Letter 4882

Tchaikovsky Research
Date 4/16 March 1893
Addressed to Alfred Hipkins
Where written Klin
Language French
Autograph Location New York (New York, USA): The Morgan Library and Museum (MFC T249.X)
Publication П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений, том XVII (1981), p. 56–57
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Reproduced by kind permission of the owner

Text and Translation

French text
(original)
English translation
By Brett Langston
Klin, prés Moscou
4/16 Mars 1893

Monsieur!

Les droits de publication sur presque toutes mes compositions (entre autres celle dont il s'agit) appartiennent à mon éditeur original M[onsieu]r P. I. Jurgenson. C'est dons à lui et non à moi de donner l'autorisation que Vous désirez. Mais une convention litteraire-musicale n'éxiste pas entre l'Angleterre et la Russie, — je ne crois pas que Vous avez besoin de mon assentiment ni de celui de P. I. Jurgenson.

Moralement je n'ai rien contre Votre désir de venir en aide á une famille éprouvée par le malheur.

Recevez l'assurance de mes meilleurs sentiments.

P. Tchaïkovsky

Klin, near Moscow
4/16 March 1893

Sir!

Publication rights on almost all of my compositions (including the one in question) belong to my original publisher, Mr P. I. Jurgenson. It falls to him and not to me to give you the permission you seek, But since a literary-musical convention does not exist between England and Russia, I do not think you require my consent or that of P. I. Jurgenson.

Morally I have nothing against your wish to assist a family affected by misfortune [1].

Please accept the assurance of my kindest regards.

P. Tchaikovsky

Notes and References

  1. Tchaikovsky was replying to a letter of 27 February/11 March 1893, now preserved in the Klin House-Museum, in which Alfred Hipkins asked permission to print an arrangement for cello and piano of Tchaikovsky's Chant sans paroles (No. 3 of the Souvenir de Hapsal, Op. 2). The arrangement was made by the Belgian violinist Gustave Liboton, who had recently died, with the intention that proceeds from the edition should be given to his family. Although Hipkins indicated that the London publishing firm Novello had agreed to print Liboton's arrangement, no copies have yet come to light.