Written the 14th September, 1860, on the Festival of the raising of the Holy Cross.
SUPPLEMENT:
To Herr Gross, a member of the Weymar Grand Ducal Royal Orchestra (trombone and double-bass player), who has for a number of years looked after the copying of my works and the arranging of the orchestral and voice parts of them in the library of the Altenburg, I bequeath a present of one hundred thalers for the faithful, devoted service he has rendered me.
To the names of my friends of the New German School is to be added one more, or rather I ought to have mentioned it first; it is that of Mr. Gaetano Belloni (in Paris).—He was my Secretary during the period of my concert tours in Europe, from 1841 to 1847, and was always my faithful and devoted servant and friend. He must not be forgotten. Moreover, whether he will or no, he belongs to the New German School, by his attachment to me, and also by the part he took later on in the Berlioz and Wagner concerts. I wish to be buried simply, without pomp, and if possible at night.—May light everlasting illumine my soul!
241. To Dr. Franz Brendel
September 20th, 1860
Dear Friend,
I send you by my friend Lassen [Born 1830, became Court music- director 1858, and Court conductor in Weimar after Liszt's withdrawal (1861); celebrated as a composer of songs] a little parcel of songs (eight numbers), which I beg you to give to Kahnt. Of several of them I have kept no copy—and I therefore beg Kahnt not to lose them. As regards the numbering of them (the order of succession), they are to be kept as I noted down some time ago (on a bit of paper which I gave Kahnt when he was here).
I also add a Quartet for men's voices. It is the Verein song "Frisch auf zu neuem Leben," ["Uprouse to newer life.">[ written for the New Weymar Verein by Hoffmann von Fallersleben. The passage "von Philister Geschrei;" ["Of Philistine cry.">[ will probably amuse you, and the whole thing is kept rather popular and easy to be performed. If it does not make a bother let it be tried in Leipzig when you have an opportunity.
N.B.—If you think the designation on the title-page "Written and composed for the New Weymar Verein" will give offence, it can be left out, and the title can run simply, "Vereins Lied," by Hoffmann von Fallersleben, composed for male chorus by F. L. In any case I shall be glad if Kahnt can bring the little thing out soon, and will give some sort of illustrated title-page, expressive of the sense of the poem.