Letter 1354 - Revision history

Tony: Added commas for ease of reading

2024-07-31T09:59:51Z

Added commas for ease of reading

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:59, 31 July 2024
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	\|Language=French		\|Language=French
	\|Autograph={{locunknown}} <ref name="note1"/>		\|Autograph={{locunknown}} <ref name="note1"/>
	\|Publication={{bib\|1901/24\|Жизнь Петра Ильича Чайковского ; том 2}} (1901), p. 339–340 (abridged)<br/>{{bib\|1963/6\|П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений ; том VIII}} (1963), p. 437–438<br/>{{bibx\|2008/11\|Tschaikowsky-Gesellschaft Mitteilungen}} (2008), p. 15 (including facsimile, p. 13–14, and German translation, p. 16).		\|Publication={{bib\|1901/24\|Жизнь Петра Ильича Чайковского ; том 2}} (1901), p. 339–340 (abridged)<br/>{{bib\|1963/6\|П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений ; том VIII}} (1963), p. 437–438<br/>{{bibx\|2008/11\|Tschaikowsky-Gesellschaft Mitteilungen}} (2008), p. 15 (including facsimile, p. 13–14, and German translation, p. 16)
	\|Notes=Autograph copy in [[Klin]] (Russia): {{RUS-KLč}}		\|Notes=Autograph copy in [[Klin]] (Russia): {{RUS-KLč}}
	}}		}}
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	Allow me to beg your forgiveness that I cannot reply in German, as my knowledge of this language is too limited to use it in writing.		Allow me to beg your forgiveness that I cannot reply in German, as my knowledge of this language is too limited to use it in writing.

	Your offer, Sir, has infinitely honoured and flattered me; I am proud to have earned the attention of a publisher as renowned as you, Sir. But, to my great regret, I am obliged to decline the flattering proposition that you did me the honour of addressing me. Many years ago I renounced the rights to publish all my compositions to the publisher ''[[Pyotr Jurgenson\|P. Jurgenson]]'' in [[Moscow]], and not only for Russia, but for all countries. As Mr [[Jurgenson]] is an old friend to whom I have many obligations, and I do not want to compromise his interests, then I cannot unfortunately enjoy the honour of seeing my works published by your excellent house. You understand, Sir, that my duty as an honest man compels me to stay loyal to [[Jurgenson]], if I tell you that this publisher had to make many sacrifices to engrave and publish my numerous compositions, and at a time when I was still completely unknown; he has certainly not profited from my works, and his calculation is based solely on the hope that one day he will see my compositions cross the borders of Russia. He may be proved wrong, but if not then certainly at a time when my reputation has grown a little, then I may be able to negotiate to deprive him of the rights to my compositions for foreign countries.		Your offer, Sir, has infinitely honoured and flattered me; I am proud to have earned the attention of a publisher as renowned as you, Sir. But, to my great regret, I am obliged to decline the flattering proposition that you did me the honour of addressing me. Many years ago, I renounced the rights to publish all my compositions to the publisher ''[[Pyotr Jurgenson\|P. Jurgenson]]'' in [[Moscow]], and not only for Russia, but for all countries. As Mr [[Jurgenson]] is an old friend to whom I have many obligations, and I do not want to compromise his interests, then I cannot unfortunately enjoy the honour of seeing my works published by your excellent house. You understand, Sir, that my duty as an honest man compels me to stay loyal to [[Jurgenson]], if I tell you that this publisher had to make many sacrifices to engrave and publish my numerous compositions, and at a time when I was still completely unknown; he has certainly not profited from my works, and his calculation is based solely on the hope that one day he will see my compositions cross the borders of Russia. He may be proved wrong, but if not then certainly at a time when my reputation has grown a little, then I may be able to negotiate to deprive him of the rights to my compositions for foreign countries.

	Be assured, Sir, of my deepest gratitude for the honour you have done me, as well as the expression of my sincere regret for being unable to accept your offers.		Be assured, Sir, of my deepest gratitude for the honour you have done me, as well as the expression of my sincere regret for being unable to accept your offers.

Brett: 1 revision imported

2022-07-12T12:23:37Z

1 revision imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 14:23, 12 July 2022
(No difference)

Brett at 22:27, 5 December 2019

2019-12-05T22:27:36Z

New page

{{letterhead
|Date=26 November/8 December 1879
|To=[[Adolph Fürstner]]
|Place=[[Paris]]
|Language=French
|Autograph={{locunknown}} <ref name="note1"/>
|Publication={{bib|1901/24|Жизнь Петра Ильича Чайковского ; том 2}} (1901), p. 339–340 (abridged)<br/>{{bib|1963/6|П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений ; том VIII}} (1963), p. 437–438<br/>{{bibx|2008/11|Tschaikowsky-Gesellschaft Mitteilungen}} (2008), p. 15 (including facsimile, p. 13–14, and German translation, p. 16).
|Notes=Autograph copy in [[Klin]] (Russia): {{RUS-KLč}}
}}
==Text and Translation==
Based on the facsimile of the autograph published in Karl Dieter Wagner's 2007 sale catalogue <ref name="note2"/>, which differs in minor respects from earlier publications that had been based on Tchaikovsky's handwritten copy in the [[Klin]] archive.
{{Lettertext
|Language=Russian
|Translator=Brett Langston
|Original text={{right|''Paris''<br/>Le 8 Déc[embre] 1879}}
{{centre|Monsieur!}}
{{sic|Permettez moi|Permettez-moi}} de Vous demander excuse de ce que je ne puis Vous répondre en allemand, ma connaissance de cette langue étant trop bornée, pour que je puisse la manier par {{sic|ecrit|écrit}}.

Votre offre, Monsieur, m'a infiniment honoré et flatté; je suis fier d'avoir mérité l'attention d'un éditeur aussi renommé que Vous, Monsieur. Mais, à mon très grand regret, je suis obligé de décliner la proposition flatteuse que Vous me faites l'honneur de m'adresser. Depuis plusieurs années, j'abandonne le droit de publier toutes mes compositions à l'éditeur ''P. Jurgenson'' de Moscou, et cela non seulement pour la Russie, mais pour tous les pays. Comme M[onsieur] Jurgenson est un ancien ami auquel j'ai beaucoup d'obligations et dont je ne voudrais pas compromettre les {{sic|intérèts|intérêts}}, — je ne puis malheureusement pas jouir de l'honneur de voir mes œuvres publiées par Votre {{sic|exellente|excellente}} maison. Vous comprendrez, Monsieur, que mon devoir d'{{sic|honnète|honnête}} homme me commande de rester fidèle à Jurgenson, si je Vous dis que cet éditeur a dû sacrifier beaucoup de dépenses pour faire graver et publier mes nombreuses compositions, et cela dans un temps {{sic|ou|où}} j'étais encore parfaitement inconnu; qu'il n'a encore certainement rien gagné sur mes œuvres, et que son calcul est uniquement basé sur l'espoir qu'il a de voir un jour mes compositions franchir la frontière Russe. Il se trompe {{sic|peut ètre|peut-être}}, mais ce n'est pas, {{sic|certe|certes}}, au moment, {{sic|ou|où}} ma réputation s'est un peu {{sic|aggrandie|agrandie}}, que je pourrai me résoudre à lui retirer le droit sur mes compostions pour les pays étrangers.

Recevez, Monsieur, l'assurance de ma vive reconnaissance pour l'honneur que Vous m'avez fait, ainsi que l'expression de mon sincère regret de ne pas pouvoir accepter Vos offres.

Votre serviteur dévoué,
{{right|P. Tschaikovsky}}

|Translated text={{right|''[[Paris]]''<br/>8 December 1879}}
{{centre|Sir!}}
Allow me to beg your forgiveness that I cannot reply in German, as my knowledge of this language is too limited to use it in writing.

Your offer, Sir, has infinitely honoured and flattered me; I am proud to have earned the attention of a publisher as renowned as you, Sir. But, to my great regret, I am obliged to decline the flattering proposition that you did me the honour of addressing me. Many years ago I renounced the rights to publish all my compositions to the publisher ''[[Pyotr Jurgenson|P. Jurgenson]]'' in [[Moscow]], and not only for Russia, but for all countries. As Mr [[Jurgenson]] is an old friend to whom I have many obligations, and I do not want to compromise his interests, then I cannot unfortunately enjoy the honour of seeing my works published by your excellent house. You understand, Sir, that my duty as an honest man compels me to stay loyal to [[Jurgenson]], if I tell you that this publisher had to make many sacrifices to engrave and publish my numerous compositions, and at a time when I was still completely unknown; he has certainly not profited from my works, and his calculation is based solely on the hope that one day he will see my compositions cross the borders of Russia. He may be proved wrong, but if not then certainly at a time when my reputation has grown a little, then I may be able to negotiate to deprive him of the rights to my compositions for foreign countries.

Be assured, Sir, of my deepest gratitude for the honour you have done me, as well as the expression of my sincere regret for being unable to accept your offers.

Your devoted servant,
{{right|P. Tchaikovsky}}
}}
==Notes and References==
<references>
<ref name="note1">The autograph was sold in 2007 by Karl Dieter Wagner, Schneverdingen.</ref>
<ref name="note2">See ''Antiquariats-Katalog 37. Bücher & Musikalien. Karl Dieter Wagner. Musikantiquariat – Verlag für Musikliteratur'' (Schneverdingen, 2007), p. 10, Lot 150.</ref>
</references>