FERRUCCIO BENVENETO BUSONI (1866-1924)

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FERRUCCIO BENVENETO BUSONI (1866-1924)
Autograph document on lined paper, signed 'Ferruccio Busoni', dated 12 January 1922, 7pp, 4, the manuscript of a letter to Mr Windlisch, the editor, published in 'Melos. Monatsschrift fr Musik', Number 2, Berlin, [n.d.].
Busoni outlines the most important features by which to judge music, the spirit, the ability and the content. Interpretation in his opinion is more important than virtuosity and he criticises the progressive critics who seem to praise new pieces even if they are not of a high standard. In his opinion, Bach, Beethoven and Wagner are great composers and he goes on to discuss 'Neo-Expressionism', recounting an amusing annecdote concerning the Shah of Persia. He reports how he urged Stravinsky to admire the German classical musicians and makes a defence of his book 'Entwurf einer nueun sthetik'. He concludes: "Weit enfernt davon abzuraten, dass jedes irgendwie wirksame Mittel in die Werkstatt unsere Mglichkeiten aufgenommen werde, verlange ich nur, dass es sthetisch und sinnvoll verwendet werde; dass die Proportionen der Masse, des Klanges, der Intervalle kunstreich verteilt werden, dass eine Schpfung -- wie sie auch immer angelegt oder geartet sei -- sich zum Range der Klassizitt in dem ursprnglichen Sinne endgltiger Vollendung erhebe." (folded vertically, creased on folds).
With a copy of the journal in which it was published. (2)

Lot Essay

Busoni wrote many articles and essays on music. He had a deep admiration for Listz, seeing him as a prophetical figure, but many critics took exception to his transcriptions after the manner of the composer, seeing him as an 'ultra-Romantic'. He strove to develop new musical forms on classical principals, but had little interest in small forms of music, prefering to concentrate on the monumental possibilities of the piano with composers such as Beethoven, Bach and Mozart. A prize for the most significant musical contribution to classical music was created in his name by the Accademia Nationale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, which was won by Stravinsky in 1950.

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