Sacrifice, then, 18 pages as I said, and put the "Christe eleison" on page 6, instead of the "Kyrie eleison,"
[Here, Liszt illustrates with a 3-bar musical excerpt at the point where the words "Chri——————-ste e-le———" are sung.]
concluding pp on page l0. From the musical point of view exclusively, I should blush to make such a proposition; but it is necessary to keep peace, especially in the Church, where one must learn to subordinate one's self in mind and deed. Art, there, should be only a correlative matter, and should tend to the most perfect concomitance possible with the rite.
Be assured, dear Monsieur Saint-Saens, of the sentiments of high esteem and great sympathy which I entertain towards you.
Your very devoted
F. Liszt
Rome, August 4th, 1869
93. To Madame Jessie Laussot
I have had to write a great many notes this last week. Pardon me for being so late in thanking you for your friendly lines, and kindly tell Mademoiselle Alexandrine Ritter how sincerely I feel for her in her affliction. Her mother expressed in a rare degree and in her whole personality the high and sweet dignity of the human soul. Respect attached itself to her naturally,—and she inspired the noble serenity of it.
In a few days a little surprise will reach you in the form of an "Ave Maria" written for the Cherubim Society, and dedicated to the society's dear Maestra. However simple these few bars may be (in which there is not a single repetition of a word, nor ornamenting of any kind) I hope they will not be unpleasing to you, and I beg you to play them in the form of a prayer for