Volume II Part 22 (2/2)

Rome May 21st, 1869

87 To William Mason

Rome, May 26th, 1869

Dear Mr Mason,

Mr Seward has given ive me a double pleasure in that they prove that you have not lost your tiood use of it elsewhere

The Etude de Concert (Op 9) and the Valse Caprice (Op 17) are of a distinguished style and ood effect I shall also sincerely praise the 3 Preludes (Op 8) and the two Ballades, but with some reservation The first Ballade appears to inning and towards theneeded to make the e 7) figures like a too-cheap piece of ”padding” And, since I a, let me ask why you call your ”Ah! vous dirai-je, Marotesque style should not intrude into music, that title is unjust to the clever i by the way, and which it would be more suitable to entitle ”Divertissement” or ”Variazione scherzose”--

As to the Methode, you won't expect me to , and it is only in self- defence that I still work sometimes at the piano in view of the incessant botherations and indiscretions of a heap of people who i tothrough your Methode I find so passages” page 136 to 142;--and all the ”accentual treatment” of Exercises [The italics (here in quotations) in this sentence are written in English and in italics by Liszt]

May your pupils and the editor obtain from them all the profit that I wish them!

A thousand thanks, dear Mr Mason, and count on my very affectionate and devoted sentiments of old

F Liszt

88 To the Co's ”Chorgesang,” 1890--Schulz-Beuthen was born in 1838]

Very dear Sir,

That you have dedicated your 42nd and 43rd Psalms to me I feel to be an honor in the artistic sense, for which I a since any new coth and musical completeness such as I find in yours And this work stands even above eminent compositions of the kind It appears to nant and powerful than your 29th Psaluished work upon first reading it through The grand impression produced by your 29th Psal in Dessau confirmed my predictions, and I am convinced that wherever the 42nd and 43rd Psalms are heard every person with any depth of soul will feel their subli more valuable thanfrom me; I never knew much about it, and I can still less try e But allow me, very dear sir, to tell you quite frankly and briefly this:--

You must not hold yourself aloof and at a distance; your splendid works h-- owing to the idle and impudent chatter of many leaders of the press--my influence in musical matters has been reduced to a e a performance of your Psalms in one or two places

With sincere esteem I remain yours very truly,

F Liszt

Weimar, June 18th, 1869

89 To Franz Servais

Dear Monsieur Franz,

-- Although older than you, yet my enthusiashted that the performance has come off so well, but I should not wish this marvellous chef- d'oeuvre to become for you a sort of upas tree under the shadohich you would go to sleep--Great ht to do the part of the sun,--to illuminate and fertilise

Believe in my sentiments of devoted affection