Edward Taylor an Louis Spohr in Kassel

D^r. Louis Spohr
Hesse Cassel
Germany.

via France


Red Lion Court
Fleet Street

June 12. 1843

My Dear & honoured Friend

Your letter was unusually long in coming & did not reach me till the 10^th Jun^e (Saturday last) and I, therefore, almost doubt wheter you will not have departed before this letter reaches Cassel.
I would not give any reply to Blagrove until I had not the Philharmonci Directors – all of whom I saw yesterday – viz – Mess^r. Neate, Lucas, Griffin, Cooke, Bennett, Anderson & Loder. They are decidedly of opinion that no engagement on annoncement of you should appear until after your own Concert, is over. This, also, is my opinion. The Philharmonic Director suspect much from your presence & performance, and, let me add, their funds need it; for the subscriptions of the present year fall short of the expenses. Now if another Concert be previously annonced at which you are to play or conduct (& especially if the price of admission to that Concert be half the price of the Philharmonic) there be no doubt that the receipts of the Philharmonic Concert will be seriously injured. I am, in this case, an impartial bystander, but I cannot help saying that, under these circumstances, I think you ought not to be announced any where else, under your engagements here are completed and I have, accordingly, written to Blagrove to that effect.
Allow me further to add that if you make an engagement which can only be announced on the 8^th July it must be completed (that is, the Concert must take place) at an interval of several days. Thus far this may interfere with your prepared Tour in England you will decide.
The Director request me to say that they shall prefer to perform your Sinfonia ”Die Weihe der Töne“, and confess that I coincide with their opinion.
However beautiful the conception of your Double Sinfonia¹ – however pregnant with the² poetry of Music, I think it (and(?) that may account) little suited to the musical capacities of my countrymen. Even your explanation would fail to make those feel the alliance between sentiment & Music who can only comprehend their coexsistence when Music gives exposition to words.
Then will be no need of your bringing the Score of this Sinfonia, or of the ”Fall of Babylon“. The former is in the Philharmonic Library – the latter I have.
I have spoken to Sir George Clerke (one of the Lords of the Treasury) who has promised me to give order at the Custum House for your free admission on the shores of Old England.
My Wife³ & Daughter⁴ will tomorrow take possession of their new lodgings, where we are looking forward to the delight of seeing all the dear party from Cassel. You honour me by being my guest, and do you think I will give up this envied distinction? In plain – John Bull, English [???] - I will not. I have very little to boast of – and therefore cannot part with this.
I have promised my friend Alsager that you will play a Quartet at one of his Sunday parties – They are of the first rate excellence: but I should not have made the promise, but that he is ”the Times“ - the powerful & [???] ”Times.“⁵ Peggy⁶ will tell you what I mean.
With mindest regard to Mad. Spohr & a kiss for Peggy
I am Your most sincere friend Edw. Taylor