163 To Louis Kohler
Bravo, dear friend, for the three very graceful and charmingly conceived melody-dialogues! I have pleasure in them, and am certain of the success of this charming selam. [Meaning a musical bouquet.] As an old laborant [Worker in a laboratory] at piano music allow me merely to lay before you a slight alteration in the two bars before the return of the motive (No. I). According to my conception one bar more would have a beneficial effect there, thus:—
[Here Liszt writes out a 5-measure excerpt of piano music]
If you agree with this version, write me simply Yes to the address of Richard Wagner, Zeltweg, Zurich. I shall get there next Sunday, and stay some days with our great friend. At the beginning of November I shall be back in Weymar.
Hearty greetings from yours in all friendship,
F. Liszt
Stuttgart, October 8th, 1856.
In No. 3 (in the first two bars) the F seems to me the right sound in the bass, and that was what you had first written:—
[Here, Liszt illustrates with a musical score excerpt]
instead of:—
[Here, Liszt illustrates with another musical score excerpt]
Will you leave these little alterations to me in the proof?