The sun., 1890-08-26
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To THE EDITOR OF THE suN-Sir, When
heard OF the sudden death OF my friend and
master. Otto Dresel. wrote to Dr. Robert
Franz to ask II he would like to cay q few
words about him which he could permit to be
made. public thought Il due to the mem-
org. Of ono who had for 40 many years mod.
musical art in America. and especially In Boz
ton; that attention should be directed TO what
sSoss he sd mSS SSG fRa y as sSS :uS. S9%
than Robert Franz He replied that he pre-
terred to address what he wished 70 ear In
Il before the American musical public, His
letter, which have endeavored to translate as
literally as possible. ts rs follows:
"As my intimate relations with the late Otto
Dresel are we'll known to you, you can i'm
Rgine how greatly the news OF HE sudden
death has shocked me- Such q harmony OF
interest rs has existed between him and me
for flfty years does not belong 10 everyday oc-
urrences-especially at time when opinions
and judgment change az rapidly as they are
found
otto Dresel was man OF the finest musi-
cal culture. and 1t encompassSd q wide horizon.
Sebastian Bach. Handel. Mozart, and Beetho.
ven under classics. Schubert. Mendelssohn.
Chopin, and Schumann under moro modern
composers. we're masters to whose productions
he devoted most Of hls time and energy. and
cient to MI lifetime in endeavoring to fathom
and TO enlighten them. They have indeed
lasted him till his end!
AS far as am concerned. owe Dresel n
Rroat deal more than can say. Not only In
Germany has he worked IN behalf Of my songs,
but he was the first who successfully intro
duced them into America. o fact OF which Lszt
in his pamphlet Robert Franz makes note in
highly complimentary manner to Dresel.
Furthermore, he was the means OF enlisting my
energy and activity to degree which occupied
the last half Of my life 80 fully that It greatly
added to my happiness. l am thinking here Of
my arrangements Of the vocal compositions OF
Sebastian Bach and Handel. We two were
perhaps the only ones who for years have in
terested ourselves in efforts OF this kind. But
my friend Dresel was not satisfied only to in
terest himself in these matters. He made him
self prominent by fulfilling the task Of arranG-
Ing and publishing four sets OF the arias OF
Handel. They belong to by far the best ar
rangements Of this kind. 1need only mention
the wonderfully beautiful form which he has
given to the aria from HRnders Semelo: Oh
Sleep These works-which are published by
Breitkopf & Hartel Of Leipsic-I can recon-
mend most strongly and heartily to the mu-
sical public
My last intercourse with Dresel was In the
temperirtes Xavier In this editorial work
We have labored TO the best Of our ability, and
1t Is tragic enough that several Just finished
numbers Of this marvellous work Of Bachs
were received by me few days after Dresels
death.
In conclusion ! wish to state that oWe
great thanks TO Dresel for having brought me
In contact with many well-known men OF high
est standing In artistic circles In America, with
whom have formed ties OF friendship. need
only mention the names o! Sebastian b. Sches-
niger. Charles c. ferkins, Hugo Leonhard,
William +. Apthorp DC. and l pride my
self on these personal relations. which will re-
main dear IN me as long rs l live. May the
seed which this rare artist has sown in his Sec
ond fatherland bear fruits in wide and extend
ed circles, and have no doubt whatever that
the result will be lasting because the starting
point remains for all tmo. ROBERT FRANZ.
HALLE, Aug. II. 1890"
l ask leave to add few words: Coming to
An erica hirty odd years ago. Otto Dresel soon
elsewhere, WI 70 have remained his friends Tor
lie. Like the Aboltionists, who believed
slavery an evil. and. working for its abolish
Uo seevsd BSeh and RnppGef .Se
greatest masters in music. aud he labored un-
II he was not more tolerant he was at least
true to his conyic;iens, ot hit own produo-
tOnB lie tnOuRnt very little. he never was
| satisfied with them, and on that ground en-
deaNored TO suppress his own compost
| tions. which were always classic and GOOD
instead OF leaving them alone end adding
in Boston a prize Of 5000 Ia. good deal Of
| money at that time) was offered for the
| best song. II / remember rightly. by the
| music publishing firm OF Richardson. Drese
| rather reluctantly tbecauso he never expected
| TO get the y TEL sent in hts charming settinR
| Of Tennyson's Sweet and Low The Judges
| awarded the prize 10 him, and he was most
| aRreeably astonished.
| For years Otto Dresel conducted clubs In
Boston for the performance OF Bach and other
| good music. His arrangement for four hands
OF Beethoven's symphonies are. ] believe.
! considered the best that have ever been pub
lished. ! was told that at the Royal Academy
OF Music In London, his arran Rements of Hau-
del's arias were extensively used and much
admired.
In his private capacity he was the etanch-
est and best friend and companion, and many
poor artist has been educated and aided by
him. His many friend9 in America will rejoice
in the tribute which DR.. Franz has paid him,
and to which any words Of mine seem super
nuouR SEBASTIAN b. SCHLESIEGER.
3 WILTON PLACE, LONDON. S. W., Aug. IA, 1890.
ARCHBISHOP COKRIGJN'S NAME