Tirsdag 23.5.1922 Carl Nielsen til Lisa Mannheimer, Göteborg

Kjøbenhavn den 23-5-22.

Kære Lisa!

Samtidig sender jeg de resterende Skitser til Blæserkvintetten,[CNW 70] som Du ønskede [7:218]. Der mangler altsaa noget i Slutningen og Menuetten er neppe til at finde ud af, men det gør jo ikke noget.

Jeg har temmelig travlt i disse Dage. Mange smaa Ting kan tage stor Tid; det kender Du nok selv. – Igaar havde jeg Besøg af en Mand fra Boston der vil have mine Værker opført derovre. Efterhaanden interesserede det mig; dog er jeg altid noget skeptisk, men det gjorde havde [ham], mærkværdigt nok, blot ivrigere. – Jeg har ikke noget imod at blive kendt Verden over; men vi lever i en Tid, hvor man løber Fare for, aandeligt at blive opædt i en eneste Mundfuld hvis man falder i det store Publikums Smag, eller rettere ifald det {det} store Publikum bliver gjor{d}t opmærksom paa at her er noget at guffe i sig. Thi kun en mindre Del af Menneskene har virkelig Dømmekraft, ja, egentlig meget faa. – Hør nu Lisa! Det bliver vistnok i Begyndelsen af Sommeren jeg kommer til Jer. Kan det passe? Fra hvornaar kan det passe?

Du maa ikke glemme at hilse omkring Dig. – –

Nu fik jeg Brevkort fra London (Gunna [Gunna Breuning-Storm]) at min Kvartet har gjort sig godt derovre. –

Mange Hilsner fra Din

Carl

Breuning-Bache Kvartetten, som i disse år gjorde sig gældende i udlandet under navnet Københavner-Kvartetten, havde allerede tidligere på året spillet to af Carl Nielsens kvartetter i Berlin: Es-Dur [CNW 57] og F-dur [CNW 58]. Tidsskriftet Musik nævner både koncerterne i Berlin og i London, men hverken datoer eller programmet i London (Musik, Tidsskrift for Tonekunst, April 1922 s. 55 og August 1922 s. 106-108).

Tuesday 23 May 1922 Carl Nielsen to Lisa Mannheimer, Gothenburg

 Copenhagen 23 May 22.

Dear Lisa!

At the same time as this letter I’m sending you the remaining sketches for the wind quintet [CNW 70] that you requested [7:218].  Please note that there’s something missing at the end, and the minuet will not be easy to work out, but that doesn’t matter.

I’ve been fairly busy these days. Many little things can take a lot of time, as I am sure you know yourself. – Yesterday I had a visit from a man from Boston who wants to have my works performed over there. The idea gradually caught my interest. But I’m always a bit sceptical. Strangely enough, this only made him more enthusiastic. – I’ve nothing against becoming known the world over. But we’re living in a time when there’s a danger of our essence being gobbled up in a one mouthful if you meet the taste of the public at large, or rather if that public becomes aware that here is something they can gorge themselves on. Because only a small – indeed very small – minority of people have real powers of judgement. – Listen, Lisa! It will probably be the beginning of the summer that I shall come to see you. Would that suit you? From when would it suit you?

Please don’t forget to give my regards to those around you. – –

I’ve just received a postcard from London (Gunna) to say that my quartet has gone down well there. –

Many greetings from yours,

Carl

The Breuning-Bache Quartet, performing abroad during these years as The Copenhagen Quartet, had already played two of Carl Nielsen's quartets earlier in the year – the E-flat major [CNW 57] and the F major [CNW 58]. The journal Musik mentioned both concerts in Berlin and London but neither the date nor the programme in London (Musik, Tidsskrift for Tonekunst, April 1922 p. 55 and August 1922 pp. 106-108).