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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.
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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.
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OC 52/15 Typewritten letter from Ferdinand Rebay (UE) to Schenker, dated December 3,
1904
UE sends Schenker a set of orchestral scores by Richard Strauss as a
gift.
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OJ 5/19, 12 Handwritten letter from Schenker to Kalbeck, dated November 2,
[1905]
Schenker wants his book [Harmonielehre] to be published this winter,
alluding to the impact his criticisms of certain composers will make on their
reputations.
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CA 1-2 Handwritten letter from Schenker to Cotta, dated November 8, 1905
This is Schenker's initial approach to Cotta: he asks the firm to consider
publishing volume I of his Neue Musikalische Theorien und Phantasien, explains his
anonymity, points out the book's attacks of certain composers, explains his choice of
preferred publisher.
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CA 31 Handwritten letter from Schenker to Cotta, dated June 30, 1906
Schenker returns proofs, and draws two things to the attention of the
type-setter.
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CA 34 Handwritten letter from Schenker to Cotta, dated August 18, 1906
Schenker returns final proofs of gatherings 17 and 18 of Harmonielehre, and
asks for gathering 20.
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OJ 5/15, [1] Incomplete handwritten draft letter from Schenker to Grunsky, dated January 21,
1908
Schenker has not responded to Grunsky's invitation because of pressure of work
with Kontrapunkt. — He thanks Grunsky for his review of Harmonielehre; justifies favoring
the piano repertory there; remarks on Strauss and Reger with respect to "good" and "bad." —
He refers to his Formenlehre as vol. III of his Neue musikalische Theorien und
Phantasien.
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OJ 5/16, [2] Handwritten draft letter from Schenker to Hertzka (UE), dated December 25,
1908
Schenker justifies his selection and treatment of instruments in the
Instrumentations-Tabelle, with acid comments about the English, and dismissal of French
contributions.
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WSLB 33 Handwritten letter from Schenker to Hertzka (UE), undated [December 31, 1908 or January
1, 1909]
Schenker defends his Introduction to the Instrumentations-Tabelle and the
exclusion of the heckelphone.
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OJ 5/35, [5] Handwritten draft letter from Schenker to Ernst Rudorff, dated October 10,
1909
Schenker, on receipt of the score of a Rudorff choral work, praises its
textural clarity and melodic articulation, comparing them favorably to the writing of the
current generation. — He reports the success of his own recent theory works, and inroads
made into the Vienna Academy for Music and Performance Art.
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WSLB 53 Handwritten letter from Schenker to Hertzka (UE), dated February 15, 1910
Schenker advocates Moriz Violin's pamphlet "Über das sogenannte 'Continuo'"
for publication and explains its connection with a planned "historical
concert."
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WSLB-Hds 94478 Handwritten letter from Schenker to Seligmann, undated [shortly before May 31,
1911]
Schenker reports the completion of work on Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and
enlists Seligmann’s help in placing notices in Viennese newspapers advertising a planned
series of lectures on modern music (cacophony).
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OC 1A/1-2 Handwritten letter from Schenker to Wilhelm Bopp (Akademie für Musik), dated May 30,
1911
Schenker has been unable to elicit any response from President [von
Wiener].
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OC 1A/4-5 Handwritten letter, carbon copy, from Schenker to Hans Liebstoeckl, dated May 30,
1911
Schenker asks Liebstöckl to place an announcement [of a lecture series] in the
Illustrirtes Wiener Extrablatt.
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OJ 5/27, [1] Excerpt from a letter from Schenker to Evelina Pairamall, dated August 20,
1911
Schenker contrasts "elemental drives" with "artistic creations," the latter
based on "falsehoods" except in the works of geniuses.
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WSLB 132 Handwritten letter from Schenker to Hertzka (UE), dated August 25, 1912
Schenker returns the contract for Die letzten fünf Sonaten von Beethoven
signed. — Proclaiming "Ex Austria lux," he says that Austria's tradition from Haydn to
Brahms and Dvořák[sic] will now be followed by Schenker's "explanation" (Aufklärung) of that
tradition, which will spawn a new generation of composers superior to the present
"cacophony," with Universal Edition as the agent of that "rebuilding of tonal music" (Aufbau
der Tonkunst). — He alludes to the possibility of teaching for the Gesellschaft der
Musikfreunde's proposed "Hochschule." — He prompts Hertzka to act on the Organization of
Musicians project in the fall.
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OJ 15/16, [20] Handwritten letter from Weisse to Schenker, dated September 13, 1913
Weisse reports a conversation with Franz Steiner about Richard Strauss and his
alleged interest in Schenker's work. — Weisse looks forward to having three lessons a week with
Schenker.
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OJ 10/1, [6] Handwritten letter from Dahms to Schenker, dated July 15, 1914
Dahms communicates from the Black Forest, commiserating over Schenker's
experiences with the Vienna Konzerthausgesellschaft.
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OJ 10/1, [13] Handwritten letter from Dahms to Schenker, undated but presumably November 1,
1915
Dahms acknowledges Schenker's letter with joy; he is committed to the struggle
against the "other side."
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OJ 10/1, [19] Handwritten letter from Dahms to Schenker, undated but presumably May 1,
1916
Dahms laments the state of music and criticism in Berlin. — When the war is over
he plans to draw a line under his life so far and start again.
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OJ 6/7, [3] Handwritten letter from Schenker to Moriz Violin, dated May 6, 1922
This wide-ranging letter describes the difficulties encountered with Emil Hertzka
at Universal Edition, concerning an attack on the music critic Paul Bekker planned for the
"Miscellanea" of Tonwille 2. — He expresses his displeasure with Weisse for putting his success
as a composer in the way of aiding his teacher's cause, and for exploiting his teacher's
generosity. — Ends with generous praise for Violin's musicianship.
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DLA 69.930/10 Handwritten letter from Schenker to Halm, dated September 25, 1922
Acknowledges OJ 11/35, 20 and composition; expects to be able to comment on
Halm's Klavierübung in Tonwille 4; reports Leipzig University's decision not to appoint him;
speculates on the impact of Kontrapunkt 2 and Der freie Satz; public difficulty in accepting
Urgesetze. — Aristide Briand: The importance of being well-read on a topic before commenting in
public: Schoenberg and Reger; newspapers. — Maximilian Harden: although faithful to Schenker,
Harden had not mastered the topics on which he wrote. — National Govenment: Schenker's
publishing plans, including "The Future of Humanity": man's anthropomorphic thinking is a
delusion, he needs to adapt to nature, to return to a primitive state, to abandon "development"
and "progress" and return to primordial laws; inferior man wants to "govern" (bowel wants to
become brain); Schenker deplores "artifice" (French) as against nature (German). — Things
French: praises German superiority over French in its joy of work. — Higher Plane: the German
should not abase himself before the Frenchman.
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OJ 10/1, [73] Typewritten letter from Walter and Margarete Dahms to Schenker, dated December 27,
1922
Dahms has been trying to improve his publishers' financial terms. — He is in
low-grade accommodation; housing in the "German colonies" is available only to officials. —
Reports on the concert season in Rome. — Die Musik would not accept an article from him on
Schenker's teachings. — Comments on a recent article by Paul Bekker, on Emil Hertzka's
"sabotaging" of Schenker, and Furtwängler's lack of whole-hearted support. — Is still working on
his latest book, for which he is arranging a de luxe edition by subscription. — Reports
unfavorably on an incident in which Otto Klemperer played the Italian fascist
hymn.
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JOB 94-3, [7] Handwritten letter from Schenker to Hammer dated January 13, 1924
Schenker responds to a long letter from Hammer by, first, agreeing to his
proposal to sittings for a portrait, and, second, saying that there is no one in music now
capable of judging the artistry of musicians. Schenker feels he has uniquely this ability,
but others in music do not understand him.
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DLA 69.930/12 Handwritten letter from Schenker to Halm, dated April 3‒4, 1924
In response to matters raised by Halm in two previous letters, Schenker discusses
figuration, distinguishing between that which works only on the surface and that which arises
out of the middle and background, drawing on primal intervals. He also concedes that he heard
Bruckner improvising, and criticizes it adversely. He refers to Reger, and outlines plans for
forthcoming volumes of Der Tonwille.
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OJ 89/1, [2] Handwritten letter from Schenker to van Hoboken, dated August 12, 1927
Schenker acknowledges van Hoboken's letter, OJ 11/54, 14, dated August 7, 1927;
encloses seven articles; responds regarding Haydn, Furtwängler, the "Appeal" for the
Photogrammarchiv, an exhibition in Frankfurt, John Petrie Dunn, Reinhard Oppel, Das Meisterwerk
in der Musik, vol. II, Otto Erich Deutsch, and an honorarium; and sends best wishes for the
Hobokens' trip to Switzerland, reporting on von Cube.
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OJ 10/3, [130] Handwritten picture postcard from Deutsch to Schenker, dated June 7, 1930
Deutsch comments on the Beethoven military march (tattoo) he came across; he
is still looking for an arranger for Schubert’s marches for piano.
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OJ 8/5, [2] Handwritten picture postcard from Schenker to Violin, dated February 28,
1931
Schenker has heard about Violin’s letter to Weisse [concerning the founding of
a Schenker Institute in Hamburg] and expresses his interest in it, noting that it will be
possible to teach composition only after Free Composition has been
published.
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OJ 12/6, [11] Typewritten letter from Jonas to Schenker, dated March 24, 1932
Furtwängler liked his essay; Jonas describes his lectures at the Conservatory;
the situation with Einstein over publishing his review of Meisterwerk 3; asks about
permission to consult Brahms's arrangement of Saul.
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OC 18/52 Typewritten letter (carbon copy) from Karpath to Furtwängler, including a
typewritten annotation from Karpath to Schenker, dated February 15, 1933
Karpath sends the copy of a letter to Furtwängler. He again shows himself
discontented with the latter's letter. In his letter to the conductor he asks for another
letter of recommendation.
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OJ 89/6, [4] Handwritten letter from Schenker to Hoboken, dated March 22, 1933
Schenker thanks Hoboken for money transferred, for contact with Dlabač, and
for information about Jonas. — Oktaven u. Quinten may be published within three weeks. —
Schenker has warned Kalmus about paper quality and lithographer. — He expresses reservations
about Joseph Marx for inability to understand his work. — Weisse has 90 students enrolled
for his course [at Mannes School]; and Furtwängler deems Schenker the "great music
theorist."
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OJ 5/18, 30 Handwritten postcard from Schenker to Jonas, dated November 6, 1933
Schenker reports van Hoboken's pending arrival in Vienna; — He refers to
Furtwängler and Richard Strauss.
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OJ 5/34, [2] Handwritten revised draft letter from Schenker to Alphons Rothschild, in Jeanette
Schenker's hand, undated [August 3‒6, 1934]
Draft accompanying letter for a copy of Oswald Jonas's Das Wesen ... —
Schenker reiterates his gratitude for previous financial support, and reports that he now
has 11 published works, many articles, and entries on him in several general encyclopedias.
— Only in Vienna is he unrecognized. — He describes Wilhelm Furtwängler's faith in his
theories and the support he has given him. — He mentions his earlier proposal for a
Rothschild orchestra.