| Kurzbeschreibung |
comprising c. 153 autograph letters signed by Spitta ("Philipp Spitta", "Ph. S.", "S."), and c. 274 autograph letters signed, and c. 8 letters signed, by Rudorff ("Ernst Rudorff", "E. R.", "Lieber -pp- pianissimo Philipp!"), many very long and highly detailed, some with musical examples, one of Spitta's in verse form; ABOUT BACH and his cantatas, their orchestration, edition, modern-day performance (particularly concerning the role of the cembalo) and chronology, Spitta's Bach study ("Das Bachmanuskript soll in der nächsten Woche nach Leipzig geschickt werden"), many letters asking to borrow from Rudorff autographs in his possession which Spitta would copy carefully if allowed, other letters of Spitta regretting that so many excellent cantatas of Bach are unknown and unperformed, noting his unsuccessful attempt to persuade the Prussian state to acquire Bach's autographs ("Jetzt steht der Abschluß mit Stargardt zuvor"), commenting on Rudorff's performances of Bach, the Bachgesellschaft, the Leipzig Bachverein, the '48', the Passions and motets, asking Rudorff for his opinion on the chapter in his book dealing collectively with the chorale cantatas, and choosing a cantata for himself (Meine Seele erhebt den Herrn, BWV 10) from Rudorff's autograph collection; Spitta's letters also referring to many other composers and musicians, including W. F. Bach, Buxtehude, Leonardo Leo, Handel, Reichardt ("Könnte ich vielleicht erfahren durch Dich, was aus Joh. Fr. Reichardts hinterlassener Bibliothek geworden ist?"), Haydn, Mozart, Weber, Cherubini, Spohr, Brahms ("für Brahms scheint endlich das Eis gebrochen zu sein"), Joachim ("...ich halte ihn für leicht empfindlich"), Bargiel, Max Bruch, making observations on his character and works (" ...[hat] endlich einen guten Opernstoff gefunden"), Radecke, Marschner, and discussing Spitta's Berlin professorship, the Vierteljahrsschrift für Musikwissenschaft, Chrysander, politics, Bismarck, Rudorff's compositions, the Berlin Wagner-Verein ("Eine so nichtswürdige Schwindelei"), plans to move the Berlin Hochschule to Charlottenburg, family affairs, personal matters ("...ganz sonderbar und betrübend war mir die Erfahrung, daß nach und nach - im Laufe der letzten Jahre - die Natur ganz stumm für mich geworden ist..."), and many other matters |
