-
OJ 5/38, [4] Handwritten letter from Heinrich to Wilhelm Schenker, dated August 18, 1923
Schenker writes a letter of condolence, in response to the news that his brother
Wilhelm’s wife Dodi has died. He hopes to visit Wilhelm, and to visit their mother’s
grave.
-
OJ 9/20, [16] Handwritten letter from Breitkopf & Härtel to Schenker, dated December 7,
1898
Breitkopf & Härtel explain the appearance of an unfamiliar name on the
first page of Schenker's Fantasie, Op. 2: it is there to provide copyright protection in the
United States.
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WSLB 139 Handwritten letter from Schenker to Hertzka (UE), dated October 3, 1912
Schenker forwards a letter from Hugo Heller [from Germany] and asks how he
should handle the matter [of the proposed Organisation], pointing out that a comparable
movement has already be launched in Germany.
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OJ 8/3, [58] Handwritten postcard from Schenker to Moriz Violin, dated April 13, 1918
Schenker reports on Kufferath's article in the Gazette de Lausanne discussing the
polemical materials in Die letzten fünf Sonaten ... op. 111, and on the treasonous stance of the
Arbeiterzeitung.
-
OJ 6/6, [8] Handwritten letter from Schenker to Moriz Violin, dated November 9, 1918
Schenker reports news from Russia, Austria, Switzerland, and Poland, and comments
on the current political situation.
-
OC 1 B/35-40 Handwritten draft letter, in Jeanette Kornfeld/Schenker's hand, from Schenker to
Hertzka (UE), undated [June 10, 1919]
Schenker promises to send Hans Weisse to see Hertzka. In reacting unfavorably to
Hertzka's suggestions that the Foreword to Die letzten fünf Sonaten von Beethoven ... op. 111 be
discarded for its second edition, Schenker puts up a stout defense of his use of polemic in his
writings, contending that art and all manifestations of human life are inextricably
interconnected. He claims that his pronouncements on politics now will prove correct in the long
run. His sole concern is with the truth; he is not interested in pandering to his readers.
-
WSLB 303 Handwritten letter from Schenker to Hertzka (UE), dated June 12, 1919
Schenker promises to send Hans Weisse to see Hertzka. In reacting unfavorably to
Hertzka's suggestions that the Foreword to Die letzten fünf Sonaten von Beethoven, Op. 111 be
discarded for its second edition, Schenker puts up a stout defense of his use of polemic in his
writings, contending that art, life, and politics are inextricably interconnected. He claims
that his pronouncements on politics now will prove correct in the long run. His sole concern is
with the truth; he is not interested in pandering to his readers.
-
DLA 69.930/8 Handwritten letter from Schenker to Halm, dated October 27, 1919
Schenker writes of the deteriorating intellectual conditions in Germany and
Austria with respect to other nations, and of the devastating political and psychological
consequences. Schenker praises Halm's Klavierübung for its sensitivity to voice leading, and
speaks of it as an antidote to the decline of musical literacy. He hopes to talk with Halm about
these matters when he moves to Germany.
-
OC 52/517 Typed contract from between UE and Schenker for the Kleine Bibliothek, dated July 10,
1920
Contract between UE and Schenker for the Kleine Bibliothek.
-
OJ 10/1, [72] Handwritten letter from Dahms to Schenker, dated October 28, 1922
Dahms chooses to remain in Italy in view of the "moral and physical devastation"
that he hears reported from Germany. — He is committed to Schust & Loeffler for a Haydn
biography. He reports on a review of his book "Offenbarung."
-
OJ 10/1, [74] Handwritten letter from Dahms to Schenker, dated February 9, 1923
Dahms reports change of address and explains circumstances; has sent a
prospectus to UE; progress on subscriptions to his de luxe edition and a new American
contact; synopsis of his planned Bel Canto book. — He praises the "Miscellanea" in Tonwille
3, and comments on Schenker's understanding of democracy.
-
OJ 11/2, [1] Handwritten letter from Emma Fischer to Schenker, dated February 15, 1923
Baroness Fischer responds to Schenker's plan for distribution of issues of Der
Tonwille by suggesting contacts in the Vienna music schools and professional
association.
-
OJ 10/1, [79] Handwritten letter from Dahms to Schenker, dated November 1, 1923
Dahms has devoted a chapter of his Musik des Südens to "genius" in which he
asserts its absoluteness and the gulf between genius and mediocrity. — He concurs with
Hertzka's judgement of Furtwängler as a "coward"; In his quest for success, the latter has
compromised his belief in genius by pandering to Schoenberg. The Korngolds are coming to
Rome in August.
-
OJ 10/1, [84] Typewritten letter from Dahms to Schenker, dated March 5, 1924
Dahms thanks Schenker for information about Castiglione. The Deutsche
Verlagsanstalt is being difficult. He is again writing for German newspapers. Tonwille 5 has
excited him. He quotes a passage from the Musical Courier [which Schenker later quotes in
Das Meisterwerk 1]. Ludendorff's exposure of intrigues by the papacy has evoked a strong
reaction outside Germany.
-
OJ 15/15, [19] Handwritten letter from Weisse to Schenker, dated October 7, 1925
Weisse asks Schenker to look at some suitable frames for Hammer's portrait of
him. He reports that several autograph manuscripts of Brahms are being put up for sale, of
which that of the cadenzas Brahms wrote for Beethoven's Fourth Concerto are particularly
interesting. He quotes from a letter by Gerald Warburg, indicating that Schenker's latest
theoretical concepts are being taught at Damrosch's music school in New
York.
-
OJ 15/15, [21] Handwritten postcard from Weisse to Schenker, dated January 21, 1927
Weisse provides Schenker with Gerald Warburg's address in New York City. He
also asks a question about Schenker's fingerings for the trills in the second movement of
Beethoven's Op. 111.
-
OJ 10/3, [65] Typewritten letter from Deutsch to Schenker, dated July 11, 1927
Deutsch tells Schenker that the second edition of Schindler’s Beethoven
biography is available, but not the first. --- He explains at length a misunderstanding over
the reprinting of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata Op. 57, with correction strips, before Universal
Edition reissued Schenker’s edition, revised in the light of the facsimile of the autograph
manuscript. --- He is thoroughly pleased with Hoboken’s text (announcing the Photogram
Archive) and gives an account of his and Hoboken’s movements over the summer.--- He reports
on a project in America to find a completion for Schubert’s “Unfinished” Symphony, and
expresses his regret that Drei Masken Verlag have been slow to prepare the second
Meisterwerk yearbook for publication.
-
OJ 10/3, [83] Typewritten picture postcard from Deutsch to Schenker, dated April 16,
1928
Deutsch has had sharp words with Max Ast at Austrian Radio. He wants to give a
talk on Schubert’s lost “Gastein” (or “Gmunden”) Symphony and hopes that publicity from the
broadcasting company will eventually lead to the rediscovery of the manuscript. Eusebius
Mandyczewski is preparing a new edition of the “Unfinished” Symphony for Breitkopf &
Härtel; the Philharmonia pocket score, with Schenker’s and Deutsch’s revisions, is now in
print. Deutsch has discovered that the first edition of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata Op. 90
exists in two versions.
-
OJ 5/44, [1] Handwritten letter from Schenker to Arthur Waldeck, dated September 23, 1929
Schenker encourages Waldeck to spread his (Schenker's) ideas in America, and
apprises him of Dunn's translation of Kontrapunkt and his own recent and forthcoming
publications.
-
WSLB-Hds 191.568 Handwritten letter from Schenker to Deutsch, dated August 23, 1930
Schenker is sending Deutsch copies of letters written by Leo Kestenberg
praising his theories for their practical application to composition and
performance, noting that Furtwängler is championing his cause everywhere. -- He then
launches into a tirade against the city of Vienna for snubbing him and his
work.
-
OJ 6/8, [1] Handwritten letter from Schenker to Violin, dated January 9, 1931
In this long and wide-ranging two-part letter, which includes a graphic
analysis of J. S. Bach’s Two-part Invention in E-flat major, Schenker praises the work of
Hans Weisse, who has recently returned from lecturing in Berlin and may be offered a post
there (on Furtwängler’s recommendation), emigrate to America (with the help of Gerald
Warburg), or even found an institute that would give employment to Felix Salzer and other
Schenkerian disciples under one roof. — A letter from Violin, which has just arrived in the
morning post, speaks of Violin’s own intention to establish a Schenker Institute in Hamburg.
For this, Schenker recommends Felix-Eberhard von Cube (in preference to Reinhard Oppel) and
Otto Vrieslander as possible theory teachers, if not Weisse himself. — The letter concludes
with a tirade against those who have caused him financial misery (including his brother
Mozio), culminating in a cynical passage in which Schenker advises his friend to look after
himself and engage some dull pedagog to teach conventional theory. In the end, he wishes
Violin luck with the enterprise, and thanks him for having helped rescue him from Hertzka’s
clutches.
-
OJ 6/8, [2] Handwritten letter from Schenker to Violin, dated April 14, 1931
Having heard that Weisse is leaving for America, Schenker asks if Violin has
had a response from Cube. He has had a postcard from a pupil of Cube’s, Erich Voss, who
would like to know the content of Der freie Satz.
-
OJ 15/16, [74] Handwritten letter from Weisse to Schenker, dated April 15, 1931
Weisse thanks Schenker for a letter of reference [for his teaching post at the
Mannes School of Music], and asks for some modifications. — He has not heard from
Furtwängler, whom he has also asked for a reference, and urges Schenker to be patient with
Furtwängler, too. — He is completing a set of three-voice piano pieces and wishes to
dedicate them to Schenker on the occasion of his leaving Vienna.
-
WSLB-Hds 191.573 Handwritten postcard from Schenker to Deutsch, dated April 23, 1931
Schenker explains to Deutsch how the text (as yet unwritten) of the Schubert
song fragment, D. 555, should fit into his completion. He has heard that Ludwig Karpath has
referred to him as Austria’s best music theorist.
-
OJ 15/16, [76] Handwritten letter from Weisse to Schenker, dated April 24, 1931
Under increasing pressure from Schenker, Weisse assures his teacher that
Furtwängler will not be long in making up his mind to seek financial support for Schenker’s
publications. He asks to see Schenker.
-
OJ 9/34, [27] Handwritten letter from Cube to Schenker, dated September 8, 1931
Line drawing of Moriz Violin. Cube reports on health of Violin's son; discusses his
relationship with Violin, and the prospects of the Schenker Institute in Hamburg; Cube will be assisting at
a lecture given by Hans Weisse.
-
OJ 5/11, [1b] Second draft of a handwritten letter from Schenker to Furtwängler in Jeanette and
Heinrich Schenker’s hand, dated November 11‒16, 1931
-
OJ 15/16, [86] Handwritten letter from Hans Weisse to Schenker, dated June 21, 1932
Weisse acknowledges receipt of two letters from Schenker, but has been
burdened by visa problems at the American consulate in Vienna. He will reply at greater
length when he arrives in Grundlsee, in a few days’ time.
-
OC 54/368 Typewritten postcard from Deutsch to Schenker, dated June 27, 1932
Deutsch has been in touch with Hofmeister, the distributor for Universal
Edition which has a close relationship with the publishing house; he suggests that Schenker
could deal directly with U. E. [over the distribution of the Fünf Urlinie-Tafeln]. He does
not yet have any idea of the production cost or the proposed selling price.
-
OC 54/370 Typewritten letter from Deutsch to Schenker, dated July 5, 1932
Deutsch has taken upon himself all the business arrangements with Universal
Edition for the publication of the Fünf Urlinie-Tafeln. He finds the pagination inconsistent
and confusing, and makes recommendations about it. He says that things seem to have eased at
U. E. since Alfred Kalmus took over the directorship from Hertzka. His own short book on
Mozart’s Masonic music will be published.
-
OJ 11/16, [11] Handwritten letter from Furtwängler to Schenker, dated August 2, 1932
Furtwängler thanks Schenker for his letter and for sending Urlinie graphs;
praises Schenker's "fight ... for genius"; he is unable to visit now, but hopes to later;
inquires about Weisse.
-
OJ 10/3, [184] Typewritten letter from Deutsch to Schenker, dated September 30, 1932
Deutsch would like to arrange a meeting with Kurt Thomasberger and Anthony van
Hoboken to discuss the latter’s plans, possibly including Schenker. He is pessimistic about
a future without Hoboken’s support and, consequently, about his future worth as a scholar;
he is contemplating moving to the southern part of Europe, possibly the Balearic
Islands.
-
NYnscl MP.0008.01/1/1, 2 Handwritten letter from Schenker to Arthur Waldeck, dated November 8,
1932
Schenker stipulates the conditions for granting publication rights for a
translation of his Harmonielehre, and asks which other Schenkerians in the U.S. Waldeck is
acquainted with.
-
OC 30/18-30 Draft letter from Schenker to Albert Einstein, undated [November 20,
1932]
In this unsent letter, Schenker tells Einstein about his works and the
difficulties he has encountered in promoting them, and calls upon the physicist for help in
gaining financial support for the publication of Free Composition.
-
OC 18/32-33 Handwritten letter from Weisse to Schenker, dated November 28, 1932
Weisse is uneasy about disparity among translations of Schenker's writings
into English, and suggests that he work with potential translators to arrive at an agreed
set of technical terms. He has renewed contact with Vrieslander, who has sent him a copy of
his recently published songs and Ländler. His work in New York is going well and his family
is thriving, but he sees and hears about a great deal of suffering, on account of the
economic collapse in America.
-
OJ 6/8, [14] Handwritten letter, with envelope, from Schenker to Violin, dated December 19,
1932
In this characteristically long end-of-year letter to his friend, Schenker
mentions his forthcoming edition of Brahms’s study of consecutive octaves and fifths,
Jonas’s book on his achievements as a theorist, Zuckerkandl’s book on opera, and the
possibility of an English translation of his Theory of Harmony.
-
OJ 15/16, [90] Handwritten letter from Hans Weisse to Schenker, dated March 17, 1933
Weisse reports the success of his lecture on the C minor prelude from the
Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1. — He is currently giving two lectures on a Haydn's sonata. —
He inquires about the possibility of having Schenker's foreground graphs for the "Eroica"
Symphony printed separately and sold to his pupils, for a series of lectures planned for the
following year; the profits entirely to Schenker. — He sees little prospect visiting Europe
in the summer, as his financial situation has worsened: the Mannes School has been forced to
reduce his teaching for the next season. — He expresses his doubts about Vrieslander's
ability to reshape Schenker's Harmonielehre as a school textbook, and about the value of
Harmonielehre itself in the light of his teacher's most advanced theoretical
ideas.
-
OJ 15/16, [91] Handwritten letter from Hans Weisse to Schenker, dated March 30, 1933
In this long letter, Weisse expresses his bitter regret about Otto
Vrieslander's reaction to his criticism of a recently published collection of his
(Vrieslander's) songs, and to Schenker's exaggerated claims of their worth. Weisse defends
his critical stance on the grounds that objective discussions are the only worthwhile ones,
and that he took the trouble to write about the songs in a 14-page letter to Vrieslander
only for the sake of art (in the Schenkerian sense) and feels hurt both by Vrieslander's
personal reaction to Weisse's criticism and by Schenker's defence of the older pupil. — In
the final paragraph, he inquires again about gaining permission to make multiple copies of
Schenker's foreground graph of the "Eroica" Symphony.
-
OJ 5/18, 32 Handwritten letter from Schenker to Jonas, dated December 13, 1933
The music examples in Das Meisterwerk were engraved; Schenker draws attention
to and commends an article [by Israel Citkowitz].
-
OJ 5/18, 33 Handwritten letter from Schenker to Jonas, dated December 21, 1933
Schenker sends article [by Citkowitz]. — In response to Jonas's quoting from a
Jewish lexikon, he refers to the sermons by Cardinal Faulhaber, and writes of his pride in
being Jewish but in having assimilated thoroughly enough to establish favorable relations
with the Catholic church, antisemites, and the news media. — Implying a parallel between
himself and Jesus, he offers his "monotheistic theory of music" as "a new message to the
world from the Jews." — He has no copy of his Syrische Tänze; — writes of the work's
history.
-
OJ 15/16, [94] Handwritten letter from Hans Weisse to Schenker, dated March 15, 1934
Weisse apologizes for long silence, largely on account of depression at the
lack of enrollment at Mannes and of enthusiasm for his recently published Violin Sonata. —
At Mannes he lectures about his own work, because it is important to show how Schenkerian
theory can have a practical application for composers; his pupil Israel Citkowitz is the
only cause for optimism. — At Columbia University, where he "smuggles" Schenkerian theory
into his lectures, enrolment continues to be large. — He sends a copy of his Violin Sonata,
and promises his Variations on a Popular American Song. — He is not coming to Europe this
summer. — Universal Edition is going ahead with a schools' version of Schenker's
Harmonielehre, but he is surprised that Alfred Kalmus expects him to be involved in an
American edition of this.
-
OJ 5/18, 41 Handwritten letter from Schenker to Jonas, dated April 23, 1934
Free Composition is completed. Schenker is pleased that Hoboken has come
round; — he gives Weisse's address; — Schenker has ordered five copies of Jonas's book; — he
reports that Salzer has completed a new book; — questions Jonas about his new plan, but
welcomes it; — Goos may not realize that Schenker is a Jew.
-
OC 44/41 Handwritten letter from Hans Weisse to Schenker, dated June 2, 1934
Weisse will send Schenker his Variations and Fugue for 2 pianos when copies
are ready; he is glad to learn that Oswald Jonas's book will soon be published. He describes
the beauty of Tenants Harbor, Maine, where his family is spending the summer
vacation.
-
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.
-
OJ 12/6, [48] Handwritten postcard from Jonas to Jeanette Schenker, dated February 17,
1938
Jonas reports on a meeting at UE re: the prospects for a proposed Schenker
edition series and an English translation, and for prospects in the USA.
-
LC ASC 27/45, [3] Handwritten letter from Moriz Violin to Schoenberg, dated April 17, 1938
Violin tells Schoenberg he expects to obtain an affidavit to emigrate to the
USA, and ask if Schoenberg could write a letter of recommendation for work in San Francisco,
and advise him on possibilities there.
-
OJ 70/26, [1] Handwritten letter from Willem Mengelberg to Eva Violin, dated June 23, 1938
Mengelberg is unable to help Moriz and Eva Violin directly in obtaining positions
in America, but encloses a letter of recommendation to Julia Steinway for
Moriz.
-
LC ASC 27/45, [6] Handwritten letter from Moriz Violin to Schoenberg, dated January 17,
1939
Violin informs Schoenberg that he already has his affidavit, and thanks him
for his attempts. He asks Schoenberg for letters of recommendation for San
Francisco.
-
LC ASC 27/45, [8] Handwritten letter from Moriz Violin to Schoenberg, dated June 13, 1939
Violin comments on American red tape. He has had to give the addresses of his
supporters and asks Schoenberg to provide a testimonial if asked; and expresses gratitude
for the Schoenbergs' offer of hospitality in Los Angeles.
-
LC ASC 7/50, [6] Typewritten letter (carbon copy) from Schoenberg to Moriz Violin, dated July 21,
1939
Schoenberg has written a letter of introduction and modified Violin's draft
c.v., explains how he has done the latter, and advises Violin what to do with the materials.
— He asks advice on how to get the best exchange rate for Mark/Dollar.
-
LC ASC 27/45, [17] Handwritten letter from Moriz Violin to Schoenberg, dated January 26,
1940
Violin acquiesces to applying for the job in St. Louis, despite reservations
about the climate there. He laments the backwardness of San Francisco's musical world. He
admits to being "kept" by his wife.
-
LC ASC 27/45, [19] Handwritten letter from Moriz Violin to Schoenberg, dated February 12,
1940
Violin admits that he did not write to the St. Louis Institute of Music when
urged before, but has now done so. He wrote in English. — He reports the correspondence that
he brought with him from Vienna, and that which was lost or stolen on the
way.
-
OJ 70/35, [7] Typewritten letter from Schoenberg to Moriz Violin, dated April 9, 1940
Schoenberg tempers Violin's reaction to R. E. Stuart's letter, offering a
sympathetic portrayal of the American character as courteous, unlike the Germans, and
describing the attitude and degree of preparation of American students. All German criteria
are inapplicable.
-
LC ASC 27/45, [22] Handwritten letter from Moriz Violin to Schoenberg, dated October 23,
1940
Violin says that he is completely without work, but is not giving in to
despair.
-
LC ASC 27/45, [26] Handwritten letter from Moriz Violin to Schoenberg, dated March 29, 1941
Violin thanks Schoenberg for his recent stay in Los Angeles, and comments on
Schoenberg's lecture "Composition with Twelve Tones," which he attended during that stay. —
He reminds Schoenberg to advocate for him for an engagement with the New York New Friends of
Music; and he mentions for the first time his plan to found an institute in San
Francisco.
-
LC ASC 27/45, [27] Handwritten letter from Moriz Violin to Schoenberg, dated April 14, 1941
Violin reports encouraging news on his planned "institute," spells out some of
his ideas, and seeks to discuss further with Schoenberg.
-
LC ASC 27/45, [29] Handwritten letter from Moriz Violin to Schoenberg, dated July 20, 1941
Violin recounts his experience with one of his sponsors and subsequent
interview with her skeptical agent regarding an (unspecified) new project.
-
LC ASC 27/45, [34] Handwritten letter from Moriz Violin to Schoenberg, undated [October 1?,
1949]
Violin reports on a successful performance of a C. P. E. Bach concerto at the
Carmel Bach Festival and on a Music Teacher's Convention in San Francisco.
-
OJ 71/21a, [2] Typewritten letter from Tomáš Kornfeld to Heribert Esser, dated June 7,
1988
Tomáš Kornfeld gives information about his grandmother Jenny Kornfeld (=
Schenker), his grandfather (Emil), father (Felix) and uncle (Erich), in particular contacts
between his grandmother and father.