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OJ 10/1, [12] - Handwritten field postcard from Dahms to Schenker, dated October 29, 1915

{recto}

⇧ Feldpostkarte

Absender: ⇧ Walter Dahms
Res. Lazarett
Technische Hochschule
Saal 62
Charlottenburg
Berlinerstrasse


⇧ || [illeg] PR. RESERVE LAZARETT TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE | KASSEN- | VERWALTUNG | * CHARLOTTENBURG * ||

[An] ⇧ Herrn Dr. Heinrich Schenker
Wien III
Reisnerstr. 38

[postmark:] || CHARLOTTENBURG | 13 10 15 | 8-9V | * 2 n ||


{verso}
[written lengthwise:]

29. 10. 15.


Lieber Herr Doktor! 1

Was haben Sie aus den Rezensionen über die so stark „reklamierte“ Alpensinfonie herausgelesen? 2 Muss das traurig sein und beschämend, wenn einem dabei andauernd das Wort „geniale Meister“ ins Ohr klingt. Das Themenmaterial macht einen wahrhaft traurigen Eindruck.

Bitte schreiben Sie bald

{recto}

Ihrem herzl. grüssenden
[signed:] Walter Dahms

{recto}
[upside down]

Allmählig beginnt die Besserung bei mir!

© Transcription John Koslovsky, 2012
{recto}

⇧ Field Postcard

From: ⇧ Walter Dahms,
Reserve Hospital,
Technical School,
Room 62,
Charlottenburg
Berlinerstrasse


⇧ || [illeg] PR. RESERVE HOSPITAL TECHNICAL HIGHSCHOOL | CASH | DEPARTMENT | * CHARLOTTENBURG * ||

[To] ⇧ Dr. Heinrich Schenker,
Vienna III,
Reisnerstraße 38

[postmark:] || CHARLOTTENBURG | 13 10 15 | 8-9V | * 2 n ||


{verso}
[written lengthwise:]

October 29, 1915


Dear Dr. [Schenker], 1

What did you make of the reviews of the so strongly "protested" Alpine Symphony ? 2 It must be sad and embarrassing when one continuously has to hear the words "brilliant master" in one's ears. The thematic material makes a veritably sad impression.

Please write soon

{recto}

to him who greets you warmly,
[signed:] Walter Dahms

{recto}
[upside down]

I am gradually beginning to recover!

© Translation John Koslovsky, 2012
{recto}

⇧ Feldpostkarte

Absender: ⇧ Walter Dahms
Res. Lazarett
Technische Hochschule
Saal 62
Charlottenburg
Berlinerstrasse


⇧ || [illeg] PR. RESERVE LAZARETT TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE | KASSEN- | VERWALTUNG | * CHARLOTTENBURG * ||

[An] ⇧ Herrn Dr. Heinrich Schenker
Wien III
Reisnerstr. 38

[postmark:] || CHARLOTTENBURG | 13 10 15 | 8-9V | * 2 n ||


{verso}
[written lengthwise:]

29. 10. 15.


Lieber Herr Doktor! 1

Was haben Sie aus den Rezensionen über die so stark „reklamierte“ Alpensinfonie herausgelesen? 2 Muss das traurig sein und beschämend, wenn einem dabei andauernd das Wort „geniale Meister“ ins Ohr klingt. Das Themenmaterial macht einen wahrhaft traurigen Eindruck.

Bitte schreiben Sie bald

{recto}

Ihrem herzl. grüssenden
[signed:] Walter Dahms

{recto}
[upside down]

Allmählig beginnt die Besserung bei mir!

© Transcription John Koslovsky, 2012
{recto}

⇧ Field Postcard

From: ⇧ Walter Dahms,
Reserve Hospital,
Technical School,
Room 62,
Charlottenburg
Berlinerstrasse


⇧ || [illeg] PR. RESERVE HOSPITAL TECHNICAL HIGHSCHOOL | CASH | DEPARTMENT | * CHARLOTTENBURG * ||

[To] ⇧ Dr. Heinrich Schenker,
Vienna III,
Reisnerstraße 38

[postmark:] || CHARLOTTENBURG | 13 10 15 | 8-9V | * 2 n ||


{verso}
[written lengthwise:]

October 29, 1915


Dear Dr. [Schenker], 1

What did you make of the reviews of the so strongly "protested" Alpine Symphony ? 2 It must be sad and embarrassing when one continuously has to hear the words "brilliant master" in one's ears. The thematic material makes a veritably sad impression.

Please write soon

{recto}

to him who greets you warmly,
[signed:] Walter Dahms

{recto}
[upside down]

I am gradually beginning to recover!

© Translation John Koslovsky, 2012

Footnotes

1 Receipt of this field postcard is recorded in Schenker's diary at OJ 1/19, p. 29, November 2, 1915: "Von Dahms (K.) mit Frage bezüglich des neuesten Werkes von Strauss. Antwort an ihn (Br.) daraus: Die Töne neigen von Haus aus zu moralischem Beisammensein, erst die Verwahrlosung! der modernen Menschen trug [illeg] die Töne aus. Der Hass gegen England sei aufrecht zu erhalten; Gründe." ("From Dahms (postcard) with question regarding the latest work of Strauss. Answer to him (letter) thus: Tones intrinsically incline toward moral being-together. Only now has the dissipation! of modern men [illeg] torn tones asunder. The hatred against England has to be sturdily maintained; reasons.").

2 Richard Strauss's Eine Alpensinfonie was first performed on October 28, 1915 by the Dresden Hofkapelle in Berlin. It received a mixed reception.

Commentary

Format
printed field postcard, holograph addresses, with postscript (upside down) recto, holograph message and signature (lengthwise) verso
Provenance
Schenker, Heinrich (document date-1935)-- Schenker, Jeanette (1935-c.1942)--Ratz, Erwin (c.1942-c.1955)--Jonas, Oswald (c.1955-1978)--University of California, Riverside (1978--)
Rights Holder
Heirs of Walter Dahms, published here with kind permission.
License
Permission to publish granted by principal heir, Dahms's grand daughter, Cristina Texeio Coelho, August 12, 2009. Any claim to intellectual rights on this document should be addressed to the Schenker Correspondence Project, Faculty of Music, University of Cambridge, at schenkercorrespondence [at] mus (dot) cam (dot) ac (dot) uk.

Digital version created: 2012-08-14
Last updated: 2012-08-14