Will you please choose, according to your own pleasure, the work which suits you best, and also ask your "conductor," Sir Arthur Sullivan, from me, to direct it?
For twenty years past I have been quite outside of any work as orchestral conductor and pianist.
Distinguished consideration and loyal devotion.
F. Liszt
Rome, November 26th, 1885
P.S.—If, in the concert at which one of my Symphonic Poems will be performed, Mr. Walter Bache would [etc., see quotation in previous letter].
371. To Countess Mercy-Argenteau
Dear admirable Propagandist,
Herewith is a different rendering of the shake, with an indication to the left hand of the motive which is then taken up again in full. This new shake is a little awkward to do, but not too troublesome. Will you be so kind as to send it to Cui, and beg him to be my emissary to the editor of the original of Cui's brilliant "Tarantelle," for the publication of the transcription? To my regret the smallness of my income obliges me to leave no stone unturned to make money out of my transcriptions, [La modicite de man revenu m'oblige a faire fleche, non pas de tout bois, mais de fagots de mes transcriptions. The literal translation is, "Obliges me to utilise, not the wood, but the faggots of my transcriptions," the point of the sentence turning upon the French idiom "faire fleche de tout bois," which in English is rendered by a totally different idiom.—Trans.] for which I am now paid in Germany, Russia, France, at the rate of from twelve to 1500 marks apiece, for the copyright in all countries.
Observe that I choose works to be transcribed, and refuse myself to any other demands. This year, for instance, I have confined myself to the volume that you condescend to accept—and that you will, I hope, bring to the light by the diamonds and pearls of your fingers.