Liszt, Franz. (1811–1886). "Despite the weakness of my talent, I am not doing badly" - Autograph letter signed. ALS of the Hungarian composer to an unidentified male recipient ("Cher Monsieur"). 3 pp. Bifolium. Rome, Villa d'Este, June 21, [18]74. Excerpt (translated from the French): "Your letter and the volume that came with it brought me exquisite and precious pleasure... You have found in my Lieder some resonating accents, and your reading of them reflects poetic sensitivity and a most rare musical and psychological finesse of observation. Specifically, your words about the Lieder 'Am Rhein' and 'Über allen Gipfeln' touched an intimate cord in me and persuaded me that, despite the weakness of my talent, I am not doing badly. Let others go ahead and shine more!" 7 x 4.5 inches (17.6 x 11 cm). Horizontal and vertical folds; some browning; in very good condition overall.
A response to an unidentified book, a copy of which its author had sent to Liszt.
"Dear Sir,
You must have quite a bad opinion of my manners, and I really don't know how to apologize to you. Allow me to count on your good will (which you have extended to me before) to pardon the extreme lateness of my sincere gratitude. It is not that I have note felt it keenly and thus failed to express it. But my time evaporates with hundreds of related obligations that keep me from fulfilling several of those that I would prefer, such as writing regularly to my friends and sitting down and spend my time composing.
Your letter and the volume that came with it brought me exquisite and precious pleasure, compensating for a lot of the nuisance and fatigue. You have found in my Lieder, some resonating accents and your reading of them reflects poetic sensitivity and a most rare musical and psychological finesse of observation. Specifically your words about the Lieder "Am Rhein" and "Uber all Gipfeln" touched an intimate cord in me and persuaded me that, despite the weakness fo[sic] my talent, I am not doing badly. Let others get ahead and shine more!
Dear Sir, please accept my heartfelt gratitude along with my ever-lasting respect and devotion,
F Liszt."
June 21. '74
(Villa d'Este)
A response to an unidentified book, a copy of which its author had sent to Liszt.
Liszt, Franz. (1811–1886). "Despite the weakness of my talent, I am not doing badly" - Autograph letter signed. ALS of the Hungarian composer to an unidentified male recipient ("Cher Monsieur"). 3 pp. Bifolium. Rome, Villa d'Este, June 21, [18]74. Excerpt (translated from the French): "Your letter and the volume that came with it brought me exquisite and precious pleasure... You have found in my Lieder some resonating accents, and your reading of them reflects poetic sensitivity and a most rare musical and psychological finesse of observation. Specifically, your words about the Lieder 'Am Rhein' and 'Über allen Gipfeln' touched an intimate cord in me and persuaded me that, despite the weakness of my talent, I am not doing badly. Let others go ahead and shine more!" 7 x 4.5 inches (17.6 x 11 cm). Horizontal and vertical folds; some browning; in very good condition overall.
A response to an unidentified book, a copy of which its author had sent to Liszt.
"Dear Sir,
You must have quite a bad opinion of my manners, and I really don't know how to apologize to you. Allow me to count on your good will (which you have extended to me before) to pardon the extreme lateness of my sincere gratitude. It is not that I have note felt it keenly and thus failed to express it. But my time evaporates with hundreds of related obligations that keep me from fulfilling several of those that I would prefer, such as writing regularly to my friends and sitting down and spend my time composing.
Your letter and the volume that came with it brought me exquisite and precious pleasure, compensating for a lot of the nuisance and fatigue. You have found in my Lieder, some resonating accents and your reading of them reflects poetic sensitivity and a most rare musical and psychological finesse of observation. Specifically your words about the Lieder "Am Rhein" and "Uber all Gipfeln" touched an intimate cord in me and persuaded me that, despite the weakness fo[sic] my talent, I am not doing badly. Let others get ahead and shine more!
Dear Sir, please accept my heartfelt gratitude along with my ever-lasting respect and devotion,
F Liszt."
June 21. '74
(Villa d'Este)
A response to an unidentified book, a copy of which its author had sent to Liszt.