Is there not any talk of bringing out an arrangement of the "Faust Symphony" for 2 Pianofortes?—Schuberth is sure to have far greater things in contemplation, and I almost regret having incommoded him by giving up the manuscripts!—
Nonetheless, please take him to task about it, or, better, bully him into action with "Faust-Recht" [Faust rights or Faust justice.] In truth the final chorus of Part III. of the Faust tragedy, "faithful to the spirit of Part II. as composed by Deutobold-Symbolizetti-Allegoriowitsch-Mystifizinsky"—
"Das Abgeschmackteste
Hier ward es geschmeckt,
Das Allvertrackteste
Hier war es bezweckt"
[A parody on the concluding lines of Goethe's Faust. The parody may be freely translated as follows:—
The most insipid
Here was tasted;
In queerest nonsense
Here all was wasted.">[
can often be applied to matters of publishing. And while I am touching on this, to me, very disagreeable chapter, may I also take the opportunity of inquiring how long our amiable friend and patron Julius Schuberth is intending to ignore the 2 Episodes from Lenau's "Faust" ("Nachtlicher Zug"—and "Mephisto Walzer"), which I recommended to his good graces more than a year ago, and gave him in manuscript?
Must the pages perchance become quite mouldy, or will he bring them out as an oeuvre posthume [posthumous work]? I am tired of doing silent homage to this noble mode of proceedings, and intend next time to help the publisher out of all his perplexities [Untranslatable pun on "Verleger" and "Verlegenheiten.">[ by putting the manuscripts back in their place again.—
—
"O Freunde, nicht diese Tone, sondern lasst uns angenchmere anstimmen!" [A quotation from Schiller's "Ode to joy" in Beethoven's "Choral Symphony:" "O friends, not tones like these, but brighter ones let us sing.">[ (I am perhaps not quoting exactly, although the sense of the apostrophe remains clearly present, especially in musical enjoyments and experiences!) Amongst the "more pleasant" things I at once place much information given in your letter and the newspaper (which reached me at the same time in some 16 numbers with Pohl's parcel). My most earnest wishes are, first and foremost, bound up in the complete prospering, upspringing, and blossoming of the "grain of mustard-seed" of our Allgemeine Deutsche Musik-Verein. With God's help I will also support this in other fashion than mere "wishes." According to my opinion the third Tonkunstler- Versammlung will be the chief factor in strengthening and extending the Allgemeine Deutsche Musik-Verein, which comprises in itself the entire development and advancement of Art.
Various reasons led me to recommend Carlsruhe to you in my last letter as the most suitable place for the third Tonkunstler- Versammlung, that is, supposing that H.R.H. the Grand Duke gives his countenance to the matter, and grants us favorable conditions with regard to the disposal of the theater, orchestra, and chorus. It behoves Bulow, as conductor of the musical performances, to undertake to "pave the way" towards a favorable promise on the Grand Duke's side. Within two to three months the necessary preliminaries can be fixed, and I shall then expect fuller tidings from you about the further plans and measures.