F. Liszt
December 2nd, 1880 (Villa D'este, Rome)
Maybe you will tell me yourself soon in Rome where I am to send the letters; if not, send me your address. I shall remain here till January 5th and be at Budapest on the 15th.
271. To Dr. Friedrich Stade in Leipzig
[Musical writer (born 1844) in Leipzig]
Very Dear Sir and Friend,
Your transcription of "Gretchen" [Out of Liszt's Faust Symphony.] for pianoforte and harmonium is capital, just as I wished. I only take the liberty of very slightly altering it, and have added ten bars at the end, which are to be henceforth inserted in the score and in my own arrangements of the Faust Symphony. [They follow herewith in the orchestral movement, according to Dr. Stade's copy.]
If you will kindly take the trouble to arrange the entire Faust Symphony for two performers on one piano, I shall be greatly indebted to you. [This was done.] Deal as freely as possible with the figurations and also with the distribution among the seven octaves of the odious keyboard. It seems to me that what may be more laterally accurate ought often to give way to what sounds better and even to what is more convenient for the players at the piano.
Thanking you once more, I remain,
Yours most cordially,