Your cordially devoted
F. Liszt
Saturday Morning, December 9th
Joukowski arrived last night, and we began at once to sound your praises.
Daniela has written to you. I will send you the programme of the performance of Goethe's "Geschwister" ["Brothers and Sisters">[, which will take place tomorrow at Princess Hatzfeld's. Those old books of operas, such as "Les Indes galantes" ["The gallant Indies">[, and other antiquities, re-edited in Paris, may peaceably repose at the "Hofgartnerei;" unless you prefer to lend them to some one who likes works of that kind, which are sought by some.
317. To Professor Carl Riedel
Dear Friend,
Draseke's "Requiem" is such a first-rate work, and is so likely to obtain a good reception from the public, that I again recommend the performance of it at the next Tonkunstler- Versammlung. Draseke will presumably also agree to it in the end.
Gustav Weber's Trio, Op. 5, published by Siegel, and dedicated to me, I consider an eminent work, worthy of recommendation and performance. I am sure you think the same.
I should like to add to the vocal programme of the Tonkunstler- Versammlung two songs by your name-sake Riedel, now Hofkapellmeister in Brunswick. [Hermann Riedel, born 1847, made a special success with songs from Scheffel's "Trompeter von Sakkingen.">[ If they should be ascribed to you they will please you all the better for that. And a propos, why do you let your valuable, excellent works be so seldom heard in public? I shall reproach you further with this injustice to yourself when we come to talk over the programme, and I hope that you won't continue to overdo your reserve as a composer. Without pushing one's-self forward one must still maintain one's position, to which you, dear friend, are fully entitled. Will you be so kind as to tell Hartel to send me here quickly 25 sheets of to line, and 25 sheets of 12 line music paper (oblong shape, not square) for cash, together with a few of the small books of samples, containing all kinds of music paper, which I have recommended several musical friends of mine here and elsewhere to buy. One can rub out easily on this paper, which is one of the most important things—that is to say, unless one tears up the whole manuscript, which would often be advisable.