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{recto}
Correspondenz-Karte

An: Herrn M. Violin
in VI/2.
Wallgasse 16

[postmark:] || 22. 2. 04 | 3/4 WIEN [illeg] | 6-7 V ||

{verso}
ARNOLD SCHÖNBERG
- - - WIEN - - -
IX. LIECHTENSTEINSTRASSE 68/70

Lieber Violin! 1

ich habe mir meine Lieder noch einmal überlegt, und sehe, daß doch für Frauenstimme kaum etwas möglich wäre. Es sind im Ganzen 3 Stücke, 2 [?deren] Text geschlechtslos ist. Davon ist eines dem Ton der Musik nach aber nur für einen Mann möglich. Und die beiden anderen sind nicht so, daß ich sie allein hinausstellen möchte. Es hat also gar keinen Zweck wenn ich Ssie Ihnen sende. Ich danke Ihnen bestens für Ihre freundliche Absicht.


Mit herzlichem Gruß
Ihr
[signed:] Arnold Schönberg

21/2. 1904

© Transcription Ian Bent, 2011, 2020

{recto}
Postcard

To: Mr. M. Violin
in [Vienna] VI/2
Wallgasse 16

[postmark:] || 22. 2. 04 | 3/4 VIENNA [illeg] | 6-7 V ||

{verso}
ARNOLD SCHÖNBERG
- - - VIENNA IX - - -
LIECHTENSTEINSTRASSE 68/70

Dear Violin! 1

I have given yet more thought to my songs and see that there is in fact hardly anything suitable for a woman's voice. There are three pieces in total, 2 whose texts are not gender-specific. But one of them, from a musical point of view, is suitable only for a man's voice; and the other two are not the sort that could be performed on their own. There is, then, no point at all in my sending them to you. I think you most warmly for your kind intention.


With cordial greetings,
Your
[signed:] Arnold Schönberg

February 21, 1904

© Translation William Drabkin, 2020

{recto}
Correspondenz-Karte

An: Herrn M. Violin
in VI/2.
Wallgasse 16

[postmark:] || 22. 2. 04 | 3/4 WIEN [illeg] | 6-7 V ||

{verso}
ARNOLD SCHÖNBERG
- - - WIEN - - -
IX. LIECHTENSTEINSTRASSE 68/70

Lieber Violin! 1

ich habe mir meine Lieder noch einmal überlegt, und sehe, daß doch für Frauenstimme kaum etwas möglich wäre. Es sind im Ganzen 3 Stücke, 2 [?deren] Text geschlechtslos ist. Davon ist eines dem Ton der Musik nach aber nur für einen Mann möglich. Und die beiden anderen sind nicht so, daß ich sie allein hinausstellen möchte. Es hat also gar keinen Zweck wenn ich Ssie Ihnen sende. Ich danke Ihnen bestens für Ihre freundliche Absicht.


Mit herzlichem Gruß
Ihr
[signed:] Arnold Schönberg

21/2. 1904

© Transcription Ian Bent, 2011, 2020

{recto}
Postcard

To: Mr. M. Violin
in [Vienna] VI/2
Wallgasse 16

[postmark:] || 22. 2. 04 | 3/4 VIENNA [illeg] | 6-7 V ||

{verso}
ARNOLD SCHÖNBERG
- - - VIENNA IX - - -
LIECHTENSTEINSTRASSE 68/70

Dear Violin! 1

I have given yet more thought to my songs and see that there is in fact hardly anything suitable for a woman's voice. There are three pieces in total, 2 whose texts are not gender-specific. But one of them, from a musical point of view, is suitable only for a man's voice; and the other two are not the sort that could be performed on their own. There is, then, no point at all in my sending them to you. I think you most warmly for your kind intention.


With cordial greetings,
Your
[signed:] Arnold Schönberg

February 21, 1904

© Translation William Drabkin, 2020

Footnotes

1 The document from which this edition was made is a photocopy; the whereabouts of the original is not known. It evidently responds to an inquiry from Violin concerning a forthcoming recital with a female singer.

2 Almost certainly "Verlassen," "Traumleben," and "Ghasel," which were composed between December 1903 and January 1904 and published in Schoenberg's Eight Songs, Op. 6. The other five songs were not written until the fall of 1905.

Commentary

Format
printed postcard: holograph recipient address, recto; stamped sender address, holograph salutation, message, valediction, and signature, verso
Rights Holder
Heirs of Arnold Schoenberg, reproduced here with kind permission
License
Permission to publish granted by author's son, Mr. Lawrence Schoenberg, July 16, 2013. Any claim to intellectual rights on this document should be addressed to the Schenker Documents Online, schenkercorrespondence@mus[dot]cam[dot]ac[dot]uk.
Provenance
Moriz Violin (document date-1956) – Eva Violin Windsor (1956–unknown) – Oswald Jonas Memorial Collection: Violin Papers (photocopies) (post-1956 –) [location of originals unknown]

Digital version created: 2020-08-19
Last updated: 2013-07-01