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Price: $600.00 |
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NEAR MINT CONDITION |
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Autographed long two page letter of condolence to a friend after learning about the death of his wife, no place, no date. Though based upon the content, probably shortly after his wife Sophie’s death following the birth of twins. The Danish composer writes in German: Dear Friend, You cannot imagine how sad and surprised I am about the hard blow that has befallen you. Since I did not know of the life threatening illness and accidents, it was last Winter that I heard from Normann that your wife was sickly. I believed however she was healthy by now, but your letter arrived with the sad news I was hesitant to open it. I had a premonition of bad news. And unfortunately it was so. Dear and good Paula that I should not see her again. I had looked forward to travelling to Sussau Sea for the Summer with my Sissou and William with my wife Sophie…but God wished it otherwise! My dear good friend! Just let the memory of your pious, lovely wife….. In remembrance as your dear friend I wish you consolation and peace at this sad time in your life. Your true friend, N. W. Gade Until the death of his mentor and champion, Felix Mendelssohn in 1847, Gade had really not experienced sadness. His music was well performed around the important music capitols of Europe. He was the Assistant Conductor of the Leipzig Gewandhaus and had even handed the task of conducting the World Premier (albeit that Mendelssohn was not feeling well) of the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto, which he had diligently worked with the composer on the orchestration. However, with Mendelssohn’s death brought his first major blow. Though he accepted the Directorship of the Leipzig Gewandhaus, it was only to be for a year, due to the first Schleswig War between Prussia and Denmark. Gade moved back to Denmark in 1848 and became Director of the Copenhagen Music Society and organist of the Church of Holman. In 1851, he married his wife Sophie, daughter of Johan Hartmann and feted by author Hans Christian Andersen during the ceremony. Four years later, he faced the greatest tragedy of his life, the death of his dear Sophie a month after giving birth to twins. Our letter based upon the content was most likely written shortly after her death.
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NIELS W. GADE - COMPOSER |
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Phone: 212-860-5541 * Fax: 917-677-8247
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