the unmelodic fountain I have experienced all this myself, and in my present state of development have arrived at an entirely different form of treatment Consider, for instance, that the ENTIRE instruold” is based upon the coine then how sensitive I a your ”Kunstler,” I hit upon the exact contrary of oing on, and that stupidly I observed in the first instance only the things which startled me--I mean details, always details At the sa in these details which seemed to strike me in spite of my unsympathetic mood At the close I reflected and arrived at the reasonable idea of letting the WHOLE pass byIn fact, I imbibed it in a manner with the most fortunate results I saw you suddenly at your desk, saw you, heard you, and understood you In this way I received another proof of the experience that it is our own fault if we cannot receive what is rand, beautiful, splendid trait of your own artistic life I was deeply ive utterance to it, body and soul, at a time, in circumstances, and before people ould be well advised in trying to understand you You have done well in drawing Schiller's lines out of their literary existence and in proclai them loudly and clearly to the world with trumpet sound You have, as I say, done well How to do it was your own affair YOU knew HOW these lines should be proclaimed to the world, for to none but you had occurred the necessity of that procla of this kind with such force WHAT an artist intends to do shows to hinize the WHAT

What you intended to do here you could not have expressed otherwise than by this tre strength This isthis to your liking? Mercy onthe performance at Carlsruhe you had, probably from your own inspiration, worked yourself into such a state of excite as they should have sung I suspect, however, that the public heard correctly as sung, and therefore could of course not understand the ers such as I want for my Wotan, etc Consider this! I have become so abominably practical that the moment of actual representation is always before my eyes, and this is another source of my joyful despair

Thanks then for your ”Kunstler” I feel as if it were meant for a present to myself only, and as if no one else were to knohat you have really given to the world

I am hard at work Can you tell me of any one ould be able to compile a score from my wild pencil sketches? I worked this ti to ht employ to better purpose; and apart fro tires me to such an extent that I feel quite ill and lose the inclination for real work Without a clever man of this kind I am lost; WITH HIM the WHOLE will be finished in two years For that time I should require the ht copy parts in the meantime Look out for one

There is no one here It is true that itto keep a secretary, who can scarcely keepGod's work Am I not worth a few thousand thalers for half a year to soive him full security on the royalties due to me in the autumn

On Monday I expect Gustav Schh ”Lohengrin” with hilad to see hiainst all the world I do not want to kno I have sunk

Shall I hear from you soon? If you think of me at all, think of me always as of one hard at work and profoundly melancholy

Farewell, best and dearest friend The ”Kunstler” is splendid

Greet all at home

From your

R W

ZURICH, MARCH 4TH, 1854

149

UNIQUE FRIEND,

I am frequently sad on your account; and on my own account I have nota very serious and painful turn I had no right to expectentanglements which I have to submit to have caused me much trouble and have jeopardised my pecuniary position, so that at present I am unable to assist a friend This I feel veryfurther about it You will understand me and not misinterpret my silence When the time comes, I shall explain my affairs to you by word of ht have perished, which other ht not have disliked to see

Today I only want to tell you that on the day of the performance of the opera by the Duke of Gotha I met Herr von Hulsen at dinner He led the conversation to the performance of your works at Berlin, and told hts to Messrs Bote and Bock in order to produce them I made bold to say that I had reason to doubt very much whether this would be done, and that even if B and B bought the scores of ”Tannhauser” and ”Lohengrin” I did not think for ainvited to Berlin in order to secure an adequate rendering of your works

Write to me how this matter stands I do not want to advise you, but I think that the Berlin perforain nothing by altering your previous position--I htotroupe intended to perform ”Tannhauser” at Berlin this summer I tell you this because I think that you will not approve of the plan, and will refuse your consent if asked for it

I ath

Write soon to your affectionate and truly devoted

F LISZT

GOTHA, APRIL 4TH, 1854