Correspondence 1925-1935 by Theodor W. Adorno & Wieland Hoban

Author:Theodor W. Adorno & Wieland Hoban
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780745694962
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2014-09-13T18:00:00+00:00

81 BERG TO WIESENGRUND-ADORNO

SATTENDORF, 26.8.1928

Gut Berghof

Post office: Sattendorf 9 26./8.28.

Lake Ossiach

Carinthia

My dear friend, in sending me your ‘Four Songs’, you have fulfilled – nay, surpassed my joyful anticipation. I thank you with all my friend’s & artist’s hearts for it & for the affectionate dedication. I not only ‘approve’ of this music entirely, I in fact know that I shall one day ‘enjoy’ it. If that is not yet the case, then only because of the slowness of my perception of all kinds of music & the impossibility of occupying myself for many hours & half-days with your music, as it deserves, at the moment. I have not yet got beyond admiring the entire structural fabric, which I do not hesitate to term masterful, the wealth of forms that is apparent at the first glance, and the almost playful manner in which you have mastered recent developments (in the good sense, of course); but I know that all the rest will follow, even if it does not until the performance!

Concerning this, Miss Hinnenberg-Lefèbre seems a reasonable choice. I shall send a letter to Steuermann with the same delivery as this. I would consider it better for the premiere to take place in the context of his (& Kolisch’s) concerts. The Vienna I.S.f.k.m.a.1 lies entirely outside of the music industry, while the St.-K. concerts are sold out every time & already have an excellent reputation. Should Miss Hinnenberg be unavailable (e.g. for financial reasons), one should still be able to find someone in Vienna whose voice is equal to the task of your songs (also in terms of pitch-accuracy); though the presence of mind with which Miss Hinnenberg approaches such things (& with which she compensates for her somewhat modest means) is admittedly not easily found. So we would just have to search! –

U. E.: More than any ‘word of authority’, which I shall incidentally supply, the songs themselves will testify to the necessity of printing them. This is why I decided – as much as it saddens me – to send them to Stein with this same delivery. I think they will definitely appear. Though when? U. E. is so inundated (for weeks & months) with printing (of enormous volumes) that they are putting everything else on hold. (E.g. I was unable to have the ‘7 Early Songs’ printed before winter despite urgently needing them for various performances. (6.11. premiere by Heger in the Vna. society concerts.))

I am very pleased to hear of your other musical productivity. And even one in the 12-tone style. But it is a false assumption on your part that there is anything stricter than Schönberg’s 5tet, where not a single ‘free’ note appears (aside from printing errors). But we would do better to speak, not write about this & many other things, which shall hopef. be possible soon (as you are coming to Vienna). Therefore I shall close now by expressing once more my heartfelt thanks & our best wishes for your well-deserved recovery!

Yours Berg

P.S. I am working on ‘Lulu’ with diligence and enjoyment.

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