It seems that with you chicanery, blunders, and stupidity of a criticism perverted by ignorance, envy, and venality, exercise less influence than in the Old World. I congratulate you on it. May you successfully follow the noble career of an artist with industry, perseverance, resignation, modesty, and an unshaken faith in the Ideal—such as you showed in Weimar, dear Mr. Mason.
Your truly affectionate and devoted
Fr. Liszt.
Rome, July 8, 1867.
Dear Mr. Mason: Mr. Seward has brought me your welcome letter and several of your compositions. These give me double pleasure, for they show that your time at Weimar has not been lost and that you continue to make good use of it elsewhere.
"L'Étude de Concert, Op. 9," and "Valse Caprice, Op. 17," are distinguished in style and of good effect. I can also sincerely praise the three preludes (Op. 8) and the two ballades, but with some reservation. The first ballade appears to me a trifle curtailed.
There is a certain something lacking at the beginning and toward the middle (page 7) which is necessary to make the motif stand out again, and the pastorale of the second ballade (page 7) figures there rather as padding—embarras de richesse!
And, since I am criticizing, let me ask why you entitle your "Ah, vous dirai-je Maman," "Caprice Grotesque"? Beyond the fact that the grotesque style should not intrude in music, this title does injustice to the ingenious imitations and harmonies of the piece which is otherwise so charming; it would be more fitting to call it "Divertissement" or "Variazione Scherzose."
As to the "Method," you do not, of course, expect me to make an exhaustive study of it. I am much too old for that, and it is only in self-defense that I occasionally try the piano—considering the incessant fatigue caused me by the indiscretion of a crowd of people who imagine that nothing can be more flattering to me than to amuse them!
Nevertheless, in going through your "Method," I find highly commendable exercises, notably the interlocking passages (pages 136-142) and all the accentuated treatment > > > > of exercises. May your pupils and editors derive thence all the benefit they should.
A thousand thanks, dear Mr. Mason, and rely on my very affectionate and devoted feelings as of old.