| Content | Bohuslav Martinů thanks for the previous letter (March 3, 1958). Not all the explanations contained in it were digested by BH well, so he would like to propose his own solution. BM sees that ER (Boosey & Hawkes, London) is not very interested in MIRANDOLINA, so he asks for it to be relieved and returned. He decides how to deal with it further. Anyway, he would like to see the vocal score, which he never saw. He asks for it to be sent together with Rossini's Variations for Cello and Piano.
BM asks why only two copies of SYMPHONY No. 6 were sent to him.
BM is willing to wait for the release of SYMPHONY Nos. 2 and 3 (even though they were supposed to be ready a long time ago). He wants to have all the symphonies released by B&H.
BM can also take back PIANO CONCERT No. 3 if B&H is not able to release it soon.
BM writes that the ER should not contact Karel Šebánek in matters of his compositions. BM is able to find editors himself and would like to find some solutions for his older compositions, he does not want to waste time, which he already has little.
BM does not know how KŠ found out that he should go to Prague. There were more opportunities, but BM never went. |
| Transcription of the letter | March 7. 1958.
Dear Ernest:
Thank you so much for your long letter, am always sorry adding more work to your already plenty filled time. I am sure you defended very well the progress of mankind in Strasbourg but I doubt it will help and mankind will go his way as usual, tant pis. I digested all your explanations, not very well but I did and I would like to try to find the way out of it, so I would give you some solutions of mine. I can see that Locandiera doesn’t appeal to you and you will not do very much for it, so would like to ask you to relieve this work and get it back to me, I will look through and decide if it is worth or to be sorry about it. Until now it didn’t cost you too much and I will see if I should take care of it myself, then we both will be satisfied and have less troubles. The contract of fixing time for edition is anyway already over and I would like to have the piece back in my possession and do or not do something about it but not to leave in indefinitly without any result with Boosey & Hawkes, which is time lost and wasted. I can always have performance in […] they will not accepte, of course, to make their own material and everything else if the opera belongs to B. & H. So tell me what do you think about these possibilities. In any case I would like to see myself the vocal-score, which I never saw completed, so please sent it to me and if you have a copy of Rossini variation ofr cello and piano I would like to have it too.
For the Fantaisies I received only two copies, why?
As to the other problems I can wait for the Symphony 2. 3. which should have been edited after the contract longtime ago, but I would like to have all Symphonies with B.&.H. The Piano Concerto I can take also back if you do not see possibility to publish it in reasonable time.
Do not take Sebanek for granted he has no means to make any decision conserning myself and do not make any contract with him about my compositions.
I can find editors now and would like to finish, to find some solution for my old compositions and not to waste time any more, I have already a little time for it.
I do not know how Sebanek knows that I am going to Prague, there were possibilities every years but I didn’t go.
Please let me know soon about the question Locandiera.
With my and Mrs Martinu best regards to you and to Mrs Roth.
Sincerely yours
[Podpis v.r.:] B. Martinů
|