Your favorable accounts of the Tonkunstler-Versammlung in Dessau delighted me greatly. Owing to the crooked way in which my works have been listened to in past years, I have felt oppressed; and in order that my freedom in my work might remain unaffected, I was obliged wholly to disregard their outward success. Hence my absolute distrust of performances of my own compositions, and this was not to be accounted for by any exaggerated modesty on my part. As to the "Battle of the Huns" I was specially doubtful; the Christian significance of Kaulbach's picture—as represented in the "Chorale"—seemed to me a stumbling-block in the way of favorable criticism. Kaulbach had indeed suggested this interpretation by having thrown a special light upon the cross…yet there are neither mendicant friars nor bishops in the picture…and, besides, at the time of the "Battle of the Huns" the organ was not yet invented! This last sweeping argument was triumphantly hurled at me in Weimar by the infallible censors. Since then I have hesitated to allow the work to be performed, and have remained satisfied with sending Kaulbach the arrangement for 2 pianofortes. And in that form it was executed [Executirt.] in his salon, whereupon, of course, there were loud lamentations about my squandering my time upon such an abominable jumble of sounds, when I might be charming people in a more agreeable fashion with my piano-playing!…So if the Dessau Meeting really derived some pleasure from the "Battle of the Huns" I feel richly rewarded for my small amount of suffering.
I beg you to present my best thanks to Fraulein Wigand. [Emilie Wigand, studied under Prof. Gotze in Leipzig.] It is a good deed of hers to have obtained willing ears for my Psalm—and if I am in Germany again next year I shall want to hear it.
I will with pleasure take Weitzmann's place as examiner of the manuscripts sent in. Send them to me in parcel form to Rome; I promise to look through them quickly and to let you have my good or bad opinion of them. For such work I am always inclined, and am, perhaps, not an awkward hand at it.
.—. From the Committee in Pest I have not had any news for some time past. I shall, however, hold myself in readiness to start from here by the beginning of August. Meanwhile let nothing be sent to me to Rome. As soon as I know anything definite about my stay in Hungary I will let you know.
With all friendly greetings to your wife, I am your sincerely attached
F. Liszt
July 21st (Villa d'Este-Tivoli), 1865
Any probable performance of the "Elizabeth" in Coburg we can discuss later. I should consider it advisable to have my name but little mentioned in the programme of the next Meeting of the Tonkunstler-Versammlung. As regards a larger work (one to occupy a whole concert) it would be well for Gille to leave the choice of it to the Duke. The local taste would be a very important point in the matter, and, for my own part, I know only too well that people do not want to know or to hear too much of me—in Coburg as well as in many other places!—
42. To Abbe Schwendtner in Buda-Pest
[Autograph in the possession of Frl. Therese v. Lavner in Pest.— Liszt became acquainted with the Abbe in 1865, and frequently enjoyed his hospitality when visiting Pest, up to the time when he himself became connected with the Musik-Academie there.]