Letters on music in the Austrian National Library

The extensive collection of letters on music in the manuscript collection at the Austrian National Library is almost completely unknown to research and dates from the 17th -20th century. The main emphasis of these letters is placed on documents from the later 18th century such as the published correspondance Joseph Haydn/Marianne von Genzinger and other unknown letters from contemporary musicians and publishers of this period (e.g. the Leopold Kozeluch letter collection). Important sources concerning 18th century opera include documentation on the reception of Antonio Salieri`s operas in Paris and the reception of Gluck`s operas. 19th century sources include Beethoven`s letters (published in the new collected edition) and an extensive documentation on contemporary questions on music such as the collection of letters to the piano manufacturer J.A. Streicher and documentation on music publishing and trading in the Beethoven period. Numerous composers and interpreters of the time are also represented. The later 19th century is well documented in letters from the circle of friends and acquaintances of Johannes Brahms (e.g. Eduard Hanslick, Julius Epstein etc.), also the reception of Richard Wagner`s operas and those works composed as "opposition" to Wagner by composers such as Heinrich Esser, Franz von Holstein, Franz Lachner, Robert Franz etc. The history of operetta is also represented in numerous letter collections. A major topic concerns the 3rd Reich and national socialism, Jewish persecution and exile. The Austrian National Library`s official catalogues - despite digitalisation - are nothing more than a simple list of letter writers` names, adressees, place, date and length of a letter. The contents are ignored thereby implying a major loss of information. For example, when Franz Liszt recommends the famous violinist Joseph Joachim, the name "Joachim" should also be indexed. This is why a catalogue of contents of letters on music was started in the Autumn of 1994 and should be continued. (Update September 2002 A-L: http://www.musikerbriefe.at)

The extensive collection of letters on music in the manuscript collection at the Austrian National Library is almost completely unknown to research and dates from the 17th -20th century. The main emphasis of these letters is placed on documents from the later 18th century such as the published correspondance Joseph Haydn/Marianne von Genzinger and other unknown letters from contemporary musicians and publishers of this period (e.g. the Leopold Kozeluch letter collection). Important sources concerning 18th century opera include documentation on the reception of Antonio Salieri`s operas in Paris and the reception of Gluck`s operas. 19th century sources include Beethoven`s letters (published in the new collected edition) and an extensive documentation on contemporary questions on music such as the collection of letters to the piano manufacturer J.A. Streicher and documentation on music publishing and trading in the Beethoven period. Numerous composers and interpreters of the time are also represented. The later 19th century is well documented in letters from the circle of friends and acquaintances of Johannes Brahms (e.g. Eduard Hanslick, Julius Epstein etc.), also the reception of Richard Wagner`s operas and those works composed as "opposition" to Wagner by composers such as Heinrich Esser, Franz von Holstein, Franz Lachner, Robert Franz etc. The history of operetta is also represented in numerous letter collections. A major topic concerns the 3rd Reich and national socialism, Jewish persecution and exile. The Austrian National Library`s official catalogues - despite digitalisation - are nothing more than a simple list of letter writers` names, adressees, place, date and length of a letter. The contents are ignored thereby implying a major loss of information. For example, when Franz Liszt recommends the famous violinist Joseph Joachim, the name "Joachim" should also be indexed. This is why a catalogue of contents of letters on music was started in the Autumn of 1994 and should be continued. (Update September 2002 A-L: http://www.musikerbriefe.at)