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SMETANA, Friedrich, 1824–1884.

Lot 648: SMETANA, Friedrich, 1824–1884.

Stargardt Autographenhandlung

March 28, 2023
Berlin, Germany

More About this Item


Description

SMETANA, Friedrich, 1824–1884.
E.Br.m.U. “Bedrich Smetana”. Jabkenice 18.II. 1883. 4 S. gr.-8°. Leicht gebräunt. Faltenrisse ausgebessert.

Inhaltsreicher Brief an den Prager Musikpsychologen Carl Stumpf, dem er detailliert die Umstände und den Einfluss seiner langjährigen Taubheit auf sein musikalisches Schaffen schildert. -Smetana hatte Ende 1874 sein Gehör vollständig verloren.
“… In der ersten Zeit, wo die Krankheit begann, und nur die linke Seite für äusere Toneindrücke empfänglich war, ertönte des Abends ausserhalb des geschlossenen Zimmers, draussen im Hain ein wunderbar schönes Flötenspiel, jeden Abend; erst seit meiner Ankunft in Prag verschwand es, und nie mehr durch alle Jahre kehrte es zurück; während des Tages plagten mich lang haltende in höchster Piccolo-Lage gehaltenen Akkorde in As dur: c, es, as. = quartsext-accord, welche abwechselnd ertönten, und welche ich im Tone E (viergestrichen) des Finales meines Streichquartetts auszudrücken glaubte, weil der Violinist leicht das höchste E im Flageolet schön klingend hervorbringen kann, während ein Dreiklang im Streichquartett unmöglich ist; -es hätte ein grösseres Orchester zu thun, um den Reiz des subjektiv von mir empfundenen ass-akkord zu vertheilen für 3 ganz gleich klingende Instrumente …” -In seinem Streichquartett e-moll “Aus meinem Leben” (1876) hatte Smetana versucht, Epochen seiner persönlichen Entwicklung musikalisch wiederzugeben. Der zweite Teil des vierten Satzes bezieht sich auf den Beginn seiner Taubheit.
“Ausserhalb meines innern Tönens, gibt es für mich kein anderes Getön, als das Sausen Brausen einem Wasserfalle ähnlich, welches Tag und Nacht bereits 9 Jahre mich belästigt. Wenn ich selbst nicht laut rede, oder unbewusst musikalische phrasen brumme, so lässt das in Stärke nach, und wird so leise, dass man glaubt, es braust drauszen wo. Wenn man aber in Aufregung geräth, und selbst so stark als man es vertragen kann, spricht, oder wenn auf der Gasse Militärmusik erklingt, dann wird das Sausen so stark, dass man glaubt, das Zerspringen des Trommerfells muss eintreffen …
Und in diesem beklagenswerthem Zustande habe ich Werke vom grössten Umpfange geschrieben, ohne sie je gehört zu haben …” -Es folgt eine Aufzählung der Werke, darunter das Streichquartett “Aus meinem Leben”, die symphonische Dichtung “Mein Vaterland” sowie die Opern “Der Kuß”, “Die Teufelswand” und “Das Geheimnis”.
“Von einer Kritik meiner Werke kann keine Rede sein. Ich sehe sie vor mir, aber ich habe von allen Werken die ich hier … bezeichnete, nicht einen Ton gehört, und doch lebten sie in mir, und von blossem Vorstellen erregten sie mir: Rührung bis zu Thränen, im Entzücken schwelgen, staunen und bewundern, das Geheimniss des schaffenden Innern! …”
Sehr selten, besonders mit so bedeutendem Inhalt.

Artist or Maker

SMETANA, Friedrich, 1824–1884.

Medium

MusRefDat

Notes

ERKLÄRUNG DER ABKÜRZUNGEN / Interprétation des abréviations / Interpretation of abbreviations:

E.Br.m.U. Eigenhändiger Brief mit Unterschrift (Lettre autographe signé / Autograph letter signed)
Br.m.U. Brief von fremder Hand mit eigenhändiger Unterschrift (Lettre signé / Letter signed)
Br.m.U.u.E. Brief von fremder Hand mit eigenhändiger Unterschrift und Empfehlungsformel (Lettre signé avec souscription autographe / Letter signed and subscribed)
S. Seite(n) (pages / pages)
O.O.u.D.(J.) Ohne Ort und Datum (Jahr) (sans lieux ni date / no place no date)
4° (8°) Quart-(Oktav-)Format (in-4°) (in-8°)

Bei den Maßen ist zuerst die Höhe angegeben / given dimensions: first the height

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From: To: Increment:
€0 €399 €20
€400 €999 €50
€1,000 €1,999 €100
€2,000 €4,999 €200
€5,000 €9,999 €500
€10,000 €19,999 €1,000
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CONDITIONS OF AUCTION


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9. Notwithstanding clause 8, the Auctioneer shall guarantee the authenticity of the autographs. The guarantee is based on the current state of research. Claims due to lack of authenticity are only admissible up to the amount of the respective invoice amount and shall expire five years after the date of the auction. Items that show significant defects or deviations from the information in the catalogue shall be taken back at the invoice amount. Any such notices of defects shall expire one year after the date of auction.
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12. These Conditions of Auction shall also apply, mutatis mutandis, to any post-auction sales.
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15. The Buyer accepts these Conditions of Auction by placing a bid or placing a bidding order.
16. In case of controversy over the interpretation of the above provisions the German version shall prevail.


J. A. Stargardt GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin
Wolfgang Mecklenburg, publicly appointed and sworn auctioneer

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