Rome, June 18th, 1863
18. To Dr. Franz Brendel
Dear Friend,
You will receive these lines in the lovely Sondershausen Park. One gladly accustoms oneself to the place, and the admirable performances of the Loh-concerts—I derive the word from "Lohe" [flame]—give the atmosphere a certain spiritual stimulus. My friendly greetings to Stein—and present my warm thanks to the courageous orchestra, which has not been scandalised by the "Symphonic Poems"! . . .
The parcel from Kahnt reached me safely a few days after your letter (of 26th June). Mililotti [Director of the Classical Music Association in Rome; he had requested Professor Riedel to send him the programmes of his concerts.] intends writing to Riedel to thank him for his kindness in forwarding his programmes. When Mililotti's concerts prove more of a success he may, by way of a return, send his Roman programmes to Leipzig. But at present the musical doings here are of but small interest to other countries.
By sending me the score edition of "Mignon" and "Loreley" Kahnt has given me peculiar pleasure. It seems to me correct, and I am foolish enough to find the instrumentation pretty. By the way, other instrumental settings occur to me: those of several of Schubert's songs ("Erlking," "Gretchen," "The Young Nun," and a few others) that I wrote for Fraulein Genast. They are not mere manufactured arrangements, and might not altogether displease musicians of fine feeling. The manuscript of the scores was left with Seifriz in Lowenberg. If any publisher should feel inclined to accept them they are at his disposal. .—.
In answer to an important point in your letter, I quite agree about presenting the Grand Duke of Weimar with a Report describing the object and aims of the Allgemeine Deutsche Musik- Verein. And on this occasion H.R.H. should be respectfully and graciously invited to address an appeal to his illustrious relatives to take some interest in the progress and success of the Association; in plain language, to strengthen his protectorship by letters of recommendation, or in some other way. In presenting the Report (which might most appropriately be undertaken by Pohl and Regierungsrath Muller) the Grand Duke or His Excellency Count Beust might be addressed directly by word of mouth, and be distinctly given to understand the desirability of obtaining the sympathy of the Grand Duchess, the Queen of Prussia, the King of Holland, T.R.H. the Grand Duchesses Helene and Marie (of Russia), the Grand Duke Peter of Oldenburg (in St. Petersburg), the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Baden, the Hereditary Prince of Meiningen, the Dukes of Altenburg and Coburg, etc. I give these names because, owing to their near relationship with the Grand Duke and their own personal fondness for music, they should stand first as patrons and supporters of the Allgemeine Deutsche Musik-Verein.
Gladly would I have undertaken the duties of diplomatist to the Association in Weimar, and endeavored to obtain the Grand Duke's active intervention…But at this distance I cannot, for the time being, accomplish anything. My gracious Master has no leisure for lectures on artistic subjects that I might concoct in the Eternal City; and if I tried to enlighten him in any such way his first and only word in reply would be "Why does not Liszt come back, in place of writing such allotria?" [Observations beside the mark.]- -A short time ago I received from him a very kind, monitory letter, calling upon me to return to Weimar for the Kunstler- Versammlung in August. .—. I would advise you to make use of your stay at Sondershausen by getting an introduction to the Prince, and by obtaining his support as regards the Musik-Verein. Discuss this matter with Stein, for he is best able to attend to it. Possibly a larger performance in the Loh might be got up for the benefit of the Association. .—.
This letter is so filled up with Royal Highnesses, Majesties, and illustrious personages, that it offers me a natural transition to tell you of an extraordinary, nay, incomparable honor I received last Saturday evening, the 11th of July. His Holiness Pope Pius IX. visited the Church of the Madonna del Rosario, and hallowed my apartments with his presence. After having given His Holiness a small proof of my skill on the harmonium and on my work-a-day pianino, he addressed a few very significant words to me in the most gracious manner possible, admonishing me to strive after heavenly things in things earthly, and by means of my harmonies that reverberated and then passed away to prepare myself for those harmonies that would reverberate everlastingly.—His Holiness remained a short half-hour; Monsign. de Merode and Hohenlohe were among his suite—and the day before yesterday I was granted an audience in the Vatican (the first since I came here), and the Pope presented me with a beautiful cameo of the Madonna.—
I must add one other princely personage to this letter, and with this I am obliged to close. A visit at this very moment is announced from the Principe della Rocca, who has driven up with his photographic apparatus. You shall, therefore, ere long have a little picture of the Madonna del Rosario which, since the Pope's visit here, has been the talk of Rome.