Downloads temporarily removed for testing purposes

Documents comprising this correspondence:

• OJ 9/27, [1] Handwritten letter from Busoni to Schenker, undated [May 10, 1897]

  Busoni invites Schenker to call on him [for the first time].

• Sbb B II 4413 Handwritten letter with envelope from Schenker to Busoni, dated May 18, 1897

  Schenker reports that Karl Goldmark wrote him a glowing recommendation to Edition Peters on the strength of which he approached Peters, who expressed their regrets. He seeks Busoni's advice and help. Eugen d'Albert has undertaken to play something of his during the winter. He draws Busoni's attention to an article he has published.

• Sbb B II 4414 Handwritten letter from Schenker to Busoni, dated May 19, 1897

  Schenker reports interest in his music on the part of publisher Robert Lienau, involving also Max Kalbeck.

• OJ 9/27, [2] Handwritten letter from Busoni to Schenker, undated [c. May 20, 1897]

  Busoni acknowledges receipt of a packet of Schenker's compositions. He suggests that Schenker might combine three of the piano pieces into a single three-section work. He will not now be able to visit Mannheim, where the two men were planning to meet.

• OJ 9/27, [3] Handwritten letter from Busoni to Schenker, dated June 2, 1897

  Busoni warns Schenker that acceptance of his music may be slow on account of its "intense subjectivity." He will play some of his compositions in public, and accepts the dedication of what became the Fantasie, Op. 2.

• Sbb B II 4425 Handwritten letter with envelope from Schenker to Busoni, dated June 26, 1897

  Schenker sends Busoni a selection of his newspaper articles.

• OJ 9/27, [4] Handwritten letter from Busoni to Schenker, dated June 29, 1897

  Busoni thanks Schenker for the selection of his articles that he has sent him. He looks forwrd to an argument over their different views of Berlioz.

• OJ 9/27, [5] Handwritten letter from Busoni to Schenker, dated August 31, 1897

  Busoni is pleased to learn that Breitkopf & Härtel has agreed to publish some of Schenker's compositions. He expects to be in Vienna in December and can then discuss his proposal to combine three of Schenker's compositions into one Fantasie and other technical suggestions.

• Sbb B II 4415 Handwritten letter with envelope from Schenker to Busoni, postmarked August 31, 1897

  Schenker seeks Busoni's advice on choice of publisher for his new batch of compositions. He wishes to discuss Busoni's advice on his Fantasie when the latter is next in Vienna.

• Sbb B II 4416 Handwritten letter with envelope from Schenker to Busoni, dated September 4, 1897

  Schenker admits that, contrary to the remarks in Busoni's previous letter, he has not yet approached Breitkopf & Härtel [with his compositions], out of fear of waiving the honorarium. -- he solicits Busoni for an article in Die Zukunft.

• OJ 9/27, [6] Handwritten letter from Busoni to Schenker, dated September 11, 1897

  Busoni states his willingness to act as a go-between to Schenker and Breitkopf, and characterizes Breitkopf's approach to composers. The prospect of writing an article for Die Zukunft is attractive to him.

• Sbb B II 4418 Handwritten letter with envelope from Schenker to Busoni, undated [mid-September 1897?]

  Schenker is about to finalize work on his Fantasie and show it to Busoni for approval. He hints that he would like Busoni to play one of his works in public.

• Sbb B II 4417 Handwritten letter with envelope from Schenker to Busoni, dated September 25, 1897

  Schenker has merged his three separate compositions into one, Fantasie, and hopes Busoni will be pleased with it. He looks forward to their discussion of the work in mid-December.

• Sbb B II 4419 Handwritten letter with envelope from Schenker to Busoni, dated February 15, 1898

  Schenker sends Busoni what he considers to be the final version of his Fantasie. He inquires whether Busoni has yet made an approach on his behalf to Breitkopf & Härtel. He reports an incomplete performance of his Fünf Klavierstücke by Eugen d'Albert, and the fact that the Neue freie Presse did not review the concert.

• OJ 9/27, [7] Handwritten letter from Busoni to Schenker, dated February 19, 1898

  Busoni acknowledges receipt of Schenker's letter, the manuscript of his Fantasie, and [a printed copy of] his Fünf Klavierstücke. He praises the Fantasie while suggesting that the two new linking passages are perhaps over-long. He cautions Schenker over the subjectivity of the work, and advocates cutting two of the variations from the final section. He reiterates that he will support the work [while not directly answering Schenker's question regarding Breitkopf & Härtel].

• Sbb B II 4421 Handwritten letter with envelope from Schenker to Busoni, postmarked March 6, 1898

  Schenker pleads to have a few minutes of Busoni's time, and informs him that Breitkopf & Härtel's acceptance of his Fantasie is almost secured.

• Sbb B II 4420 Handwritten letter with envelope from Schenker to Busoni, dated March 15, 1898

  Schenker has failed to meet up with Busoni today.

• Sbb B II 4422 Handwritten letter with envelope from Schenker to Busoni, dated May 5, 1898

  Breitkopf & Härtel have accepted his Fantasie; Schenker hopes now to get the piece well known. — He asks for a second time whether Busoni will permit him to dedicate the piece to him. — He hopes to attend Busoni's series of historical concerts in Berlin.

• OJ 9/27, [8] Handwritten letter from Busoni to Schenker, dated May 6, 1898

  Busoni accepts with pleasure the dedication to him of Schenker's Fantasie.

• Sbb B II 4426 Handwritten letter from Schenker to Busoni, undated [September/October 1898]

  Schenker reports that he has had two sets of proofs for his Fantasie from B & H; he announces that Simrock has accepted his Ländler for piano; he encloses some choruses and asks Busoni to send a recommendation to Siegfried Ochs.

• Sbb B II 4423 Handwritten letter from Schenker to Busoni, dated October 24, 1898

  Schenker sends Busoni a newly printed copy of his Fantasie, and reports that he is unable to attend the latter's "historical" concerts series because it takes place over more than a week.

• OJ 9/27, [10] Handwritten envelope from Busoni to Schenker, dated December 31, 1898

  envelope only

• Sbb B II 4427 Handwritten letter with envelope from Schenker to Busoni, dated January 2, 1899

  Schenker thanks Busoni for his latest letter and announces his concert tour with Johannes Meschaert January 7 to February 3, 1899.— He writes the valediction and signature in the form of a IV-V-I cadence.

• Sbb B II 4428 Handwritten letter from Schenker to Busoni, dated January 3, 1899

  Schenker asks whether Busoni could play an orchestral concert in February, acknowledging that there might be a conflict with Busoni's current agent.

• Sbb B II 4429 Handwritten letter with envelope from Schenker to Busoni, dated November 6, 1899

  Schenker reports having received his first honorarium [on publication of his Syrische Tänze]; he expresses horror at the picture chosen for the title-page. He speaks of a "stipend" that has not yet been received.

• OJ 9/27, [9] Handwritten letter from Busoni to Schenker, undated [?November 7, 1899]

  Busoni describes Schenker's Syrian Dances as "Secessionist." He advises Schenker to think in the present, not in the future.

• Sbb B II 4430 Handwritten letter with envelope from Schenker to Busoni, dated January 7, 1900

  Schenker has played his Syrische Tänze to Eduard Hanslick and reports the favorable remarks Hanslick made about Busoni. The first public performance of the Dances has been postponed because of illness.

• Sbb B II 4431 Handwritten letter from Schenker to Busoni, undated [c. February 5, 1900]

  Schenker congratulates Busoni on the birth of a son. The Neue freie Presse does not support Schenker's music because he does not belong to the Heuberger "clique." He [and Moriz Violin] are playing the Syrische Tänze again on the 20th. He hopes to come to Berlin, and encloses a "portrait."

• OJ 9/27, [11] Handwritten letter from Busoni to Schenker, dated February 11, 1900

  Busoni has been playing Schenker's Syrian Dances with friends and is delighted with them.

• OJ 9/27, [12] Handwritten letter from Busoni to Schenker, dated August 25, 1903

  Busoni thanks Schenker for a copy of his edition of C. P. E. Bach keyboard pieces. Busoni would like to include an orchestrated selection of the Syrische Tänze in his Berlin concert series next season.

• Sbb B II 3550 Handwritten letter from Schenker to Busoni, dated August 30, 1903

  In response to Busoni's expressed desire to include the Syrische Tänze, orchestrated, in a concert later in the year, Schenker admits that he would prefer, if possible, to orchestrate the work himself rather than using the orchestration on which Schoenberg was currently working.

• Sbb B II 3549 Handwritten letter from Schenker to Busoni, undated [c. September 1, 1903?]

  Schenker explains that Arnold Schoenberg asked to orchestrate the piano duet Syrian Dances years earlier, therefore that an orchestral version should be available. He says, however, that he had from the beginning conceived the pieces in orchestral colors, but that the orchestration would now take time, so he asks Busoni's preference. He reports that other music societies have asked to perform works by him.

• OJ 9/27, [13] Handwritten letter from Busoni to Schenker, dated September 3, 1903

  Busoni offers three arguments why Schenker should adopt Schoenberg's orchestrations of the Syrische Tänze, but leaves Schenker to decide whether to make his own orchestrations. He sets a deadline of October 19 for receipt of orchestral materials. He suggests a change of title to Jüdische Tanzweisen."

• Sbb B II 4432 Handwritten letter with envelope from Schenker to Busoni, dated September 9, 1903

  Schenker informs Busoni that the Schoenberg orchestrations will reach him by October 9. He has taken soundings over the suggested title change and now permits Busoni to go ahead with the change, though with a reservation. He hopes to bring Alphons Rothschild to the performance.

• Sbb B II 4424 Handwritten letter from Schenker to Busoni, dated October 8, 1903

  The orchestral parts of Schoenberg's orchestration of Schenker's Syrische Tänze have been dispatched to Busoni: Schenker comments on their degree of clarity and correctness, and offers advice on performance. He will be attending rehearsals in Berlin. Weinberger have asked that the existing title be retained. -- Schenker reports on prospective performances of his works. He also reports on good chances of receiving a theory professorship at the Vienna Conservatory, and doesn't want Jewishness associated with his compositions lest this should impair those chances.