155 To Hoffmann von Fallersleben
[The well-known poet (1798-1874), who was living at that time in Weimar; was an intimate friend of Liszt, and in 1854 founded, with him, the Neu-Weimar-Verein, which, under the presidency of Liszt, was joined by all the most distinguished musicians, authors, and painters of Weimar.]
Dear Friend,
In your [The second person singular is employed in this letter] pleasant villeggiatura, where you will find no lack of the Beautiful and Good, let yourself also be welcomed by a friend of the New-Weymar
School, who is truly yours. It is true I have nothing new to tell you. You already know that the Grand Duke received your poem on the morning of his birthday, and said the kindest things about it to me later on. Most of our colleagues of the Neu-Weimar-Verein are away and scattered in various countries;—Singer in Pesth; Soupper [Eugen v. Soupper, concert singer, a countryman of Liszt’s, was in Weimar in 1855-56.] in Paris, where he is trying the solitude of a crowd (according to Chateaubriand’s expression, “the crowd, that vast desert—not dessert—of men”); Stor at the bathing-place Heringsdorf, probably drawn there by a secret affinity between his herring form and the name of the place; Winterberger in Holland, to inspect the Haarlem and other organs, which he will certainly do in a masterly way; and Preller goes today to Kiel. On the Altenburg no change worth mentioning has taken place: visits of strangers to me fail not summer or winter, and, still less, works which have become my life’s task. I might almost sing, like Hoffmann von Fallersleben,
“Hier sitz ich fest, ein Fels im Meer, Woran die Wellen toben; ’s geht drunter, dran and druber her—Ich bleibe fortan oben”—
[“Here firm I sit, a rock sea-girt, On which the waves are dashing, But I remain above, unhurt, Nor heed the waters’ lashing.”]
if only there were more waves and less marsh!—
My travelling plans are still somewhat vacillating, because I cannot yet decide whether I shall go to Hungary or not. In any case I shall go and see R. Wagner, in the middle of September at latest, at Zurich, where Stahr at present is with his wife (Fanny Lewald). Stahr will shortly publish a new volume of Paris Letters (about the Exhibition), and is translating Suetonius for the Classical Library coming out at Stuttgart. He told me that there is a passage in Suetonius which one can quite apply to the baptism of the Prince Imperial in Paris! After this precedent, why might not everything in the Horoe belg, and the Weymar Year-Book be proved as referring to something?
Remember me most warmly to your dear Amphitrion, whom I unfortunately did not manage to see again before her departure, and, if the Mildes are in the same house as you, give them my best greetings, woven into a toast.
Fare thee well, dearest friend, and do not remain too long away.
Thine in heartfelt friendship,
F. Liszt Weymar, July 14th, 1856
156. To Wilhelm wieprecht, General Music Director of the Military Corps of the State of Prussia
[Autograph in the possession of Herr Otto Lessmann at Charlottenburg. The addressee (1802-72) was one of the inventors of the bass-tuba, and improved many of the wind instruments.]
Dear Friend, I learn from several Berliners, who have passed through here, that you have had the great kindness to instrument my march “Vom Fels zum Meer” [“From the Rock to the Ocean.”] splendidly, and have had it performed several times. Permit me to express my warmest thanks to you for this new proof of your friendship, and at the same time to remind you of a promise the fulfillment of which is very much desired by me.
It is that, in my last visit to Berlin, you were so kind as to say that the Symphonic Poem Tasso would not be amiss arranged by you for a military band, and you, with your well-known readiness for action, expressed your willingness to arrange the instrumentation accordingly. Allow me today to lay claim to half your kind offer, and to beg you to strike out forty-two pages of this long score, and so to dispose your arrangement that, after the last bar of page 5 (score), you make a skip to the second bar of page 47 (Lento assai), by this means shortening the lamento of Tasso and of the public also.
[Here, Liszt illustrates with a musical score excerpt of the last bar of page 5.]
[Here, Liszt illustrates with another musical score excerpt, from the second bar of page 47.]
By the same post I send you the score and the piano arrangement (for two pianofortes) for convenience in looking it over. If the concluding figure (Letter M., Moderato pomposo) seems to make a better effect in the instrumentation by following the piano arrangement with the simple quaver figure [Liszt illustrates with a brief musical score excerpt] instead of the triplets, according to the score, I have not the slightest objection to it, and beg you altogether, dear friend, to feel quite free to do as you like in the matter. The flattering thing for me would be just this— that the work should please you sufficiently for you to be allowed to take what liberties you wish with it.
Some years ago Dahlmann gave a lecture at Bonn upon immature enthusiasm. God preserve us rather from untimely pedantry! Certainly no one shall have to suffer from this from my side!
I am sending you, together with the “Tasso” score, that of “Mazeppa” also. Take an opportunity of looking at the concluding “March” (beginning page 89 of the score):—
[Here, Liszt illustrates with a musical score excerpt]
(N.B—It must begin with the 4/6 chord, perhaps after a couple of introductory bars roll on the drum—without any distinct tone.)
Perhaps the subject may suit for some occasion or other.
Forgive me, dear friend, for being so pressing, and behold in this only the joy which the fulfillment of your promise will give me. Next winter I hope to give you my thanks in person in Berlin.
Meanwhile accept the expression of high esteem of yours truly and with all friendly acknowledgments,
F. Liszt
Weymar, July 18th, 1856
If, as I imagine, the Finale from “Tasso” could be so arranged that moderate military bands could play it fairly well, I should of course be glad. However I leave it entirely in your hands to do with it whatever seems best to you, and give you my best thanks beforehand for your kindness.