Letters Details
| Date from letter: | 1951.05.26 Filing Element: 1951.05.26 ID: 5895 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| URN: | https://repo.schoenberg.at/urn:nbn:at:at-asc-B058953 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| First Line: | Enclosed a copy of part of a letter from Schirmer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Description: | *includes verso of each page | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Language: | E, English | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transcribed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Version: | Final version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Text: | [Arnold Schoenberg 116 N. Rockingham Avenue Los Angeles] 49[, California] May 26, 1951 Mr. Walter Hinrichsen President Peters Corporation 881 Seventh Avenue New York City, N.Y. Dear Mr. Hinrichsen: Enclosed a copy of part of a letter from Schirmer's about my first Kammersymphonie Opus 9. By a curious neglect of Universal-Edition there was no copyright taken on this work, and every professional thief could have stolen it. That it escaped is a miracle. I wanted to protect at least the musical text of this work. This is why I extended the orchestration to full orchestra. We had negotiated--Mr. Engel of Schirmer's and I--about the contract, and I don't remember for which reason we did not reach an agreement. Anyhow, Shirmers has not published this work for more than ten years, and I think they have accordingly lost every claim on being refunded for their expenses. A skillful lawyer could certainly at least reach more convenient terms from them. The score and the parts have been written on transparent paper, for rental purposes. Perhaps the score which is in my own handwriting might justify a rewriting--but I think it is not absolutely necessary. All conductors in Germany could read my manuscripts very easily. I would be glad if you would negotiate with Schirmers. I personally would not demand an advance. I would be contented with a small one if you find it more practical. The chances for getting many performances of this work here and especially abroad are very great, because the work is brilliant and effective. The new orchestration facilitates playing and understanding very much. The manuscript should remain my property. Photostatic copies would serve every purpose. I would like to hear soon from you about this proposition. How are you? Your business seems to flourish and you redevelop Peters Edition in an astonishingly rapid tempo. Congratulations. Many cordial greetings, Sincerely yours, P.S. Mr. Broder does not mention what happened with the 200 copies they printed. They have never been accounted for, accordingly, they must still be there, and if you acquire the work, they have to deliver them too. I have never been told that they have printed two-hundred copies. A great secret. If you negotiate with them, you must not consider them as people with whom you have to deal before Hitler. Be cautious. In any case it is good to have these copies at once on hand. In Germany and other parts of Europe they would probably even sell quite well. R.H. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||