Highly important German composer and pianist (1810–1856) whose distinctively lyrical musical language, especially evident in his keyboard works and art songs, made him one of the central figures of the German Romantic tradition.
Scarce ALS in German, three pages on two adjoining sheets, 5.25 x 8, Leipzig, February 1841. Letter written to composer Gustav Barth in Vienna. In part (translated): “Your most honorable presently and for the future, I have to beg for your forgiveness and understanding if I did not specifically respond to each and everyone of your esteemed letters—which I am asking you kindly to continue sending...Unfortunately, I am not able to answer every time, due to the vast amount of correspondence I have to handle, in addition to the many other activities and duties I am involved in. I thank you very much for your recent mailing, the tone and scope of it are quite pleasing to me...thanks also for the song you sent, however, it strikes me as being too serious and dark for this particular purpose. Please understand, with my selection I also have to take into consideration the needs of my publisher, who is incurring substantial cost as it is. Send me something light and cheerful…My wife too is sending her best regards to your wife. I would be most pleased if you could perhaps procure for your wife the four sets of songs (Myrthen) which I dedicated to my wife when she became my bride.” Reverse bears an integral address leaf in Schumann’s hand, with a February 7, Leipzig postmark. Intersecting folds, one through a single letter of signature, light show-through from writing on opposite sides, small area of repaired paper loss from wax seal, and some light pencil remnants, otherwise fine condition.
Serving as editor of Die Neue Zeitschrift fur Musik (the New Journal of Music), a publication co-founded with his teacher and future father-in-law Friedrich Wieck and friend Ludwig Schuncke, Schumann worked to revive interest in major composers of the past while also promoting the work of contemporary composers such as Chopin and Berlioz. Encouraging contributions from well-known musicians of the day, Schumann received a report on Joseph Geiger and Johann Freiherr from the Viennese composer Gustave Barth, to which he is responding in this letter. After apologizing for his delay in replying—busy, among other things, writing two of his four symphonies, No. 1 in B flat, Op. 38, "Spring" and No. 4 in D minor—Schumann recommends that Barth offer his wife the sets of songs contained in Myrthen, Op. 25, a collection composed the previous year and which he presented in a deluxe edition to his wife Clara upon their wedding in September. An outstanding letter with wonderful historical content, one of only a handful we have seen Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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