172. To Dr. Franz Witt
[Probably August or September, 1875]
Much-esteemed Friend,
While greatly regretting to hear of your indisposition and thanking you sincerely for your last letter, I now ask you: How are you going to answer the ministerial communication of Trefort?—Are you willing to render important help as regards Church music in Hungary? Superfluous words are unbecoming to me; let us onward and act; and may your noble and stimulating influence be granted to Hungary. Assuredly you will find there admiration, affection, and the necessary assistance in the great services you will render.
In a word: Come to us, and let us work together in Budapest!
173. To Lina Ramann
[Authoress of "F. Liszt als Kunstler und Mensch" ("F. Liszt as Artist and Man"), 2 vols. (Leipzig, Breitkopf and Hartel, 1880 and 1887)]
Dear Friend,
Thanks to your care I had excellent and very inspired company during my two days' journey from Nuremberg to Rome. Your parallel "Bach and Handel" delighted me more than the famous landscapes of the Brenner. Allow me specially to praise your fine insight into and correct interpretation of the various musical forms of culture from the Motet to the Mass and the Oratorio.
Some portions also of the "Allgemeine musikalische Erzieh-und Unterrichtslehre" [Universal Musical Instruction] pleased me—(in spite of my inaptitude in things pedagogical), especially the main idea of the work:—that musical instruction should not be separated from, but form a part in, the course of education; a relevant thought, the practical application of which will essentially benefit, and prove useful to, art as well as education.