The kind reception you gave the last sending of my somewhat cumbersome manuscripts and revisions pleased me greatly. I will always gladly do what I can to not increase the publishers' worries, and henceforth print only what has been carefully worked out and will prove tolerably acceptable.

With regard to the form in which the Songs and Wagner- transcriptions are to be published, you may act altogether as you think best. I did certainly think that the convenient and neat edition in small octavo would be preferable (like the last edition of Chopin and my "Etudes transcendantes"): hence in from 5 to 6 little volumes:—

1. Beethoven (The "Adelaide" and other Songs); 2. Mendelssohn (6 Songs); 3. Robert and Clara Schumann; 4. Robert Franz; 5 to 6 (?). Wagner-transcriptions.

This would in no way prevent the songs and pieces of several pages (such as the "Adelaide," Mendelssohn's Songs, the "Tannhauser-March," the "Rienzi-Fantasia," etc.' being sold singly—in the same small 8vo form which, candidly speaking, I always like best. As long ago as the year '39 I induced Haslinger to publish Schubert's songs in an edition of this kind—and at that time it seemed rather a doubtful innovation. Also about placing the words below the music. I wish this, for the sake of the poetical delivery in all of the songs, except the "Adelaide," because the poem roams about rather too freely in rococo style. Let us leave "the flow'ret at the grave" to bloom on quietly without retouching it again.

I must unfortunately again trouble you to send me all the proofs. It is a matter of great moment to me to have the things arranged as accurately and as appropriately for the piano as possible. And for this I require the last proofs, in order finally to revise them in reading and playing them over. (For the printer's consolation be it remarked that no new alterations shall now crop up again; my zeal in correcting shall be confined to making some pedal marks and fingerings.) First of all I should like to try over Sgambati's duet arrangement of the "Ideale" with him; and you will doubtless do me the favor of sending me the proof sheets stitched together before I leave here (at the end of January).—

I leave the matter concerning the small honorarium confidently to your well-known kindly disposition, and remain, very dear Sirs,

Yours respectfully and most obediently,

F. Liszt

Villa d'Este, November 24th, 1874

158. To Count Albert Apponyi in Budapest