- 255
Arnim, Bettina von (née Brentano).
Estimate
3,000 - 5,000 GBP
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Description
- Two important autograph drafts for a letter to an unnamed musician, about his creativity, Liszt, Wagner, Goethe, and the cultural scene at Weimar, apparently unpublished
- paper and ink
answering her question what she wants from him, stating that it was her desire to obtain his trust and expressing the wish that it accompany her till she dies, expressing her thoughts on his talent and on music in highly romantic language, imagining her spirit untying his wings so that he might soar on high, criticizing Liszt and others for their lack of musical ideas, and for finding only those which give honour but which never emanate from that which has been personally experienced, further stating that she spent eight days in Weimar on her return from Hanover, where she had been on account of Hoffmann von Fallersleben, recounting Liszt's weary reaction to conducting William Tell for four hours and her observation that he [Liszt] no longer criticises Wagner although he secretly curses him, being weary of him before he even starts conducting his music, advising him that Weimar is not for him so long as it remains 'infected', observing that it would be poison for his deeper spiritual life, describing the cultural politics at Weimar and the disparagement of Goethe, discussing the nature of Goethe's musicality ("...denn er war selbst Musik..."), and concluding with an amusing and dramatic anecdote of a scene involving Liszt, Cornelius and herself in which she takes those present to task for reckoning Platen more musical than Goethe
...Ach liebes Du! in stiller Nacht wie heute spreche ich manchmal so mit dir, als könne mein Geistesathem plözlich dir die Flügel lösen daß du über das Niedrige hinweg flögst was du nie selbst einfinden konntest, was aber doch andre denen du Götzenopfer brachtest dennoch von dir heischen. Was mich dennoch deiner versichert, das ist dein Unverstand, der zwar dir Alles Weis macht, deiner Albernheit aber die Unschuld sichert der allein die Fülle entquillt der Gedanken, der Musik!! - Wer hat die? - Nicht Liszt, nicht Hans, nicht Kunz - weil keiner einfindet von diesen allen - nur immer solchen Gedanken die Ehre giebt die leider, leider niemals [?] aus Selbstempfundnen entsprungen sind...Weimar ist nicht für dich, solang es noch infizirt ist; du darfst auch nicht fürchten an dein Versprechen gemahnt zu werden so lange Liszt dort bleibt - für dein tieferes Seelenleben wärs Gift. Komponieren? - ja; aber nicht lügen, denn Scheinheiligkeit ist unverträglich mit dem musikalischen Instinkt, sie unterdrückt ihn...
6 closely-written pages in all, large 4to (28.7 x 23cm), a couple of deletions in the undated draft, one draft dated 8 January [18]54, a few corners creased, one draft splitting along fold
...Ach liebes Du! in stiller Nacht wie heute spreche ich manchmal so mit dir, als könne mein Geistesathem plözlich dir die Flügel lösen daß du über das Niedrige hinweg flögst was du nie selbst einfinden konntest, was aber doch andre denen du Götzenopfer brachtest dennoch von dir heischen. Was mich dennoch deiner versichert, das ist dein Unverstand, der zwar dir Alles Weis macht, deiner Albernheit aber die Unschuld sichert der allein die Fülle entquillt der Gedanken, der Musik!! - Wer hat die? - Nicht Liszt, nicht Hans, nicht Kunz - weil keiner einfindet von diesen allen - nur immer solchen Gedanken die Ehre giebt die leider, leider niemals [?] aus Selbstempfundnen entsprungen sind...Weimar ist nicht für dich, solang es noch infizirt ist; du darfst auch nicht fürchten an dein Versprechen gemahnt zu werden so lange Liszt dort bleibt - für dein tieferes Seelenleben wärs Gift. Komponieren? - ja; aber nicht lügen, denn Scheinheiligkeit ist unverträglich mit dem musikalischen Instinkt, sie unterdrückt ihn...
6 closely-written pages in all, large 4to (28.7 x 23cm), a couple of deletions in the undated draft, one draft dated 8 January [18]54, a few corners creased, one draft splitting along fold
Condition
Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
These highly personal, forthright and detailed drafts provide not only a remarkable insight in to the emotional and aesthetic world of a key figure in German Romanticism, but also a window on to the musical and cultural life at Weimar shortly after the death (in July 1853) of Charles Friedrich, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. A possible candidate for the unnamed musician - evidently a person of considerable talent - might conceivably be Johannes Brahms, who dedicated to Bettina von Arnim his six songs op.3, which were published in December 1853. Bettina von Arnim and her daughter Gisela were present at a gathering a few months before at Schumann's house in Düsseldorf, in October 1853, at which Schumann, Brahms and Albert Dietrich presented to Joachim the famous jointly-composed "F-A-E" Sonata.