Autograph letter from the German critic and translator, the self-declared voice of Wagner, Liszt, Berlioz and other progressive musicians of the New German School. Dated Weimar, May 18, 1863. Writing to the cantor, organist and composer Alexander Gottschalg, he asks him to send him "the Berlioz piano reduction as soon as possible," because he will need to use it in the coming week, and continues: "Time is short, because I want to leave Weimar next week, and so it is doubtful, if I will be able to come to Denstädt with you..." 1 p. on a biofolium, addressed and with original postmark and wax seal remnants on the verso. Folding creases, two small losses to the verso, but otherwise in fine condition. 5.5 x 9 inches (14.2 x 22.8 cm).

"During his years in Weimar (1854–63), Pohl helped Brendel edit the Neue Zeitschrift für Musik and the Angregungen für Kunst, Leben und Wissenschaft (1856–61)... Liszt later expressed his gratitude for Pohl’s ‘faithful and noble devotion … to the Weimar Progressive Period in the years 1849–58’ (letter of 12 September 1884). Wagner was appreciative of Pohl’s championship; later, however, coolness arose over Pohl’s published view that Wagner had derived his chromatic harmony in Tristan from Liszt. Though not a particularly insightful critic (he was accused of being a ‘scribbler’), Pohl worked hard and proved himself to be a reliable partisan, doing much to arouse interest in his chosen composers. Particularly valuable were his German translations of Berlioz’s prose writings and some of Liszt’s articles from the 1850s. He also wrote some poetry, a novel (Richard Wiegand) based on Wagner, some songs and instrumental pieces. In 1864 he retired to Baden-Baden." (John Warrack/James Deaville, Grove Online.)