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OJ 5/7a, [44] (formerly vC 44) - Handwritten postcard from Schenker to Cube, postmarked September 16, 1932

{recto}
[printed, partially obscured by postage stamps:] ⇧ Postkarte

Absender: ⇧ Schenker
Wien, III, Keilgasse 8

[An:] H Prof.
Felix v. Cube
Hamburg 37
Innocentiastr. 11
[postmark:] || 3 WIEN 30 | 16.IX.32 19 | * 4h * ||
[for continuation of message from verso, see below]
{verso}


Lieber Prof. v. Cube ! 1

In Eile nur soviel: Sie scheinen mir vollkommen im Recht, doch müsste ich, um mich u. Sie in diesem Urteil zu bestärken, zuvor von Ihnen erfahren, was denn der Inhalt der „Aufsicht“ sei, denn von diesem Konflikt sprach mir Prof. V. noch niemals. Mein Gefühl, meine Erfahrung, meine Einsicht sagen mir – in den Stunden lehrte ich mein Einmaleins so: einmal ist keinmal[,] zweimal ist keinmal, erst 3. Mal ist – 1 mal!, – {recto} d.h. soll das Institut Wert behalten, müsste es 3 Jahre durchgehalten werden, dann ist es in der Welt u. lebt fort. – O, wie gern sähe ich Sie noch einmal bei mir wie anno, begeistert die musik.[alische] Fliegekunst übend. 2


Ihnen u. Ihrer Frau Gemalin herzlichste Grüße von uns Beiden
Ihr
[signed:] H Schenker
{verso}

[verso, along left margin, bottom to top:]
[P.S.] Ein Prospekt von Dr Jonas erreicht Sie in diesen agen, betrifft „eine Einführung in die Lehre Schs“. 3

© Transcription William Drabkin, 2008
{recto}
[printed, partially obscured by postage stamps:] ⇧ Postcard

From: ⇧ Schenker
Vienna III, Keilgasse 8

[To:] Prof.
Felix v. Cube,
Hamburg 37,
Innocentiastraße 11
[postmark:] || 3 WIEN 30 | 16.IX.32 19 | * 4h * ||
[for continuation of message from verso, see below]
{verso}


Dear Professor v. Cube, 1

In haste, I can only say this much: You appear to be entirely in the right; yet I would have to learn what the content of the "inspection" is in order to support myself and you in making this judgment, for Professor Violin has not yet once spoken about this conflict. My feeling, my experience, my insight tell me – in my lessons I taught my times-table in the following way: one time is no time; two times are no time; only the third time is 1 time! {recto} That is, if the Institute is to retain its value, it would have to continue to exist for three years, then it exists in the world and will continue to live. – Oh, had gladly would I see you once again with me, as in years gone by, practising the musical art of flight. 2


To you and your wife, most cordial greetings from the two of us.
Yours,
[signed:] H. Schenker
{verso}

[verso, along left margin, bottom to top:]
[P.S.] You will receive a prospectus from Dr Jonas in the next few days, concerning an Introduction to Theory of Schenker. 3

© Translation William Drabkin, 2008
{recto}
[printed, partially obscured by postage stamps:] ⇧ Postkarte

Absender: ⇧ Schenker
Wien, III, Keilgasse 8

[An:] H Prof.
Felix v. Cube
Hamburg 37
Innocentiastr. 11
[postmark:] || 3 WIEN 30 | 16.IX.32 19 | * 4h * ||
[for continuation of message from verso, see below]
{verso}


Lieber Prof. v. Cube ! 1

In Eile nur soviel: Sie scheinen mir vollkommen im Recht, doch müsste ich, um mich u. Sie in diesem Urteil zu bestärken, zuvor von Ihnen erfahren, was denn der Inhalt der „Aufsicht“ sei, denn von diesem Konflikt sprach mir Prof. V. noch niemals. Mein Gefühl, meine Erfahrung, meine Einsicht sagen mir – in den Stunden lehrte ich mein Einmaleins so: einmal ist keinmal[,] zweimal ist keinmal, erst 3. Mal ist – 1 mal!, – {recto} d.h. soll das Institut Wert behalten, müsste es 3 Jahre durchgehalten werden, dann ist es in der Welt u. lebt fort. – O, wie gern sähe ich Sie noch einmal bei mir wie anno, begeistert die musik.[alische] Fliegekunst übend. 2


Ihnen u. Ihrer Frau Gemalin herzlichste Grüße von uns Beiden
Ihr
[signed:] H Schenker
{verso}

[verso, along left margin, bottom to top:]
[P.S.] Ein Prospekt von Dr Jonas erreicht Sie in diesen agen, betrifft „eine Einführung in die Lehre Schs“. 3

© Transcription William Drabkin, 2008
{recto}
[printed, partially obscured by postage stamps:] ⇧ Postcard

From: ⇧ Schenker
Vienna III, Keilgasse 8

[To:] Prof.
Felix v. Cube,
Hamburg 37,
Innocentiastraße 11
[postmark:] || 3 WIEN 30 | 16.IX.32 19 | * 4h * ||
[for continuation of message from verso, see below]
{verso}


Dear Professor v. Cube, 1

In haste, I can only say this much: You appear to be entirely in the right; yet I would have to learn what the content of the "inspection" is in order to support myself and you in making this judgment, for Professor Violin has not yet once spoken about this conflict. My feeling, my experience, my insight tell me – in my lessons I taught my times-table in the following way: one time is no time; two times are no time; only the third time is 1 time! {recto} That is, if the Institute is to retain its value, it would have to continue to exist for three years, then it exists in the world and will continue to live. – Oh, had gladly would I see you once again with me, as in years gone by, practising the musical art of flight. 2


To you and your wife, most cordial greetings from the two of us.
Yours,
[signed:] H. Schenker
{verso}

[verso, along left margin, bottom to top:]
[P.S.] You will receive a prospectus from Dr Jonas in the next few days, concerning an Introduction to Theory of Schenker. 3

© Translation William Drabkin, 2008

Footnotes

1 Writing of this postcard is not recorded in Schenker's diary.

2 Schenker is responding specifically to Cube's "unfulfillable dream," expressed in his previous letter OJ 9/34, [34], of returning to Vienna to study once again with Schenker.

3 Oswald Jonas's Das Wesen des musikalischen Kunstwerks: eine Einführung in die Lehre Heinrich Schenkers, though not issued until 1934 (by the Saturn-Verlag, Vienna), predates Schenker's final theoretical statement Der freie Satz, by a year. A new edition was issued by Universal Edition, Vienna, in 1972, with title and subtitle reversed; there is also an English translation, Introduction to the Theory of Heinrich Schenker: The Nature of the Musical Work of Art, trans. John Rothgeb (New York: Longman, 1982).