fmb-1839-06-17-02

            Frankfurt 17 June 39. My dear Sir
I received your letter and another from Mr. Planché and can only repeat what I said to you at Leipzig, that it is and has since long been one of my favourite wishes to compose an Opera of so masterly a pen as Mr. Planché’s, that I am the greatest admire of his poetry & of many parts of the Opera he sent me, but that I feel convinced that without many & very essential alteration the nature of which I pointed out to you in our conversation & in writing as well as I could, & of which I speak also in the enclosed letter to Mr. Planché, this Opera would not be produced with success, even if composed by a greater & much better musician, than I am. I must now entertain a doubt whether so many alterations could be made without danger for the whole poëm, at least the writing a new one would not give more trouble than this difficult task would do – on the other side, I entirely bow to Mr. Planché’s experience and better knowledge – and yet I feel as if I did not my duty to you nor to Mr. Planché nor to myself if I undertook a work, with the impression that it would be unsuccessful. The only way which would lead to the result which I so anxiously wish for would be (as I now clearly perceive) if Mr. Planché would send me his plot his distribution of scenes as well as of music pieces beforehand, that I might state the objections which I might have when there is time left – for all the rest is safe in Mr. Planché’s hands; and I shall never wish for better verses than those he writes & has written. But the most beautiful verses and the best music are of no avail if poet and composer are not agreed on that far more important subject, on the plot, and distribution of action. The question now is whether Mr. Planché would do such a thing? whether he should feel inclined to make up in that way for the great distance at which we live? There are certainly many Composers in your country who would gladly accept that poëm of „the Brothers“ as it is, and who would perhaps write a more successful music to it, than I would have been able to do. But if such a thing could be effected would Mr. Planché try once more with me? Or do you think my sincerity offended him? I can only say that I always entertained the greatest respect for his great talent & that I should be too happy to attain by him the aim, which I followed up since so long. And I can only repeat to you, as I did at Leipzig, that I hope & wish you will not give up the idea of this Opera, which met so entirely my wishes, and that you will procure me the opportunity of writing a work which may prove successful to the poet and composer as well as to you.
Believe me always very truly yours Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy.
I hope to hear from you; my direction is Frankfurt until the end of July, from then again Leipzig.          

            <TEI xmlns="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0 ../../../fmbc_framework/xsd/fmb-c.xsd" xml:id="fmb-1839-06-17-02" xml:space="default"> <teiHeader xml:lang="de"> <fileDesc> <titleStmt> <title key="fmb-1839-06-17-02" xml:id="title_56478317-58ae-4b00-8517-87abdd30a4f6">Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy an William Chappell in London<lb></lb>Frankfurt a. M., 17. Juni 1839</title> <title level="s" type="incipit" xml:id="title_00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000">I received your letter and another from Mr. Planché and can only repeat what I said to you at Leipzig, that it is and has since long been one of my favourite wishes to compose</title> <title level="s" type="sub" xml:id="title_3480c816-d24d-4f9e-a103-8cda00447b5f">Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy Correspondence Online (FMB-C)</title> <title key="unknown" type="precursor">noch nicht eingetragen</title> <title key="unknown" type="successor">noch nicht eingetragen</title> <author key="PSN0000001">Mendelssohn Bartholdy (bis 1816: Mendelssohn), Jacob Ludwig Felix (1809-1847)</author><respStmt><resp resp="writer"></resp><persName key="PSN0000001" resp="writer">Mendelssohn Bartholdy (bis 1816: Mendelssohn), Jacob Ludwig Felix (1809-1847)</persName></respStmt><respStmt resp="transcription"> <resp resp="transcription">Transkription: </resp> <name resp="transcription">FMB-C</name> </respStmt> <respStmt resp="edition"> <resp resp="edition">Edition: </resp> <name resp="edition">FMB-C</name> </respStmt> </titleStmt> <publicationStmt> <publisher>Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy Correspondence Online-Ausgabe (FMB-C). 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M., 17. Juni 1839</title> <incipit>I received your letter and another from Mr. Planché and can only repeat what I said to you at Leipzig, that it is and has since long been one of my favourite wishes to compose</incipit> </msItem> </msContents> <physDesc> <p>3 beschr. S.; Adresse, mehrere Poststempel.</p> <handDesc hands="1"> <p>Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy</p> </handDesc> <accMat> <listBibl> <bibl type="letter">Brief fmb-1839-06-17-01 (Brief Nr. 2369) Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy an James Robinson Planché in London, Frankfurt a. M., 17. 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Juni 1839</title> <incipit>I received your letter and another from Mr. Planché and can only repeat what I said to you at Leipzig, that it is and has since long been one of my favourite wishes to compose an Opera of so masterly a pen as Mr. Planché’s, </incipit> </msItem> </msContents> <physDesc> <p>-</p> <handDesc hands="1"> <p>Schreiber unbekannt.</p> </handDesc> <accMat> <listBibl> <bibl type="none"></bibl> </listBibl> </accMat> </physDesc> <history> <provenance> <p>-</p> </provenance> </history> </msDesc> </sourceDesc> </fileDesc> <encodingDesc><projectDesc><p>Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy Correspondence Online-Ausgabe FMB-C: Digitale Edition der vollständigen Korrespondenz Hin- und Gegenbriefe Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdys auf XML-TEI-Basis.</p></projectDesc><editorialDecl><p>Die Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy Correspondence Online-Ausgabe FMB-C ediert die Gesamtkorrespondenz des Komponisten Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy 1809-1847 in Form einer digitalen, wissenschaftlich-kritischen Online-Ausgabe. Sie bietet neben der diplomatischen Wiedergabe der rund 6.000 Briefe Mendelssohns erstmals auch eine Gesamtausgabe der über 7.200 Briefe an den Komponisten sowie einen textkritischen, inhalts- und kontexterschließenden Kommentar aller Briefe. Sie wird ergänzt durch eine Personen- und Werkdatenbank, eine Lebenschronologie Mendelssohns, zahlreicher Register der Briefe, Werke, Orte und Körperschaften sowie weitere Verzeichnisse. Philologisches Konzept,  Philologische FMB-C-Editionsrichtlinien: Uta Wald, Dr. Ulrich Taschow. Digitales Konzept, Digitale FMB-C-Editionsrichtlinien: Dr. Ulrich Taschow. Technische Konzeption der Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy Correspondence FMB-C Ausgabe und Webdesign: Dr. Ulrich Taschow.</p></editorialDecl></encodingDesc> <profileDesc> <creation> <date cert="high" when="1839-06-17" xml:id="date_9563807d-b1fe-4cfb-8a6b-0dacfa311bf1">17. Juni 1839</date></creation> <correspDesc> <correspAction type="sent"> <persName key="PSN0000001" resp="author" xml:id="persName_d4b7e026-9777-4217-99b3-ae59298330d2">Mendelssohn Bartholdy (bis 1816: Mendelssohn), Jacob Ludwig Felix (1809-1847)</persName><note>counter-reset</note><persName key="PSN0000001" resp="writer">Mendelssohn Bartholdy (bis 1816: Mendelssohn), Jacob Ludwig Felix (1809-1847)</persName> <placeName type="writing_place" xml:id="placeName_44598778-3d56-4f9a-832b-bb55140605f1"> <settlement key="STM0100204">Frankfurt a. M.</settlement> <country>Deutschland</country></placeName> </correspAction> <correspAction type="received"> <persName key="PSN0110351" resp="receiver" xml:id="persName_6a6adcf9-60a2-4d86-855c-54f3c0dc2020">Chappell, William (1809-1888)</persName> <placeName type="receiving_place" xml:id="placeName_ca2c7310-b523-4b9a-8844-4d0edeb43caa"> <settlement key="STM0100126">London</settlement> <country>Großbritannien</country></placeName> </correspAction> </correspDesc> <langUsage> <language ident="de">deutsch</language> </langUsage> </profileDesc> <revisionDesc status="draft">  </revisionDesc> </teiHeader> <text type="letter"> <body> <div type="address" xml:id="div_82d3d711-f588-4151-93c9-1d9de42e2a81"> <head> <address> <addrLine>To</addrLine> <addrLine><hi n="1" rend="underline">W. Chappell</hi></addrLine> <addrLine>Esqu.</addrLine> <addrLine>Music publish[er]</addrLine> <addrLine>Bond Street –</addrLine> <addrLine><hi n="1" rend="underline">London</hi>. D. G.</addrLine> </address> </head> </div> <div n="1" type="act_of_writing" xml:id="div_7ca3e709-ade3-4943-97ca-f6c8de14578b"> <docAuthor key="PSN0000001" resp="author" style="hidden">Mendelssohn Bartholdy (bis 1816: Mendelssohn), Jacob Ludwig Felix (1809-1847)</docAuthor> <docAuthor key="PSN0000001" resp="writer" style="hidden">Mendelssohn Bartholdy (bis 1816: Mendelssohn), Jacob Ludwig Felix (1809-1847)</docAuthor> <dateline rend="right">Frankfurt <date cert="high" when="1839-06-17" xml:id="date_2af0ddce-4791-4cd2-a3c1-ee09c302521e">17 June 39</date>.</dateline> <salute rend="left">My dear Sir</salute> </div> <div n="2" type="act_of_writing" xml:id="div_e3413687-1df1-440e-b8dd-ac5d3926db54"> <docAuthor key="PSN0000001" resp="author" style="hidden" xml:id="docAuthor_7c2dc42f-bb63-40b8-8cc2-24eecd67bc7c">Mendelssohn Bartholdy (bis 1816: Mendelssohn), Jacob Ludwig Felix (1809-1847)</docAuthor> <docAuthor key="PSN0000001" resp="writer" style="hidden" xml:id="docAuthor_6fd6e9b8-874a-44cd-8419-1d555ee7bdf6">Mendelssohn Bartholdy (bis 1816: Mendelssohn), Jacob Ludwig Felix (1809-1847)</docAuthor> <p style="paragraph_without_indent">I received your letter and another from <persName xml:id="persName_988c54f7-2001-42ce-8a65-e011dc891dd6">Mr. Planché<name key="PSN0113896" style="hidden">Planché, James Robinson (1796-1880)</name></persName> and can only repeat what I said to you at Leipzig, that it is and has since long been one of my favourite wishes to compose an <title xml:id="title_d65fbc2e-97b4-47c7-8541-ca9f5f8d402c">Opera<list style="hidden" type="fmb_works_directory" xml:id="title_ehdyqf9c-abos-gbik-hre5-yy8attqfgqow"> <item n="1" sortKey="musical_works" style="hidden"></item> <item n="2" sortKey="works_not_executed" style="hidden"></item></list><name key="PSN0000001" style="hidden" type="author">Mendelssohn Bartholdy (bis 1816: Mendelssohn), Jacob Ludwig Felix (1809-1847)</name><name key="PRC0100703" style="hidden">The Brothers (auch: Edward III and the Siege of Calais / Eduard III. und die Belagerung von Calais)<idno type="MWV"></idno><idno type="op"></idno></name></title> of so masterly a pen as Mr. Planché’s, that I am the greatest admire of his poetry &amp; of many parts of the Opera he sent me, but that I feel convinced that without many &amp; very essential alteration the nature of which I pointed out to you in our conversation &amp; in writing as well as I could, &amp; of which I speak also in the enclosed letter to Mr. Planché, this Opera would not be produced with success, even if composed by a greater &amp; much better musician, than I am. I must now entertain a doubt whether so many alterations could be made without danger for the whole poëm, at least the writing a new one would not give more trouble than this difficult task would do – on the other side, I entirely bow to Mr. Planché’s experience and better knowledge – and yet I feel as if I did not my duty to you nor to <persName xml:id="persName_4589b0db-6888-4d70-ba65-bfaf2229b181">Mr. Planché<name key="PSN0113896" style="hidden">Planché, James Robinson (1796-1880)</name></persName> nor to myself if I undertook a work, with the impression that it would be unsuccessful. The only way which would lead to the result which I so anxiously wish for would be (as I now clearly perceive) if Mr. Planché would send me his <hi rend="underline">plot</hi> his distribution of scenes as well as of music pieces <hi rend="underline">beforehand</hi>, that I might state the objections which I might have when there is time left – for all the rest is safe in Mr. Planché’s hands; and I shall never wish for better <hi rend="underline">verses</hi> than those he writes &amp; has written. But the most beautiful verses and the best music are of no avail if poet and composer are not agreed on that far more important subject, on the plot, and distribution of action. The question now is whether Mr. Planché would do such a thing? whether he should feel inclined to make up in that way for the great distance at which we live? There are certainly many Composers in your country who would gladly accept that <title xml:id="title_48946e72-961f-4776-a0e6-9d3e4688d9d3">poëm of „the Brothers“<list style="hidden" type="fmb_works_directory" xml:id="title_5kxbuxdo-6n6e-amrj-zl7x-604p7g53oxtu"> <item n="1" sortKey="musical_works" style="hidden"></item> <item n="2" sortKey="works_not_executed" style="hidden"></item></list><name key="PSN0000001" style="hidden" type="author">Mendelssohn Bartholdy (bis 1816: Mendelssohn), Jacob Ludwig Felix (1809-1847)</name><name key="PRC0100703" style="hidden">The Brothers (auch: Edward III and the Siege of Calais / Eduard III. und die Belagerung von Calais)<idno type="MWV"></idno><idno type="op"></idno></name></title> as it is, and who would perhaps write a more successful music to it, than I would have been able to do. But if such a thing could be effected would Mr. Planché try once more with me? Or do you think my sincerity offended him? I can only say that I always entertained the greatest respect for his great talent &amp; that I should be too happy to attain by him the aim, which I followed up since so long. And I can only repeat to you, as I did at Leipzig, that I hope &amp; wish you will not give up the idea of this Opera, which met so entirely my wishes, and that you will procure me the opportunity of writing a work which may prove successful to the poet and composer as well as to you. </p> <closer rend="left">Believe me always very truly yours</closer> <signed rend="right">Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy.</signed> </div> <div n="2" type="act_of_writing" xml:id="div_d3b25582-185c-4479-b91f-61ec28337684"> <docAuthor key="PSN0000001" resp="author" style="hidden" xml:id="docAuthor_0a51c61d-d644-4ff4-b632-ba7fba9496bc">Mendelssohn Bartholdy (bis 1816: Mendelssohn), Jacob Ludwig Felix (1809-1847)</docAuthor> <docAuthor key="PSN0000001" resp="writer" style="hidden" xml:id="docAuthor_67bd1976-8e23-4eb9-9793-d217126e0c40">Mendelssohn Bartholdy (bis 1816: Mendelssohn), Jacob Ludwig Felix (1809-1847)</docAuthor> <p style="paragraph_without_indent">I hope to hear from you; my direction is Frankfurt until the end of July, from then again Leipzig.</p> </div> </body> </text></TEI>