Letter 4727

Tchaikovsky Research
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Date 15/27 July 1892
Addressed to Pyotr Jurgenson
Where written Klin
Language Russian
Autograph Location Klin (Russia): Tchaikovsky State Memorial Musical Museum-Reserve (a3, No. 2814)
Publication П. И. Чайковский. Переписка с П. И. Юргенсоном, том 2 (1952), p. 249
П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений, том XVI-Б (1979), p. 131

Text and Translation

Russian text
(original)
English translation
By Brett Langston
15 июля

Посылаю тебе лангеровское переложение. Ей-Богу, я не виноват, что мне не показали эту пакость в рукописи, — тогда бы не пришлось гравёрам вдвойне работать. Честное слово, я просил не гравировать, пока я не просмотрю. Ну, делать нечего; если ты рассердишься на множество моих поправок, то в утешение узнай, что 40000 Юргенсонов так не будут сердиться на меня, как я на Лангера. Ей-Богу же, подлец! Ну, положим, что я в отношении переложения придирчив, но корректура какова? «Исправить немногие ошибки и печатать!» А ошибок, как блох на собаке! Ах, чтоб ему поперхнуться!!!

Получил сейчас начало рукописи балета.

П. Ч.

15 July

I'm sending you Langer's arrangement [1]. My God, it's not my fault that I didn't see this rubbish in manuscript — then the engravers wouldn't have to do the job twice [2]. On my word of honour, I asked that it should not be engraved until I'd looked over it. Well, there's nothing to be done; if you are upset that I've made so many corrections, then it's some consolation to know that 40,000 Jurgensons could be no less angry with me than I am with Langer. My God, what a scoundrel he is! Well, let's suppose that I'm fussy when it comes to arrangements, but what is the proofreading for? "To correct a few printing errors!". But errors like a dog has fleas! Ha, let him choke on them!!!

I've now received the opening of the full score of the ballet [3].

P. T.

Notes and References

  1. Eduard Langer's solo piano arrangement of the opera Iolanta.
  2. Tchaikovsky did not see Langer's original manuscript of the arrangement, only the printed proofs which were riddled with errors.
  3. The manuscript full score of The Nutcracker, which Tchaikovsky had been imploring Jurgenson to send as a matter of urgency.