"Kiraschio! Plimaschio!"
[The refrain of a journeyman's song, given by L. Kohler in his work "The Melody of Speech," in which "The cry of the natural man gives vent to itself in unbridled pleasure.">[
Dear friend! Your work [The same work, "The Melody of Speech" (Leipzig, J. J. Weber, 1853).] has given me a refreshing draught to quaff,—not exactly a theoretical "cure" water, such as the people promenading past my window are constrained to take, and which, thank Heaven, I neither require nor take; but a finely seasoned, delightfully comforting May drink,—and I thank you warmly for the lively, pleasant hours I have passed with you in reading and singing your work. The objections with which the Philistines and pedants will arm themselves against you don't interest me in the least. You have certainly brought forth a fresh and exciting little book, and that is a great service not easily attained!—Be satisfied not to please the worse half of brave musicians, among which I might count myself, and write on cheerfully, regardless of shops and shopkeepers!—Specially do I give you my best thanks for the "Weymarasche Zeilen," and the very friendly quotation of my earlier songs. Later on, when I bring out a couple more numbers, I must make a somewhat remodeled edition of these earlier songs. There must, in particular, be some simplifications in the accompaniment. But that you have thought favorably and indulgently of these things, with a due regard to the inner impulse which brought them forth (in my "storm and stress" period), is very pleasant to me. The Lenau concluding song is charmingly composed—only publish some more like that, with or without comment!
I have just received a letter from Wagner for you, which he sends to me as he does not know your address. Take this opportunity of sending me your street and number; for I always address to Putzer and Heimann, which is too formal. At the beginning of July I enjoyed several Walhalla-days with Wagner, and I praise God for having created such a man. Of my further summer projects I will only say that at the end of September I shall conduct the Musical Festival at Carlsruhe, and at the beginning of October shall return to Weymar (where I shall spend the winter).
I have written to Haslinger and Spina to send you the "Hungarian Rhapsodies" and the "Soirees de Vienne" (songs after F. Schubert, in nine parts). The next time I pass through Leipzig I will tell Kistner that you must not fail to have a copy of the "Harmonies Poetiques et Religieuses." The previously mentioned pieces you will have without delay. I have sent my Mass and Ave Maria to Marpurg by Raff. If you approve of these compositions I will gladly get a couple more copies in your honor. My Catalogue will not come out till next winter, as I have not yet had any time to revise it.
Let me hear soon from you, dear friend, and keep ever in friendly remembrance
Yours sincerely and with many thanks,
F. Liszt
Carlsbad, August 1st, 1853
Address to me always at Weymar.