Arnold Schönberg an Universal-Edition
vor 2. Mai 1950
I) During the years 1933 to 1938
when it still was easy to ship my
music to America – forseeing that
Hitler would do the same with it, what
he did in Germany, you (U.E.) and
your agents A.M.P. neglected your duty,
to save my music from destruction
and to provide for the possibility to
sell and rent it in non-war countries
when it still was easy to ship my
music to America – forseeing that
Hitler would do the same with it, what
he did in Germany, you (U.E.) and
your agents A.M.P. neglected your duty,
to save my music from destruction
and to provide for the possibility to
sell and rent it in non-war countries
This was a great damage to me
and as it was only your fault, I will
ask you to regress my losses.
and as it was only your fault, I will
ask you to regress my losses.
2) When in 1945 the war was over,
Mr Alfred Schlee then „Öffentlicher
Verwalter der Universal Edition (Officially
wardenappointed manager of U.E) assured1 me that he
had almost all my works saved and
promised to fill up the stocks
Mr Alfred Schlee then „Öffentlicher
Verwalter der Universal Edition (Officially
wardenappointed manager of U.E) assured1 me that he
had almost all my works saved and
promised to fill up the stocks
Up to now this promise has not
yet been fulfilled and rather reprinting
of my music and replacement of all
the parts of orchestra and chamber
music works have not all been
begun.
yet been fulfilled and rather reprinting
of my music and replacement of all
the parts of orchestra and chamber
music works have not all been
begun.
failed to fulfill our contract and
for this reason I herewith cancel
this contract, declaring all your
claims on my copyright void.
for this reason I herewith cancel
this contract, declaring all your
claims on my copyright void.
A
As
a consequence of that, my music could
not be sold and most of my works
could not be performed. – – – –
not be sold and most of my works
could not be performed. – – – –
XB
On the other hand U.E. has published
quite a number of new works, thus
denying the excuse of lack of funds,
paper and printing material.
quite a number of new works, thus
denying the excuse of lack of funds,
paper and printing material.
At least the parts could have been
written anew.
written anew.
C
Here is the true wording of
the
contract in German and a trans-
lation into English
contract in German and a trans-
lation into English
I) During the years 1933 to 1938
when it still was easy to ship my music to America – forseeing that
Hitler would do the same with it, what
he did in Germany, you (U.E.) and your agents A.M.P. neglected your duty, to save my music from
destruction and to provide for the possibility to sell and rent it in
non-war countries
This was a great damage to me and as it was only your fault, I will
ask you to regress my losses.
2) When in 1945 the war was over, Mr Alfred Schlee then „Öffentlicher Verwalter der Universal
Edition (Officially
appointed manager of U.E) assured1 me that he had
almost all my works saved and promised to fill up the stocks
Up to now this promise has not yet been fulfilled and rather reprinting
of my music and replacement of all the parts of orchestra and chamber music works have not all been begun.
As our contract2 says: – „U.E is obliged to have
always a reasonable number of copies in stock“ you failed to fulfill our contract and for this reason I herewith cancel
this contract, declaring all your claims on my copyright void.
A
As
a consequence of that, my music could not be
sold and most of my works could not be performed.
– – – –
XB
On the other hand U.E. has published quite a number of new works,
thus denying the excuse of lack of funds, paper and printing
material.
At least the parts could have been written anew.
C
Here is the true wording of
the contract in German and a translation into English
vor 2. Mai 1950
Ort erschlossen; Entwurf zu Arnold Schönberg an Universal-Edition, 12. Mai 1950 [erschlossen]; Arnold Schönberg an
Maurice Thorner, 2. Mai 1950 (ASCC
5236) enthält bereits eine getippte Abschrift. Seite 2 enthält:
Notizen von Arnold Schönberg „How to
build a basic set“
Arnold Schönberg Center
Wien
Archiv
Gertrud Schönberg Collection
Wien
Archiv
Gertrud Schönberg Collection
Brief, Entwurf
Zitierhinweis:
Arnold Schönberg an Universal-Edition, vor 2. Mai 1950, in: Arnold Schönberg: Briefwechsel mit den Verlagen Universal-Edition und Dreililien. Hrsg. von Katharina Bleier und Therese Muxeneder unter Mitarbeit von Jannik Franz und Philipp Kehrer, Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien und Arnold Schönberg Center, Wien. Version 2.1 vom 20.01.2026. URL: ://www.ascwien.org/ue/letters/letter.24446_hld.