[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]circles in Vienna. She was naturally attracted to Haydn, and although she was nearly
forty years of age when the correspondence opened in 1789, "a personal connection was
gradually developed in the course of their musical intercourse that eventually touched
their hearts and gave rise to a bright bond of friendship between the lady and the old,
though still youthful, maestro." Some brief extracts from the letters now to be given have
of necessity been worked into the biography. The correspondence originated in the
following note from Frau von Genzinger:
January 1789.
DEAR M. HAYDN,
With your kind permission I take the liberty to send a pianoforte arrangement of the
beautiful adagio in your admirable composition. I arranged it from the score quite alone,
and without the least help from my master. I beg that, if you should discover any errors,
you will be so good as to correct them. I do hope that you are in perfect health, and
nothing do I wish more than to see you soon again in Vienna, in order to prove further
my high esteem.
Your obedient servant,
MARIA ANNA V. GENZINGER.
To this Haydn replies as follows:
ESTORAS, Janr. 14, 1789.
DEAR MADAM,
In all my previous correspondence, nothing was ever so agreeable to me as the surprise of
seeing your charming writing, and reading so many kind expressions; but still more did I
admire what you sent me--the admirable arrangement of the adagio, which, from its
correctness, might be engraved at once by any publisher. I should like to know whether
you arranged the adagio from the score, or whether you gave yourself the amazing
trouble of first putting it into score from the separate parts, and then arranging it for the
piano, for, if the latter, such an attention would be too flattering to me, and I feel that I
really do not deserve it.
Best and kindest Frau v. Genzinger! I only await a hint from you as to how, and in what
way, I can serve you; in the meantime, I return the adagio, and hope that my talents, poor
though they be, may ensure me some commands from you.
I am yours, etc.,
HAYDN.
The next letter is from the lady:
VIENNA, Oct. 29, 1789.
DEAR HERR V. HAYDN,
I hope you duly received my letter of September 15, and also the first movement of the
symphony (the andante of which I sent you some months ago), and now follows the last
movement, which I have arranged for the piano as well as it was in my power to do; I
only wish that it may please you, and earnestly beg that, if there are any mistakes in it,
you will correct them at your leisure, a service which I shall always accept from you, my
valued Herr Haydn, with the utmost gratitude. Be so good as to let me know whether you
received my letter of September 15, and the piece of music, and if it is in accordance with
your taste, which would delight me very much, for I am very uneasy and concerned lest
you should not have got it safely, or not approve of it. I hope that you are well, which will
always be a source of pleasure to me to hear, and commending myself to your further
friendship and remembrance.
I remain, your devoted friend and servant,
MARIA ANNA V. GENZINGER. nee v. Kayser.
My husband sends you his regards.
To Frau v. Genzinger.
Nov. 9, 1789.
DEAR MADAM,
I beg your forgiveness a million times for having so long delayed returning your
laborious and admirable work: the last time my apartments were cleared out, which
occurred just after receiving your first movement, it was mislaid by my copyist among
the mass of my other music, and only a few days ago I had the good fortune to find it in
an old opera score.
Dearest and kindest Frau v. Genzinger! do not be displeased with a man who values you
so highly; I should be inconsolable if by the delay I were to lose any of your favour, of
which I am so proud.
These two pieces are arranged quite as correctly as the first. I cannot but admire the
trouble and the patience you lavish on my poor talents; and allow me to assure you in
return that, in my frequent evil moods, nothing cheers me so much as the flattering
conviction that I am kindly remembered by you; for which favour I kiss your hands a
thousand times, and am, with sincere esteem, your obedient servant,
JOSEPH HAYDN.
P.S.--I shall soon claim permission to wait on you.
The next letter is again from Frau v. Genzinger:
VIENNA, Nov. 12, 1789.
MY VALUED HERR V. HAYDN,
I really cannot tell you all the pleasure I felt in reading your highly-prized letter of the
9th. How well am I rewarded for my trouble by seeing your satisfaction! Nothing do I
wish more ardently than to have more time (now so absorbed by household affairs), for in
that case I would certainly devote many hours to music, my most agreeable and favourite
of all occupations. You must not, my dear Herr v. Haydn, take it amiss that I plague you
with another letter, but I could not but take advantage of so good an opportunity to
inform you of the safe arrival of your letter. I look forward with the utmost pleasure to
the happy day when I am to see you in Vienna. Pray continue to give me a place in your
friendship and remembrance.
Your sincere and devoted friend and servant.
To Frau v. Genzinger.
ESTORAS, Nov. 18, 1789.
DEAR LADY,
The letter which I received through Herr Siebert gave me another proof of your excellent
heart, as instead of a rebuke for my late remissness, you express yourself in so friendly a
manner towards me, that so much indulgence, kindness and great courtesy cause me the
utmost surprise, and I kiss your hands in return a thousand times. If my poor talents
enable me to respond in any degree to so much that is flattering, I venture, dear madam,
to offer you a little musical potpourri. I do not, indeed, find in it much that is fragrant;
perhaps the publisher may rectify the fault in future editions. If the arrangement of the
symphony in it be yours, oh! then I shall be twice as much pleased with the publisher; if
not, I venture to ask you to arrange a symphony, and to transcribe it with your own hand,
and to send it to me here, when I will at once forward it to my publisher at Leipzig to be
engraved.
I am happy to have found an opportunity that leads me to hope for a few more charming
lines from you.
I am, etc.,
JOSEPH HAYDN.
Shortly after the date of this letter Hadyn was again in Vienna, when the musical
evenings at Schottenhof were renewed. The Herr v. Haring referred to in the following
note is doubtless the musical banker, well known as a violinist in the Vienna of the time.
To Frau v. Genzinger.
Jan. 23, 1790.
DEAR, KIND FRAU V. GENZINGER,
I beg to inform you that all arrangements are now completed for the little quartet party
that we agreed to have next Friday. Herr v. Haring esteemed himself very fortunate in
being able to be of use to me on this occasion, and the more so when I told him of all the
attention I had received from you, and your other merits.
What I care about is a little approval. Pray don't forget to invite the Pater Professor.
Meanwhile, I kiss your hands, and am, with profound respect, yours, etc.,
HAYDN.
A call to return to Esterhaz put an end to these delights of personal intercourse, as will be
gathered from the following letter:
To Frau v. Genzinger.
Feb. 3, 1790.
NOBLEST AND KINDEST LADY,
However flattering the last invitation you gave me yesterday to spend this evening with
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]zanotowane.pldoc.pisz.plpdf.pisz.plkajaszek.htw.pl
