Autograf: Universitätsbibliothek Kassel - Landesbibliothek und Murhardsche Bibliothek der Stadt Kassel (D-Kl), Sign. Autograf: Universitätsbibliothek Kassel - Landesbibliothek und Murhardsche Bibliothek der Stadt Kassel (D-Kl), Sign. 4° Ms. Hass. 287[Taylor, E.:32
Briefumschlag: Spohr Museum Kassel (D-Ksp), Sign. Sp. ep. 1.5 <Taylor 184210243>
 

Dr. Louis Spohr
Hesse Cassel
Germany0


Red Lion Court
Fleet Street
 
Oct 24„ 1842
 
My Dear & esteemed Friend
 
If your welcome letter had not arrived to day, it was my intention to have written to you by the present Past, as I have been very much troubled that no communication has yet been made to you by the Norwich Committee. This requiers some explanation. It so happened that the Chairman (President) Mr. Wodehouse, was obliged to leave Norwich immediately after the Festival, as was, also, Mr. Elwin, who is the most active member of the Committee.
Owing to their absence the Committee have not yet assembled since the Festival. I hope that, very soon, these Gentlemen will have returned to Norwich, when I am sure you will immediately hear from them.
I have been hoping for some time to find some conveyance by which I could send you the newspaper1 accounts of the Festival, with other documents which I have collected & preserved for you, but have not heard of any friend visiting Germany at this season of the Year. I shall, therefore, without further delay, send them by means of some bookseller. I am glad that you saw the account partly2 extracted from the ”Times,“ which is considered as the best narration of the proceedings of the Festival. They will all interest you, altho’ they are not all of equal value as musical criticisms. I think Gaglignani in his Journal3 must have ommitted, as misstated some particulars. The Duet (No. 10) was very beautifully sung by Miss Rainforth & Mr. Young. The Terzett (No. 15) was equally well sung by Madame Caradori Allan, Mr. Hobbes & Mr. Bradbury; and the Quartet (No. 27) was also admirably sung by Mad. Caradori Allan, Miss Bassano, Mr. Young & Mr. Hobbs.
We should gladly, have repeated the Oratorio on the Saturday had it been possible (Friday was occupied with Samson) but the Festival at Worcester was the week following that at Norwich, where all the principal Singers & many of the Instrumental performers were engaged, & they were obliged to leave Norwich on Saturday morning, in order to reach Worcester in time.
I was quite aware of the Mayor’s4 application, & I recommended it to be made, although I feared it would be fruitless. I am not surprised that he received no answer, for it belongs not to your Prince5 to act with the courtesy of a Gentlemen.
I am happy to say that the Oratorio will soon be performed in London. I was, last week, applied to by some eminent Instrumental Performers to enable them to produce it. My reply was ”I am shall have the Orchestral parts on one condition – that the Oratorio be well performed – not else.“ And when I found that the Orchestra would be nearly the same as the Philharmonic, & that Hobbs & Phillips would sing, I agreed to lend the parts, & also to conduct it. Most of the Instrumental performers will be the same as at Norwich.
Margaret is looking forward with lively hope & pleasure to her visit to Cassel. I believe her Mother6 proposes her going only in the Spring, if that time will be convenient to you & Madame Spohr, and I indulge myself with a dream of seeing you in the Summer: but my engagements already reach to the beginning of June.
I have not seen Moscheles for several months, & I suspect that he is not yet returned to London.
As same time must yet dapse before the parcel of books & Newspapers will reach you. I have thought it better to send the inclosed account, which is principally derived from the ”Times,“7 which I had prepared for insertion in a German newspaper, in conformity with your request, but which has been delayed in the hope of some conveyance. I regret that it will be an expensive postage, but I thought that you would be anxious to receive it without further delay. The part cut out of the English words of the Oratorio, which you have complete.
With best compliments to Madame Spohr believe me,
 
My honoured Friend
ever Yours with the trust regard
Edw. Taylor



Dieser Brief ist die Antwort auf Spohr an Taylor, 16.10.1842. Der nächste erhaltene Brief dieser Korrespondenz ist Taylor an Spohr, 24.11.1842.

[0] [Text des Briefumschlags ergänzt 02.03.2021:] Rechts oben befindet sich auf dem Adressfeld der Poststempel „PAID / 250C25(???) / 1842“ in roter Tinte, unter dem Adressfeld die Stempel „30OCT1842“ in schwarzer und „Engeland / over Rotterdam“ in roter Tinte. – Die Identifikation des Briefumschlags als von Taylors Hand folgte im Vergleich zur Adresse auf dem Autograf von Taylor an Spohr, 28.12.1842.]

[1] „newspaper” über der Zeile eingefügt.
 
[2] „partly” über der Zeile eingefügt.
 
[3] Wohl in Gaglignani‘s Messenger. Artikel noch nicht ermittelt.
 
[4] John Marshall.
 
[5] Der spätere Kurfürst Friedrich Wilhelm.
 
[6] Deborah Taylor.
 
[7] Vgl. „Norwich Musical Festival“, in: Times 17.09.1842, S. 4.
 
Kommentar und Verschlagwortung, soweit in den Anmerkungen nicht anders angegeben: Karl Traugott Goldbach (25.01.2019).