Ephraim and Letter 413a: Difference between pages

Tchaikovsky Research
(Difference between pages)
m (1 revision imported)
 
No edit summary
 
Line 1: Line 1:
'''''Ephraim''''' (Эфраим) ([[TH]] 211 ; [[ČW]] 451), was a projected opera in 4 acts which Tchaikovsky considered in 1875 and 1876.
{{letterhead
|Date=21 September/3 October 1875
|To=[[Hans von Bülow]]
|Place=[[Moscow]]
|Language=French
|Autograph=New Haven (Connecticut, USA): {{US-NH}} (misc. 372, SSZ)
|Publication={{bibx|1960/11|Советская музыка}} (1960), No. 5, p. 72–73 (Russian translation)<br/>{{bib|1981/80|П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений ; том XVII}} (1981), p. 215–216
}}
==Text and Translation==
{{Lettertext
|Language=French
|Translator=Stephen J. Trygar
|Original text={{right|''Moscou''<br/>Le 21 Septembre/3 {{sic|Novembre|Octobre}} 1875}}
{{centre|Monsieur!}}
La joie extrême, que me cause l'attention flatteuse, dont Vous avez {{sic|honnoré|honoré}} le concerto, que j'ai eu l'honneur de Vous dédier, est malheureusement empoisonnée par l'idée, que Vous m'en voudrez, peut-être, pour les parties d'orchestre, qui, bien qu'expédiées à temps, ne peuvent servir, à moins qu'une correction soigneuse et détaillée ne soit préalablement faite. Le fait est qu'il s'y trouve suffisamment de fautes d'impression, malgré qu'un musicien de Leipzig les avait corrigées. Je serai {{sic|veritablement|véritablement}} au désespoir si ces quelques lignes, que M[onsieu]r Klindworth a bien voulu se charger de V[ou]s expédier, Vous arrivent après une {{sic|premiere|première}} répétition d'orchestre. Dans le cas contraire, ayez l'extrême bonté, Monsieur, de charger quelque bon musicien de prendre sur soi la tâche de procéder ''critiquement'' à la revue de toutes les parties d'orchestre. Je souligne le mot, car il faut que celui qui corrigera les parties, ne se fie pas {{sic|entièrment|entièrement}} à la copie de ma partition, qui, — cela est malheureusement 'plus que probable, — peut bien ne pas manquer de fautes non plus. Dans tous les cas, je V[ou]s expédierai prochainement d'autres parties, et celles-ci, je l'espère, seront tout à fait dépourvues de fautes.  
Je ne sais comment-il se fait, qu'on ait oublié de mettre partout où les instruments à cordes ont à jouer dans le final des passages comme celui-ci:


The subject of  was suggested to Tchaikovsky by his friend [[Konstantin Shilovsky]] in 1875, after the composer had rejected outright [[Konstantin Shilovsky|Shilovsky]]'s previous libretto ''The Reluctant Queen'' (Царица поневоле), which was also set in ancient Egypt. The manuscript libretto is dated "1875", but the earliest reference to the opera in Tchaikovsky's correspondence appears in a letter of 10/22 February 1876 to his brother [[Modest]], in which he wrote that "I'm wavering between ''Ephraim'' and ''[[Francesca da Rimini (projected opera)|Francesca]]'', although I think the latter takes precedence" <ref name="note1"/>.
[[File:0413a_ex1.jpg|center|220px]]


Although Tchaikovsky made notes on the manuscript of [[Konstantin Shilovsky|Shilovsky]]'s libretto, he soon rejected it in favour of other possible subjects, including ''[[Francesca da Rimini (projected opera)|Francesca da Rimini]]'' and ''[[Othello]]''. On 14/26 June 1876 he told [[Konstantin Shilovsky|Shilovsky]] that he would not be using his libretto for the time being <ref name="note2"/>, although some months later he suggested the subject to [[Sergey Taneyev]], who also went on to reject it <ref name="note3"/>.
le signe du legato


[[Konstantin Shilovsky]]'s story was set in Ancient Egypt:
[[File:0413a_ex2.jpg|center|200px]]


{{quote|The goddess Taozer is in love with a Jewish youth Ephraim, a guard at the Pharaoh's palace. But Ephraim is betrothed to Leah, and he rejects the advances of Taozer, who is humiliated. The Pharaoh is in love with Taozer, and asks her to be his bride. Taozer agrees, but only as a ploy to take her revenge on Ephraim. She invites Ephraim, Leah and her mother Deborah to celebrate their forthcoming marriage. During the celebrations, she serves Leah with a goblet containing a sleeping potion, but Ephraim believes she has been murdered. Taozer promises to revive her, if Ephraim will spend just one night with her. Later that night, Ephraim meets Taozer in the palace garden. He pleads with her to renounce her claim on him, and bring Leah back to life. They are overheard by the Pharaoh, who has been brought to the garden by Deborah. When the Pharaoh realises that Taozer has deceived him, he murders her, revives Leah, and rewards Ephraim for his fidelity. The action takes place at the time of the Egyptian enslavement of the Israeli people <ref name="note4"/>.}}
sans lequel ce passage est {{sic|dificile|difficile}} et de mauvais effet. Veuillez donc, Monsieur, charger celui qui fera la correction de porter son attention sur ce {{sic|detail|détail}}.


[[Konstantin Shilovsky|Shilovsky]]'s manuscript libretto, with annotations by Tchaikovsky, is preserved in the [[Klin]] House-Museum Archive (a{{sup|6}}, No. 29).
Sur ce, permettez[-]moi, Monsieur, de Vous réitérer l'expression de la reconnaissance sans bornes que m'inspire Votre bonté pour moi. Dans le cas que cette lettre Vous arrivera trop tard, veuillez pardonner le mécontentement, que ces mauvaises parties d'orchestre ne peuvent manquer de Vous causer. J'aurai fait tout au monde pour V[ou]s épargner le moindre désagrément.  


==Notes and References==
Votre admirateur et serviteur dévoué et reconnaissant,
<references>
{{right|P. Tschaikowsky}}
<ref name="note1">[[Letter 445]] to [[Modest Tchaikovsky]], 10/22–11/23 February 1876.</ref>
 
<ref name="note2">[[Letter 473]] to [[Konstantin Shilovsky]], 14/26 June 1876.</ref>
|Translated text={{right|''[[Moscow]]''<br/>21 September/3 {{sic|November|October}} 1875}}
<ref name="note3">[[Letter 576]] to [[Sergey Taneyev]], 5/17 July 1877.</ref>
{{centre|Monsieur!}}
<ref name="note4">See {{bib|1958/14|Музыкальное наследие Чайковского}} (1958), p. 120–121.</ref>
The extreme joy that your flattering attention gives me, whose concerto you honored — that I had the honor of dedicating to you — is unfortunately poisoned by the idea that you will perhaps resent me. The orchestral parts, although dispatched in time, cannot be used unless a careful and detailed correction is made beforehand. The fact is, there are several printing errors there, despite a Leipzig musician correcting them. I will truly be in despair if these few lines, which Monsieur Klindworth was kind enough to dispatch to you, arrive after a first orchestral rehearsal. Otherwise, be extremely kind, Monsieur, to instruct some good musician to undertake the task of ''critically'' reviewing all the orchestral parts upon themselves. I underline the word because it is necessary that the one who will correct the parts does not rely entirely on the copy of my score — which is unfortunately more than likely — which may not be lacking in mistakes either. In any case, I will send you other parts soon, and these, I hope, will be completely free from mistakes. I do not know how it is that we forgot to mark the final passage where the stringed instruments must play like this:
</references>
 
[[Category:Projected Works]]
[[File:0413a_ex1.jpg|center|220px]]
[[Category:Operas]]
 
the legato sign
 
[[File:0413a_ex2.jpg|center|200px]]
 
Without it, this passage is difficult and has a bad effect. Therefore, please Monsieur, instruct the person making the correction to pay attention to this detail.
 
With that, allow me, Monsieur, to reiterate to you my expression of boundless recognition that your kindness inspires in me. In the event that this letter arrives too late, please forgive the dissatisfaction that these bad orchestral parts cannot fail to cause you. I will have done everything in the world to spare you the slightest inconvenience.
 
Your devoted and grateful admirer and servant,
{{right|P. Tschaikowsky}}
}}

Revision as of 12:50, 21 April 2020

Date 21 September/3 October 1875
Addressed to Hans von Bülow
Where written Moscow
Language French
Autograph Location New Haven (Connecticut, USA): Yale University, Irving S. Gilmore Music Library (misc. 372, SSZ)
Publication Советская музыка (1960), No. 5, p. 72–73 (Russian translation)
П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений, том XVII (1981), p. 215–216

Text and Translation

French text
(original)
English translation
By Stephen J. Trygar
Moscou
Le 21 Septembre/3 Novembre 1875

Monsieur!

La joie extrême, que me cause l'attention flatteuse, dont Vous avez honnoré le concerto, que j'ai eu l'honneur de Vous dédier, est malheureusement empoisonnée par l'idée, que Vous m'en voudrez, peut-être, pour les parties d'orchestre, qui, bien qu'expédiées à temps, ne peuvent servir, à moins qu'une correction soigneuse et détaillée ne soit préalablement faite. Le fait est qu'il s'y trouve suffisamment de fautes d'impression, malgré qu'un musicien de Leipzig les avait corrigées. Je serai veritablement au désespoir si ces quelques lignes, que M[onsieu]r Klindworth a bien voulu se charger de V[ou]s expédier, Vous arrivent après une premiere répétition d'orchestre. Dans le cas contraire, ayez l'extrême bonté, Monsieur, de charger quelque bon musicien de prendre sur soi la tâche de procéder critiquement à la revue de toutes les parties d'orchestre. Je souligne le mot, car il faut que celui qui corrigera les parties, ne se fie pas entièrment à la copie de ma partition, qui, — cela est malheureusement 'plus que probable, — peut bien ne pas manquer de fautes non plus. Dans tous les cas, je V[ou]s expédierai prochainement d'autres parties, et celles-ci, je l'espère, seront tout à fait dépourvues de fautes. Je ne sais comment-il se fait, qu'on ait oublié de mettre partout où les instruments à cordes ont à jouer dans le final des passages comme celui-ci:

0413a ex1.jpg

le signe du legato

0413a ex2.jpg

sans lequel ce passage est dificile et de mauvais effet. Veuillez donc, Monsieur, charger celui qui fera la correction de porter son attention sur ce detail.

Sur ce, permettez[-]moi, Monsieur, de Vous réitérer l'expression de la reconnaissance sans bornes que m'inspire Votre bonté pour moi. Dans le cas que cette lettre Vous arrivera trop tard, veuillez pardonner le mécontentement, que ces mauvaises parties d'orchestre ne peuvent manquer de Vous causer. J'aurai fait tout au monde pour V[ou]s épargner le moindre désagrément.

Votre admirateur et serviteur dévoué et reconnaissant,

P. Tschaikowsky

Moscow
21 September/3 November 1875

Monsieur!

The extreme joy that your flattering attention gives me, whose concerto you honored — that I had the honor of dedicating to you — is unfortunately poisoned by the idea that you will perhaps resent me. The orchestral parts, although dispatched in time, cannot be used unless a careful and detailed correction is made beforehand. The fact is, there are several printing errors there, despite a Leipzig musician correcting them. I will truly be in despair if these few lines, which Monsieur Klindworth was kind enough to dispatch to you, arrive after a first orchestral rehearsal. Otherwise, be extremely kind, Monsieur, to instruct some good musician to undertake the task of critically reviewing all the orchestral parts upon themselves. I underline the word because it is necessary that the one who will correct the parts does not rely entirely on the copy of my score — which is unfortunately more than likely — which may not be lacking in mistakes either. In any case, I will send you other parts soon, and these, I hope, will be completely free from mistakes. I do not know how it is that we forgot to mark the final passage where the stringed instruments must play like this:

0413a ex1.jpg

the legato sign

0413a ex2.jpg

Without it, this passage is difficult and has a bad effect. Therefore, please Monsieur, instruct the person making the correction to pay attention to this detail.

With that, allow me, Monsieur, to reiterate to you my expression of boundless recognition that your kindness inspires in me. In the event that this letter arrives too late, please forgive the dissatisfaction that these bad orchestral parts cannot fail to cause you. I will have done everything in the world to spare you the slightest inconvenience.

Your devoted and grateful admirer and servant,

P. Tschaikowsky