| Content | Vítězslava Kaprálová describes the creation and experience of the recording of her new composition [Christmas Prelude] at Radio [Paris] on Friday [22 December], which she herself conducted for the programme [Czechoslovak Christmas on French Radio] prepared by Jiří Mucha [apparently, piano "trifles" by Bohuslav Martinů performed by Rudolf Firkušný were also included]. While conducting, however, she failed to notice that instead of the horn in F, the horn in E was playing, until Bohuslav Martinů had to poke her in the back. Otherwise, she liked the piece and received 400 CZK for it, so they had a richer Christmas. She received a calendar and a book from BM, a bracelet from Charlotte Martinů and JM gave her a scarf, gloves and a diamond ring, supposedly an engagement ring. In the evening they sat with BM and talked. He's a tremendous person and even though they resolved the situation [regarding their relationship] negatively, it's still a fresh wound and probably should have been handled differently. BM misses and grieves terribly and is probably going to divorce anyway.
Today [12/25] a few friends are coming again and there will be playing and singing. In the end, however, it turned into a deserted entertainment, with Rudolf Firkušný playing shlokas, [Růžena] Herlingerová singing Raineráčky and [Hugo] Haas dancing. The latter liked it very much, VK will write music for it. Tomorrow they are going to P. [Čestmir Puc]'s for tea. Václav Kapral is to send his sonata [Sonatina bucolica?], and her April Preludes, The Apple from the Wedge and Forever. The [Military] Symphonietta is stuck in the post. She was very pleased with the books and photographs from her parents. Wishing her a happy new year. |
| Note | short note excerpt with main theme from Vánoční preludium (Prélude de Noël) were enclosed; transcription published in: HARTL, Karla (ed.): Vítězslava Kaprálová, Dopisy domů. Korespondence rodičům z let 1935-1940, The Kapralova Society, Toronto 2015, ISBN 978-0-9940425-0-7, pg. 269-270 |