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  4. Thursday, April 2, 1914

Natalie Curtis to Ferruccio Busoni arrow_backarrow_forward

New York · April 2, 1914

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Mus.ep. N. Curtis 9 (Busoni-Nachl. B II)
Mus.Nachl. F. Busoni B II, 1356


April second. 1914.
[1]

My dear friend
and honoured master!

I have been
reading in the Musical
Courier of your Berlin
concerts, Am Vortag war eine Besprechung des Orchesterkonzerts vom 12.3. im Berliner Beethovensaal erschienen (Musical Courier, 1.4.1914, S. 8, Digitalisat). Zuvor hatte der Musical Courier auch über Busonis Orchesterabend vom 12.2. sowie über die Klavierabende vom 16.2. und 27.2. berichtet (Musical Courier, 4.3.1914, S. 6, Digitalisat; 11.3.1914, S. 6, Digitalisat; 25.3.1914, S. 8, Digitalisat) und auch eine Presseschau der Berliner Rezensionen veröffentlicht (Musical Courier, 25.3.1914, S. 38f., Digitalisat). and now comes
this interesting little
package from you, con-
taining the annotated
programs. Nicht mit dem Brief überliefert. How I wish
that I might have
been present at the
performances, and how Deutsche
Staatsbibliothek
Berlin

April second. 1914.

My dear friend and honoured master!

I have been reading in the Musical Courier of your Berlin concerts, Am Vortag war eine Besprechung des Orchesterkonzerts vom 12.3. im Berliner Beethovensaal erschienen (Musical Courier, 1.4.1914, S. 8, Digitalisat). Zuvor hatte der Musical Courier auch über Busonis Orchesterabend vom 12.2. sowie über die Klavierabende vom 16.2. und 27.2. berichtet (Musical Courier, 4.3.1914, S. 6, Digitalisat; 11.3.1914, S. 6, Digitalisat; 25.3.1914, S. 8, Digitalisat) und auch eine Presseschau der Berliner Rezensionen veröffentlicht (Musical Courier, 25.3.1914, S. 38f., Digitalisat). and now comes this interesting little package from you, containing the annotated programs. Nicht mit dem Brief überliefert. How I wish that I might have been present at the performances, and how I hope that I may have the opportunity next year of hearing at least a few of these interesting new works Neben der Indianischen Fantasie war auch das Nocturne symphonique im Orchesterkonzert am 12.3.1914 in Berlin uraufgeführt worden. which I am sure are “pioneers”, every one of them. – Travelers launched on new seas, with all sails set!

I rejoice in the news that you are to play the Indian Fantasia in America, so that I shall at least hear that. It will do great good, I am sure, in pointing the way for a further development of our native folk-material while being in itself a vivid creation of your own thought and poetic vision. I sent you a little paper that I wrote or a protest against the proposed methods of our Government to put “harmonies” (Richter, Jadassohn, Bussler assisting!) to the simple native melodies and with the aid of a harmonium and out-of-tune piano, “teach” these versions to the Indian students, from whom the songs in their purity must first be toilingly learnt by the white teacher! We Anglo-Saxons have so little imagination, and must always assume that we know everything better than everyone else. To encourage native music we must “teach” Indians our Richterized arrangements of the Indians’ own melodies! (We never can be good learners, it seems, in our contact with the simpler peoples.)

I am most anxious to hear the Fantasia, – to see the vision that you have seen and listen to the nature-voice that you have heard. – I read that you are coming to this country in August. Busonis für Oktober 1914 bis Februar 1915 angekündigte, kriegsbedingt zunächst verschobene und zwischenzeitlich abgesagte US-Tournee begann schließlich im Januar 1915. Do take “Beni” to the great West! I hope to be in Arizona and New Mexico myself in August and September – is there any chance of our meeting? – Do let me know your plans! We took Kurt Schindler to some Indian ceremonies last summer in Arizona, and he was much impressed. I feel that the real America lies in the young West, – not in our congested commercial towns; I wish that I could convert myself into a “Thomas Cook & Sons” and escort you on a personally conducted tour through primitive America. Alas, that I am not a man!

I hope that you will continue to keep me in mind, however, and that you will send me a line telling me where and when you will be in what places? Does Mrs Busoni accompany you?

With my affectionate greetings to your wife, and my congratulations to you, believe me as always.

Faithfully your friend

Natalie Curtis.

 
                                                                
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               <salute><rs key="E0300017">My dear friend</rs>
                  <lb/><seg rend="align(right)"><rs key="E0300017">and honoured master!</rs></seg></salute>
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            <p type="pre-split" rend="first-right">I have been
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               <lb/>concerts,
               
               <note type="commentary" resp="#E0300314">Am Vortag war eine Besprechung des Orchesterkonzerts vom <date when-iso="1914-03-12">12.3.</date> im <placeName key="E0500029">Berliner</placeName> <placeName key="E0500074">Beethovensaal</placeName> erschienen <bibl>(<orgName key="E0600275">Musical Courier</orgName>, <date when-iso="1914-04-01">1.4.1914</date>, S. 8, <ref type="ext" target="https://archive.org/details/sim_music-magazine-and-musical-courier_1914-04-01_68_13/page/8/mode/1up">Digitalisat</ref>)</bibl>. Zuvor hatte der <orgName key="E0600275">Musical Courier</orgName> auch über <persName key="E0300017">Busonis</persName> Orchesterabend vom <date when-iso="1914-02-12">12.2.</date> sowie über die Klavierabende vom <date when-iso="1914-02-16">16.2.</date> und <date when-iso="1914-02-27">27.2.</date> berichtet <bibl>(<orgName key="E0600275">Musical Courier</orgName>, <date when-iso="1914-03-04">4.3.1914</date>, S. 6, <ref type="ext" target="https://archive.org/details/sim_music-magazine-and-musical-courier_1914-03-04_68_9/page/6/mode/1up">Digitalisat</ref>; <date when-iso="1914-03-11">11.3.1914</date>, S. 6, <ref type="ext" target="https://archive.org/details/sim_music-magazine-and-musical-courier_1914-03-11_68_10/page/n5/mode/1up">Digitalisat</ref>; <date when-iso="1914-03-25">25.3.1914</date>, S. 8, <ref type="ext" target="https://archive.org/details/sim_music-magazine-and-musical-courier_1914-03-25_68_12/page/8/mode/1up)">Digitalisat</ref>)</bibl> und auch eine Presseschau der Berliner Rezensionen veröffentlicht <bibl>(<orgName key="E0600275">Musical Courier</orgName>, <date when-iso="1914-03-25">25.3.1914</date>, S. 38f., <ref type="ext" target="https://archive.org/details/sim_music-magazine-and-musical-courier_1914-03-25_68_12/page/38/mode/1up">Digitalisat</ref>)</bibl>.</note>
               
               and now comes
               <lb/>this interesting little
               <lb/>package from you, con
               <lb break="no"/>taining the annotated
               <lb/>programs.
               
               <note type="commentary" resp="#E0300314">Nicht mit dem Brief überliefert.</note>
               
               How I wish
               <lb/>that I might have
               <lb/>been present at the
               <lb/>performances, and how
               
               <note type="stamp" place="margin-left" resp="#dsb_st_red" xml:id="dsb_st_1">
                  <stamp rend="round border align(center) small">Deutsche
                     <lb/>Staatsbibliothek
                     <lb/><placeName key="E0500029"><hi rend="spaced-out">Berlin</hi></placeName>
                  </stamp>
               </note>
               
               </p></div>
2Facsimile
2Diplomatic transcription
2XML

[2] I hope that I may have
the opportunity next
year of hearing at least
a few of these interesting
new works Neben der Indianischen Fantasie war auch das Nocturne symphonique im Orchesterkonzert am 12.3.1914 in Berlin uraufgeführt worden. which I am
sure are “pioneers”, every
one of them. – Travel-
ers launched on new seas,
with all sails set! –

I rejoice in the
news that you are to
play the Indian Fantasia
in America, so that
I shall at least hear
that. It will do great
good, I am sure, in
pointing the way to
for a further development
of our native folk-material Deutsche
Staatsbibliothek
Berlin 

                                                                
<div xmlns="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0" type="split"><p rend="first-right" type="split">
               
               <note type="foliation" resp="#archive" place="top-left">[2]</note>
               
               I hope that I may have
               <lb/>the opportunity next
               <lb/>year of hearing at least
               <lb/>a few of these interesting
               <lb/>new works
               
               <note type="commentary" resp="#E0300314">Neben der <title key="E0400120">Indianischen Fantasie</title> war auch das <title key="E0400454">Nocturne symphonique</title> im Orchesterkonzert am <date when-iso="1914-03-12">12.3.1914</date> in <placeName key="E0500029">Berlin</placeName> uraufgeführt worden.</note>
               
               which I am
               <lb/>sure are <soCalled rend="dq-uu">pioneers</soCalled>, every
               <lb/>one of them. – Travel
               <lb break="no"/>ers launched on new seas,
               <lb/>with all sails set!<orig> –</orig></p>
            
            <p type="pre-split" rend="indent-2-first">I rejoice in the
               <lb/>news that you are to
               <lb/>play the <title key="E0400120">Indian Fantasia</title>
               <lb/>in <placeName key="E0500093">America</placeName>, so that
               <lb/>I shall at least hear
               <lb/>that. It will do great
               <lb/>good, I am sure, in
               <lb/>pointing the way <del rend="strikethrough">to</del>
               <lb/>for a further development
               <lb/>of our native folk-material
               
               <note type="stamp" place="margin-right" resp="#dsb_st_red" sameAs="#dsb_st_1">
                  <stamp rend="round border align(center) small">Deutsche
                     <lb/>Staatsbibliothek
                     <lb/><placeName key="E0500029"><hi rend="spaced-out">Berlin</hi></placeName>
                  </stamp>
               </note>
               
               </p></div>
3Facsimile
3Diplomatic transcription
3XML

[3] while being in itself a vivid creation
of your own thought and poetic
vision. I sent you a little
paper that I wrote or a protest
against the proposed methods of
our Government to put “harmonies”
(Richter, Jadassohn, Bussler assisting!)
to the simple native melodies & with
the aid of a harmonium & out-of-
tune piano, “teach” these versions
to the Indian students, from whom
the songs in their purity must
first be toilingly learnt by the
white teacher! We Anglo-Saxons
have so little imagination, and
must always assume that we
know everything better than
every one else. To encourage
native music we must “teach”
Indians our Richterized arrange-
ments of […] at least 3 char: cancelled. the Indians’ own
melodies! (We never can be good
learners, it seems, in our contact
with the simpler peoples.)

I am most anxious to
hear the Fantasia, – to see
the vision that you have seen
and ×listen to the nature-voice that
you have heard. – I read that
you are coming to this country
in August. Busonis für Oktober 1914 bis Februar 1915 angekündigte, kriegsbedingt zunächst verschobene und zwischenzeitlich abgesagte US-Tournee begann schließlich im Januar 1915. Do take “Beni”
to the great West! I hope
to be in Arizona & New Mexico
myself in August & September 

                                                                
<div xmlns="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0" type="split"><p rend="indent-2-first" type="split">
               
               <note type="foliation" resp="#archive" place="top-left" rend="rotate(-90)">[3]</note>
               
               while being in itself a vivid creation
               <lb/>of your own thought and poetic
               <lb/>vision. I sent you a little
               <lb/>paper that I wrote or a protest
               
               <lb/>against the proposed methods of
               <lb/>our Government to put <soCalled rend="dq-uu">harmonies</soCalled>
               <lb/>(<persName key="E0300858">Richter</persName>, <persName key="E0300843">Jadassohn</persName>, <persName key="E0301096">Bussler</persName> assisting!)
               <lb/>to the simple native melodies <choice><abbr>&amp;</abbr><expan>and</expan></choice> with
               <lb/>the aid of a harmonium <choice><abbr>&amp;</abbr><expan>and</expan></choice> out-of-
               <lb break="no"/>tune piano, <soCalled rend="dq-uu"><hi rend="underline">teach</hi></soCalled> these versions
               <lb/>to the <hi rend="underline">Indian</hi> students, from whom
               <lb/>the songs in their purity must
               <lb/>first be toilingly learnt by the
               <lb/>white teacher! We Anglo-Saxons
               <lb/>have so little imagination, and
               <lb/>must always assume that we
               <lb/><hi rend="underline">know</hi> everything better than
               <lb/>every<orig> </orig>one else. To encourage
               <lb/>native music <hi rend="underline">we</hi> must <soCalled rend="dq-uu">teach</soCalled>
               <lb/>Indians <hi rend="underline">our</hi> <persName key="E0300858">Richter</persName>ized arrange
               <lb break="no"/>ments of <del rend="strikethrough"><gap atLeast="3" unit="char" reason="strikethrough"/></del> the Indians’ own
               <lb/>melodies! (We never can be good
               <lb/><hi rend="underline">learners</hi>, it seems, in our contact
               <lb/>with the simpler peoples.)</p>
            <p type="pre-split" rend="indent-2-first">I am most anxious to
               <lb/>hear the <title key="E0400120">Fantasia</title>, – to see
               <lb/>the vision that you have seen
               <lb/>and <metamark function="insertion" target="#add_listen_to">×</metamark><add place="above" xml:id="add_listen_to">listen to</add> the nature-voice that
               <lb/>you have heard. – I read that
               <lb/>you are coming to <rs key="E0500093">this country</rs>
               <lb/>in <date when-iso="1914-08">August</date>.
               
               <note type="commentary" resp="#E0300314"><persName key="E0300017">Busonis</persName> für <date when-iso="1914-10/1915-02">Oktober 1914 bis Februar 1915</date> angekündigte, kriegsbedingt zunächst verschobene und zwischenzeitlich abgesagte <placeName key="E0500093">US</placeName>-Tournee begann schließlich im <date when-iso="1915-01">Januar 1915</date>.</note>
               
               Do take <soCalled rend="dq-uu"><persName key="E0300060">Beni</persName></soCalled>
               <lb/>to the great West! I hope
               <lb/>to be in <placeName key="E0501021">Arizona</placeName> <choice><abbr>&amp;</abbr><expan>and</expan></choice> <placeName key="E0500919">New Mexico</placeName>
               <lb/>myself in <date when-iso="1914-08/1914-09">August <choice><abbr>&amp;</abbr><expan>and</expan></choice> September</date>
               
               </p></div>
4Facsimile
4Diplomatic transcription
4XML

2.)[4] – is there any chance
of our meeting? – Do
let me know your plans!
We took Kurt Schindler
to some Indian ceremonies
last summer in Arizona,
& he was much impressed.
I feel that the real America
lies in the young West, –
not in our congested
commercial towns; I wish
that I could convert myself
into a “Thomas Cook &
Sons” and escort you
on a personally conducted Deutsche
Staatsbibliothek
Berlin
tour through primitive
America. Alas, that I am
not a man! –

I hope that you 

                                                                
<div xmlns="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0" type="split"><p rend="indent-2-first" type="split">
               
               <note type="foliation" resp="#major_hand" place="top-left">2.)</note>
               
               <note type="foliation" resp="#archive" place="top-right">[4]</note>
               
               – is there any chance
               <lb/>of our meeting? – Do
               <lb/>let me know your plans!
               <lb/>We took <persName key="E0300840">Kurt Schindler</persName>
               <lb/>to some Indian ceremonies
               <lb/>last summer in <placeName key="E0501021">Arizona</placeName>,
               <lb/><choice><abbr>&amp;</abbr><expan>and</expan></choice> he was much impressed.
               <lb/>I feel that the <hi rend="underline">real</hi> <placeName key="E0500942">America</placeName>
               <lb/>lies in the young West, –
               <lb/>not in our congested
               <lb/>commercial towns; I wish
               <lb/>that I could convert myself
               <lb/>into a <soCalled rend="dq-uu"><orgName key="E0600282"><persName key="E0301097">Thomas Cook</persName> &amp;
                  <lb/>Sons</orgName></soCalled> and escort you
               <lb/>on a personally conducted
               
               <note type="stamp" place="margin-left" resp="#dsb_st_red" xml:id="dsb_st_2">
                  <stamp rend="round border align(center) small">Deutsche
                     <lb/>Staatsbibliothek
                     <lb/><placeName key="E0500029"><hi rend="spaced-out">Berlin</hi></placeName>
                  </stamp>
               </note>
               
               <lb/>tour through primitive
               <lb/><placeName key="E0500093">America</placeName>. Alas, that I am
               <lb/>not a man!<orig> –</orig></p>
            <p type="pre-split" rend="indent-2-first">I hope that you
               
               </p></div>
5Facsimile
5Diplomatic transcription
5XML

[5] will continue to keep
me in mind, however, &
that you will send me
a line telling me where
and when you will be
in what places? Does
Mrs Busoni accompany
you? –

With my affection-
ate greetings to your
wife, and my congratula-
tions to you, believe me
as always.

Faithfully your friend

Natalie Curtis.

Deutsche
Staatsbibliothek
Berlin 
                                                                
<div xmlns="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0" type="split"><p rend="indent-2-first" type="split">
               
               <note type="foliation" resp="#archive" place="top-left">[5]</note>
               
               will continue to keep
               <lb/>me in mind, however, <choice><abbr>&amp;</abbr><expan>and</expan></choice>
               <lb/>that you will send me
               <lb/>a line telling me <hi rend="underline">where</hi>
               <lb/>and <hi rend="underline">when</hi> you will be
               <lb/>in <hi rend="underline">what</hi> places? Does
               <lb/><persName key="E0300059">M<seg rend="sup underline">rs</seg> Busoni</persName> accompany
               <lb/>you?<orig> –</orig></p>
            
            <p rend="indent-2-first">With my affection
               <lb break="no"/>ate greetings to your
               <lb/>wife, and my congratula
               <lb break="no"/>tions to you, believe me
               <lb/>as always.</p>
            <closer rend="align(right)">
               <salute>Faithfully your friend</salute>
               <signed><persName key="E0300818">Natalie Curtis</persName>.</signed>
            </closer>
            
            <note type="stamp" place="margin-right" resp="#dsb_st_red" sameAs="#dsb_st_2">
               <stamp rend="round border align(center) small">Deutsche
                  <lb/>Staatsbibliothek
                  <lb/><placeName key="E0500029"><hi rend="spaced-out">Berlin</hi></placeName>
               </stamp>
            </note>
            
            </div>
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6XML
[Seite 5 des 2. Bogens]
B II, 1356
 
                                                                
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            <note type="objdesc" resp="#E0300314">[Seite 5 des 2. Bogens]</note>
            
            <note type="shelfmark" resp="#archive" place="top">B II, 1356</note>
            
            </div>
7Facsimile
7Diplomatic transcription
7XML
[Seite 8 des 2. Bogens, vacat]
 
                                                                
<div xmlns="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0" type="split">
            
            <note type="objdesc" resp="#E0300314">[Seite 8 des 2. Bogens, vacat]</note>
            
         </div>

Document

buildStatus: proposed XML Facsimile Download / Cite

Provenance
Deutschland | Berlin | Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin · Preußischer Kulturbesitz | Musikabteilung mit Mendelssohn-Archiv | Nachlass Ferruccio Busoni | Mus.Nachl. F. Busoni B II, 1356 | olim: Mus.ep. N. Curtis 9 |

proof Kalliope

Condition
Der Brief ist gut erhalten.
Extent
2 Bogen, 6 beschriebene Seiten
Collation
Seitenfolge: 1, 4, 2 + 3 (als eine Seite im Querformat), 7, 6
Hands/Stamps
  • Hand des Absenders Natalie Curtis, Brieftext in schwarzer Tinte, in lateinischer Schreibschrift
  • Hand des Archivars, der mit Bleistift die Signaturen eingetragen und eine Foliierung vorgenommen hat
  • Hand des Archivars, der die Zuordnung innerhalb des Busoni-Nachlasses mit Rotstift vorgenommen hat
  • Bibliotheksstempel (rote Tinte)
Image source
Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin · Preußischer Kulturbesitz: 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7

Summary
Curtis hat von Busonis Berliner Konzerten gelesen und von ihm annotierte Programme erhalten; begrüßt die Ankündigung einer amerikanischen Aufführung der Indianischen Fantasie; hat Busoni einen eigenen Text zugesendet, der sich gegen Regierungspläne richtet, „Indian students“ ihre Melodien mit westlicher Harmonisierung zu lehren; erwartet Busoni mit Benvenuto im August in den USA; bedauert die Unmöglichkeit für sich als Frau, Busoni durch das „primitive Amerika“ zu führen.
Incipit
“I have been reading in the Musical Courier”

Editors in charge
Christian Schaper Ullrich Scheideler
prepared by
in collaboration with
Revision
October 9, 2025: proposed (transcription and coding done, awaiting proofreading)
Direct context
Preceding Following
Near in this edition