Biographical Sketch

Arthur Hartmann (1881-1956) was born on July 23, 1881 in Philadelphia, although later in life he would persist in claiming to have been born in the town of Mate Szalka, Hungary. (The town does not exist.) A child prodigy on the violin, he made his debut in Philadelphia in 1887. His career as a concert artist brought him into contact with many well-known composers and performers of his time. Most notably he became a close friend of Claude Debussy, who dedicated his transcription of Minstrels for violin and piano to Hartmann. He was a member of the founding faculty of Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York during its first academic year, 1921-22. Hartmann was very active in promoting new music for the violin, which led to a correspondence with several prominent composers in order to determine points of interpretation. Hartmann suffered financial hardship at different times during his life, which led to his sale of manuscripts and other possessions in order to raise money. He died in New York on March 30, 1956.

 

Provenance

This collection of letters is the result of Hartmann’s personal and professional correspondence. An undated typewritten inventory of the correspondence along with references to several music manuscripts (see Associations section below) is present in the Sibley Library, Special Collections’ reference file on Arthur Hartmann. It is probable that all the materials were acquired by Sibley Music Library as a gift from Hiram Sibley in the early 1920’s, but files relating to this period are lacking. The accession records of the apparently related music manuscripts are also confused. The accession dates cover a range of years from 1926-1932. Most confusing of all is the fact that one of the manuscripts, by Edward MacDowell, is bound with a special presentation page stating that the manuscript was donated to Sibley Music Library by Hiram Sibley in 1922, yet the manuscript was not accessioned until January 30, 1928. A letter included in this collection but really extrinsic to it is from Hartmann to the “Librarian of The Sibley Music Library” (then Barbara Duncan) and dated July 28, 1940. In it he expresses his desire to sell certain items to the library. It was probably during a similar time of financial need in the early 1920’s that Hartmann sold this collection.

 

Scope and Content

The collection mainly contains correspondence between Arthur Hartmann and notable composers and performers of his time. The content of the correspondence ranges from casual personal messages to important discussions of interpretation and performance. The musical significance of some of the correspondence is considerable, for Hartmann was a personal friend of many of the individuals as well as a very active promoter of modern music. Many American composers of the day are represented. Perhaps the two most important letters in the collection are those of Arnold Schoenberg and Anton von Webern. The latter discusses some issues of performance of his work, Four Pieces for Violin and Piano op.7. The letter from Charles Martin Loeffler (June 12, 1905) as listed in the early inventory and another prepared in the 1980’s is missing from the collection. Most important related individuals: Claude Debussy, Anton von Webern. Related subject areas: performance practice (music)–20th century, violin–performance.

 

Restrictions and Use

There are no restrictions on the use of this collection. Negatives exist for the Anton von Webern letter, and prints may be ordered from Sibley Library, Special Collections.

 

Associations

The Special Collections letter file contains a letter from Claude Debussy of May 30, 1910 thanking Hartmann for sending a copy of the violinist’s transcription of the composer’s “La fille aux cheveux de lin.”

The Sibley Library possesses five music manuscripts apparently purchased from Hartmann along with this collection. All are the composers’ holographs and are dedicated to Hartmann. The MacDowell manuscript is particularly significant for containing bound with it a letter from Mrs. MacDowell (July 25, 1907) to Hartmann concerning the present work and mentioning her husband’s rapidly declining health.

The manuscripts are:

Claude Debussy, Minstrels. ML96 .D289mi acc. no. 154771 (February 8, 1932).

Benjamin Godard, Chant et Baiser. ML96 .G57 acc. no. 113156 (October 20, 1926).

Edward MacDowell, To a Wild Rose and Will O’ the Wisp. ML96 .M13 acc. no. 146184 (January 30, 1928).

Tivador Nachéz, Concerto No. 2. ML96 .N11.2 acc. no. 145903 (December 5, 1927).

Emile Sauret, Farfalla. ML96 .S25 acc. no. 113157 (October 20, 1926)

 

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DESCRIPTION OF SERIES

Correspondence

The series contains 72 letters from composers, performers and friends of Arthur Hartmann relating to his performance career and personal life. The correspondence is arranged alphabetically according to the name of the correspondent.

 

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INVENTORY

Box 1

folder 1	Letter from Leopold Auer; Oct. 28, 1919; New York City. To AH; n.p.; 2 pp., 2 leaves.
folder 2	Letter from Tor Aulin; Dec. 2, 1910; Göteborg. To AH; Paris; 1 p., 1 leaf. With envelope.
folder 3	Letter from Louis Bailly; March 19, 1919; New York City. To AH; Rochester, NY; 2 pp., 1 leaf. With envelope.
folder 4	Postcard from Bela Bartók; July 12, 1914; Honfleur. To AH; Paris.
folder 5	Letter from Arthur Berg; Oct. 14, 1916; New York City. To AH; New York City; 1 p., 1 leaf.
folder 6	Letter from Adolfo Betti; Jan. 25, 19?; New York City. To AH; Rochester, NY; 2 pp., 2 leaves. With envelope, postmark Jan. 26, year illegible.
folder 7	Letter from Alberto Bimboni; March 14, 1916; New York City. To AH; New York City; 1 p., 1 leaf. With envelope.
folder 8	Letter from David Bispham; Dec. 4, 1909; Chicago, IL. To AH; n.p.; 3 pp., 1 leaf.
folder 9	Letter from Jacques Bouhy; May 9, 1910; Paris. To AH; Paris; 1 p., 1 leaf. With envelope.
folder 10	Letter from Frank Bridge; Jan. 15, 1921; London. To AH; n.p.; 3 pp., 2 leaves.
folder 11	Letter from Cecil Burleigh; Sept. 21, 19?; New York City. To AH; n.p.; 3 pp., 1 leaf. With envelope for a different letter, postmarked Jan 16, 1919, Missoula, Montana.
folder 12	Letter from Charles Wakefield Cadman; dated “midnight 20th”; New York City. To AH; n.p.; 2 pp., 1 leaf.
folder 13	Letter from George Whitefield Chadwick; n.d.; n.p.. To AH; n.p.; 1 p., 1 leaf.
folder 14	Letter from F. Morris Class; n.d.; New York City. To AH; n.p.; 1 p., 1 leaf.
folder 15	Letter from Walter Johannes Damrosch; Nov. 8, 1912; New York City. To AH; Buffalo, NY; 1 p., 1 leaf.
folder 16	Letter from E. Destenay; June 22, 1910; Orleans. To AH; Paris; 2 pp., 1 leaf. With envelope.
folder 17	Letter from Emma Destinn; Oct. 30, 1907; n.p.. To AH; n.p.; 2 pp., 1 leaf.
folder 18	Letter from Arthur Hartmann; July 28, 1940; Woodstock, NY. To Barbara Duncan; Rochester, NY (Sibley Music Library, Eastman School of Music); 1 p., 1 leaf.
folder 19	Letter from Paul Ertel; Oct. 5, 1905; Berlin. To AH; n.p.; 2 pp., 1 leaf. With envelope.
folder 20	Letter from Léon Fischesser; June 30, 19?; Paris. To AH; Paris; 8 pp., 2 leaves. With envelope postmarked June 30, 1918.
folder 21	Letter from Flesch, Carl; Jan. 16, 1907; Amsterdam. To AH; n.p.; 3 pp., 1 leaf.
folder 22	Letter from Adolph Martin Foerster; July 21, 1914; Pittsburgh, PA. To AH; n.p.; 2 pp., 1 leaf.
folder 23	Letter from Arthur Foote; Aug. 25, 1907; n.p.. To AH; n.p.; 3 pp., 1 leaf.
folder 24	Letter from Fay Foster; Oct. 9, 1916; New York City. To AH; New York City; 2 pp., 1 leaf. With envelope.
folder 25	Letter from Ossip Gabrilovitch; Aug. 21, 1919; Seal Harbor, ME. To AH; Houghton, NY; 1 p., 1 leaf.
folder 26	Letter from Rudolph Ganz; Aug. 18, 1916; Naples, ME. To AH; Houghton, NY; 3 pp., 1 leaf. With envelope.
folder 27	Letter from Gabriel Gaveau; Nov. 6, 1913; Paris. To AH; Paris; 1 p., 1 leaf.
folder 28	Letter from Leopold Godowsky; Jan. 14, 1917; New York City. To AH; New York City; 1 p., 1 leaf.
folder 29	Letter from Alex. Gretschaninov; Oct. 16, 1906; n.p.. To AH; n.p.; 1 p., 1 leaf.
folder 30	Letter from Alex. Guilmant; Sept. 21, 1900; Brussels. To AH; Paris; 2 pp., 1 leaf. With envelope.
folder 31	Letter from Henry Hadley; Nov. 27, 1908; Wiesbaden. To AH; n.p.; 4 pp., 1 leaf.
folder 32	Letter from Philip Hale; Aug. 12, 1919; Norton, MA. To AH; Houghton, NY; 1 p., 1 leaf. With envelope.
folder 33	Letter from Marie Hall; Oct. 28, 1907; London. To AH; Berlin; 1 p., 1 leaf. With envelope.
folder 34	Letter from Hugo Heerman; Nov. 16, 1906; Chicago, IL. To AH; New York City; 1 p., 1 leaf. With envelope.
folder 35	Letter from Arthur Hinton; July 15, 1909; London. To AH; Pittsburgh, PA; 2 pp., 1 leaf. With envelope.
folder 36	Letter from Theodore S. Holland; June 18, 1906; Berlin. To AH; n.p.; 3 pp., 1 leaf. With envelope.
folder 37	Letter from Bruno Huhn; Feb. 15, 1918; New York City. To AH; New York City; 1 p., 1 leaf. With envelope.
folder 38	Letter from Vincent D’Indy; Sept. 27, 1908; n.p.. To AH; n.p.; 1 p., 1 leaf
folder 39	Letter from Raphael Joseffy; Nov. 21, 1906; North Tarrytown, NY. To AH; n.p.; 1 p., 1 leaf.
folder 40	Letter from Franz Kneisel; May 15, 1917; n.p.. To AH; n.p.; 1 p., 1 leaf.
folder 41	Letter from Zoltán Kodály; May 3, 1914; Budapest. To AH; n.p.; 2 pp., 1 leaf.
folder 42	Letter from A.W. Kramer; Nov. 19, 1915; New York City. To AH; New York City; 1 p., 1 leaf. With envelope.
folder 43	Letter from Fritz Kreisler; March 21, 1921; Boston, MA. To AH; Rochester, NY; 1 p., 1 leaf.
folder 44	Letter from Ernst Kunwald; April 17, 1913; Cincinnati, OH. To AH; Buffalo, NY; postcard.
folder 45	Letter from Labori; Jan. 15, 1911; Paris. To AH; Paris; 1 p., 1 leaf. With envelope.
folder 46	Letter from Charles Martin Loeffler; June 12, 1905 – MISSING
folder 47	Letter from Florence Easton Maclennan; April 20, 1918; New York City. To AH; n.p.; 2 pp., 1 leaf.
folder 48	Letter from Daniel G. Mason; March 22, 1914; n.p.. To AH; n.p.; 2 pp., 1 leaf.
folder 49	Letter from Tivadar Nachez; April 10, 1906; n.p.. To AH; n.p.; 4 pp., 1 leaf.
folder 50	Letter from Ole Olson; Dec. 18, 1913; n.p.. To AH; Paris; 1 p., 1 leaf.
folder 51	Letter from Leo Ornstein; Aug. 13, 1918; Deer Isle, ME. To AH; Houghton, NY; postcard.
folder 52	Letter from Eugenio Do Pirani; Feb. 3, 1918; Brooklyn, NY. To AH; New York City; 1p., 1 leaf. With envelope.
folder 53	Letter from Percy Pitt; June 25, 1902; London. To AH; n.p.; 1 p., 1 leaf. With envelope.
folder 54	Letter from Alfred Pochon; March 17, 1919; New York City. To AH; Rochester, NY; 3 pp., 1 leaf. With envelope.
folder 55	Letter from Ede Poldini; April 4, 1921; n.p.. To AH; n.p.; 2 pp., 1 leaf.
folder 56	Letter from Maud Powell; July 23, 1919; New York City. To AH; Houghton, NY; 4 pp., 1 leaf. With envelope.
folder 57	Letter from Franz Ries; Dec. 23, 1912; Berlin. To AH; New York City; 1 p., 1 leaf.
folder 58	Letter from James H. Rogers; Nov. 28, 1908; Cleveland, OH. To AH; New York City; 4 pp., 1leaf. With envelope.
folder 59	Letter from Walter Morse Rummel; Dec. 19, 1913; n.p.. To AH; n.p.; 1 p., 1 leaf.
folder 60	Letter from Cornelius Rybner; March 14, 1917; New York City. To AH; n.p.; 1 p., 1 leaf.
folder 61	Letter from Eugene Sartory; Oct. 16, 19?; Paris. To AH; New York City; 3 pp., 1 leaf. With envelope.
folder 62	Letter from Emile Sauret; Nov. 12, 1908; London. To AH; n.p.; 3 pp., 1 leaf.
folder 63	Letter from Florent Schmitt; May 5, 1914; n.p.. To AH; n.p.; 2 pp., 1 leaf.
folder 64	Letter from Arnold Schönberg; June 9, 1914; Berlin. To AH; n.p.; 1 p., 1 leaf.
folder 65	Letter from Otakar Sevcik; Sept. 10, 1906; Reichenhall, Bavaria. To AH; Berlin; 4 pp., 1 leaf. With envelope.
folder 66	Letter from Albert Spalding; June 15, 19?; New York City. To AH; n.p.; 2 pp., 1 leaf.
folder 67	Letter from Roman Statkowski; June 10, 1906; n.p.. To AH; Berlin; 1 p., 1 leaf. With envelope.
folder 68	Letter from Sigismund Stojowski; April 23, 1917; New York City. To AH; New York City; 1 p., 1 leaf. With envelope.
folder 69	Postcard from Richard Strauss; Dec. 26, 1904; Berlin. To AH; n.p.
folder 70	Letter from Jacques Thibaud; Feb. 27, 1918; New York City. To AH; n.p.; 2 pp., 1 leaf.
folder 71	Letter from Pier Adolfo Tirindelli; Aug.27, 1907; n.p.. To AH; n.p.; 2 pp., 1 leaf.
folder 72	Letter from Anton von Webern; July 15, 1914; n.p.. To AH; n.p.; 2 pp., 1 leaf.
folder 73	Letter from Leo Weiner; n.d.; n.p.. To AH; n.p.; 3 pp., 1 leaf.
folder 74	Draft translation of letter from ?; May 31, 1937; n.p.. To ?; n.p.; 2 pp., 1 leaf.
	Unidentified envelope; to AH; New York City; March 1918