174 175

lvIengelberg 's score oi the Five Orchestra Pieces: beginning

Gene earl

Gemeente Museum in The

of these scores
those of Gustav a composer
Mengelberg. Other scores signs Mengelberg's HU,",""""
music; such is the case Schoenberg's music
these particular scores a of the .LH'''-""'"'''''-
Legacy concemed Schoenberg. For a number
maintained a correspondence with Schoenberg, the
recently come to light.
Mengelberg (1871-1951) was active in
young German and composers. As vVHWU",CVL

certgebouw in Amsterdam-a
895-1 945-Mengelberg often proposed risky programs
sent new music to Dutch Just how he came
Schoenberg is whether during
activities in Luceme, via Richard Strauss or another com-
poser, remains unanswered. However, Legacy does
to give us a better picture Mengelberg's role was
moting Schoenberg in the Netherlands.
Mengelberg was an admirer of Schoenberg both as composer and con-
n"roTr,,,. and the earliest letters from the Archives bear witness to this fact

Letter In this letter from the director ofthe Rotterdam Philhar-

Mengelberg apparently suggested Schoenberg as
himself. This was in 1912 was the beginning of aseries
176 GENECARL MENGELBERG ARCHIVES 177

requests Mengelberg made to get Schoenberg to come to

N etherlands.
The first letter from Schoenberg to Mengelberg's comes
second conducting engagement Amsterdam in After a six-year
pause, due to the first World War, the correspondence is resumed. The
two letters which follow relate Schoenberg's anticipation of the out-
1982~
come of the Mahler Festival held in Amsterdam. Contained herein are
remarks concerning Schoenberg's glowing admiration for Mengelberg
both as conductor and friend. Judging from the programs
Festival, Mengelberg did his best to bring about performances in the
Schoenberg's works, something for which Schoenberg was very grateful. 1. "Lied der Waldtaube" aus den Gurreliedern, Bearbeitung für Kammer-
We should not forget that at a certain point in his life Schoenberg orchester, UE, Vienna 1923 covers).
seriously considered moving to the Netherlands with his family. He must signature and the date "8.
November 1934." On the inside cover is written: "uitvoering: den Haag, 8.
have discussed his visits quite enthusiastically with his friends and
Dec. 1934, zang Else uit Parijs." changes in tempo are
since they also desired to join Schoenberg during his prolonged indicated as weIl as certain passages "'",HHS"LCU in red, blue and black
the Dutch coastal town of Zandvoort in 1920-21. He writes about
to Mengelberg while residing in Holland. Besides this subject the H.HUW~~
Festival is briefly mentioned, although Schoenberg does not go any 2. "Schmücke o Liebe Seele,"
Instrumentiert von Amold Schönberg, UE, Vienna,
detail about the differences of opinion between them concerning the covers).
statutes of the Society. [On the outside cover is "1." and '\Nillem signature. The
Shortly after his return to Austria, Schoenberg was contacted instrumentation has been altered to include two harps instead of the
Mengelberg's cousin, Rudolf, ab out an eventual performance ofthe indicated one. Annotations in red, blue and black the
part of Gurrelieder. The three letters dating from the end of can- score.]
cern themselves the controversy over its performance. Schoenberg 3. "Komm, Gott, Schöpfer, Heiliger Geist," von Joh. Seb. Bach.
was very dismayed by the manner in which it had been organized Instrumentiert von Amold Schönberg, UE, '1ienna, 1925 covers).
any official consent. more interesting, though, are Schoenberg's Mengelberg's signature and "11." are written on the outside cover.
own comments and criticisms of the Gurrelieder itself. They in- Annotarions in red, blue and black pencil.]
sight Schoenberg's attitude towards this work at that moment 4. op. 16, Peters, Leipzig, 1912 covers).
his life. [Mengelberg's stamp and signature are on the outside cover. Titles have been
After incident the correspondence between Schoenberg added to all the pieces; these are written under the roman numeral of each
Mengelberg becomes very scarce indeed. Although there are no more new piece. Extensive annotations in red, blue and black throughout
extensive letters, we can assurne from the short messages they the pieces.]
keep touch with each other. The last letter Schoenberg sent to 5. Petleas und Melisande Symphonische Dichtung, op. 5, UE, Vienna 1911
Mengelberg, which is preserved in the Archives, dates from (folio-paper covers).
his move to California. Schoenberg addressed hirns elf to Mengelberg [Mengelberg's stamp is on the outside cover. Certain passages have been
in the hope that he might be able to help a Czech conductor, a '''E,BUS'''·'''" as weH as changes in tempo indicated (e.g. at the beginning is

pupil of his. We know that shortly thereafter Schoenberg learned

Mengelberg's role the German occupation ofthe Netherlands and re-
 MENGELBERG ARCHIVES 179
178 GENECARL

6. Gurreliedervon Jens Peter Jacobsen (Deutsch von Roben Franz für 'Vvith 1920 March 21, Amster-
Soli, Chor und Orchester, UE, Vienna 1912 "fascimile" (folio-hard covers). dam [to] Willem Amsterdam, 18.5 x 13.5 one leaf
Mengelberg's name is printed in gold on the outside cover. The first page
is fuH of writing in pencil indicating the instrumentation, voices (with names with
of soloists), and various references to certain passages. In the score itself
there are only a few indications in pencil. The tempo indication ~ = 88-92
13) Monchy, C. deo TLS, 1912 11, Rotterdam [to 1Willem ,n'""2;,"HJ'-'
is given at the beginning of the music.]
21 x 20.5 21eaves
7. Verklärte Nacht, op. 4 für Streichorchester, UE., Vienna 1917.
[With indications throughout by Mengelberg. Exhibited in The Hague in the
Exhibition "Schönberg - W ebern-Berg: Portraits-scores-documents" in
1969. When the Archive was moved from Amsterdam to The Hague in 1979
14) Schoenberg, Arnold. statement
no listing was found of this score, although the curator, Mr. Zwart, believes
Willem 1895-1920 (Deel V), lVHJUlJ.ll)o;,
that it may be an oversighL]

Key: ALS = letter signed

ACS = Autograph card signed
Correspondence between Arnold Schoenberg TLS = letter signed
D = Document
Willem Mengelberg in the Mengelberg Archives

1) Schoenberg, Arnold. ALS, 1914 October 5, Berlin-Südende [tol

Mengelberg, Amsterdam, 25 x 20 one leaf
2) Schoenberg, Arnoid. ALS, 1920 April 15, Mödling bei Wien [to] Willem
Mengelberg, Amsterdam, 26 x 16.5 one leaf
3) Schoenberg, Arnold. ALS, 1920 June 1, Mödling bei Wien [to] Willem
Mengelberg, Amsterdam, 29 x 22 one leaf
4) Schoenberg, Arnold. ALS, 1920 Oetober 12, Zandvoort Willem
Mengelberg, [Val Sinestra], 21 x 27 2leaves
5) Schoenberg, Arnold. ALS, 1921 September 17, Traunkirchen [to] Willem
Mengelberg, Val Sinestra, 32 x 42 folded, 3 p. [Post returned to Schoenberg
and resent to AmsterdamJ
6) Schoenberg, Arnold. ALS, 1921 September 26, Traunkirchen [to] Willem
Mengelberg, Amsterdam, 14.5 x 21.5 one leaf
7) Schoenberg, Arnold. ALS, [1921 October 26-date postedj, [Traunkirchen] [tol
Willem Mengelberg, Amsterdam, 34 x 21 2 p.
8) Schoenberg, Arnold. ACS, 1922 August 2, Traunkirchen [to] Willem
Mengelberg, Amsterdam [forwarded to Val Sinestra], 9 x 14 one leaf
9) Schoenberg, Arnold. D [Death AnnouncementJ, 1923 October 18, Wien
[to]Willem Mengelberg, Amsterdam, 23 x 29 one ieaf
10) Schoenberg, Arno!d. ACS [Thank-you note], [1923 November 3], oe!
Wien-date and place posted] [to] Tilly Mengelberg, Amsterdam, 17 xiI one
leaf
11) Schoenberg, Arnoid. TLS, 1939 February 9, Los Angeles [to] Willem
Mengelberg, Amsterdam [forwarded to ViennaJ, 28 x 21.5 2 p.