Horn To Place Folds

WAGNER, Richard 1813-1883. Autograph letter signed and dated Bayreuth, March 23, 1875.

In German (with translation). Three pages plus autograph envelope. Octavo. To E. Arno Spies at the Dresden Hoftheater Chorus regarding arrangements for a concert to take place in Berlin in April.
"I favor the Reichshalle in any case - as soon as it has more seats; we can manage with the acoustics."
Wagner goes on to say that he will need a lot of extra money to be able to pay for the rehearsals. He then details his needs regarding instrumentation: 16 first and 16 second violins, 12 violas (good!), 12 cellos, and 8 good contrabasses, 3 large flutes and 1 small, 3 oboes and 1 English horn, 3 clarinets and 1 bass clarinet (B-flat and A), 3 bassoons, 4 horns, and another 4 horns, because horn players will alternately take on the 4 tubas that I will bring with me, which Viennese horn players were able to play very well with horn mouthpieces immediately without any prior practice. I will send these instruments to you in good time before rehearsals begin..., going on to name additional brass and percussion instruments. Mr. Seidel, his very experienced and reliable assistant, will bring the parts, etc., to Berlin before the rehearsals. He will turn to Niemann for the vocal parts: if I cannot get the Materna to him, he should pick the best female singer in Berlin... Wagner then goes on to outline the program, which is to include as introduction, the first prelude and conclusion of Tristan und Isolde (even though the Imperial March would be more fitting, easier, and more suitable, he states that he has already brought it to Berlin twice), then 3 fragments from Gotterdammerung. Creased at folds; very slightly split and chipped at lower inner fold. Envelope foxed; chipped and split at edges, the red wax seal intact. A very interesting and detailed letter, affording direct insight into Wagnerian instrumentation, performance practice, etc.

[SW: Composers 19th Century German Letters German]

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