Beschreibung:

LISZT, FRANZ. 1811-1886. Autograph Letter Signed ("F. Liszt") in French, a letter of recommendation for Heinrich Ehrlich, who Liszt himself credits with parts of Hungarian Rhapsody, 2 pp, bifolium, Weymar, April 28, 1848, mounted with archival tape to archival board, stained at edges, trimmed at upper edge.
Provenance: Label of Leon H. Becker, Memorabilia, Ltd.
LISZT RECOMMENDS EHRLICH FOR A JOB AS A PIANIST. In 1846 Ehrlich had sent to Liszt some of his manuscripts including a Hungarian Fantasy, asking Liszt to perform some in order to further Erlich's fame. In 1852, Ehrlich was surprised to hear his own themes played back to him by Liszt as part of Rhapsody No. 2. Liszt wrote to Ehrlich in 1863: "I am very happy, Monsieur, to accede to your desire to give you (without any fight) full satisfaction on the field of the Hungarian Rhapsodies ... in all good faith, I was justified in taking my material everywhere I could find it, firstly in my childhood memories of Bihary and other gypsy celebrities, and later in my excursions across country amidst bands of gypsy musicians from Sopron, Pozsony, Pest, etc. Lastly, I retained and reproduced in my own manner many themes, traits, and characteristic features which over a couple of decades were communicated to me in generous profusion, both at the piano and in musical notation by Counts Amadé, Aponyi, [Imre] Széchényi, Barons Augusz and Fáy, Messrs Egressy, Erkel, Doppler, Reményi — and by you, dear Monsieur Ehrlich. An embarrassment of riches, is it not?" An interesting association with Liszt singing the younger pianist/composer's praises as he is borrowing from his work.