The Selected Letters of John Cage. John Cage

more than happy to hear from you. Please pardon my using my typewriter. But I have such trouble getting it through customs and such things that I feel the necessity to make use of it. I have wanted to send gifts from Europe at Christmas time, but the difficulties of taxes, etc. are apparently great. You will have to wait. My English as you see is getting horrid; I hope it remains slightly understandable. French is used more than English in Africa and I’m getting into bad habits of language.

      [handwritten note in left margin] Please write to Poste Restante Seville Spain and say “Hold” on the envelope.

      To Adolph Weiss²

       [Spring 1933?] | Carmel, California

      Dear Mr. Weiss,

      The enclosed compositions (Sonata for One Voice; Sonata for Two Voices; Composition for Three Voices) I beg you to consider merely as work which I have finished in the last half-year. I have, in writing them, erected arbitrary rules which have been strictly observed; so that, in defending them, I would be able to analyse all of the relationships which, in writing, I set up.

      Richard Buhlig,³ in Los Angeles, is very much interested in my work, and advised me to get in touch with Henry Cowell.⁴ When, recently, I saw Mr. Cowell, I told him of my intention to study with Dr. Schoenberg⁵ and asked him what method to pursue in order to accomplish that intention, by means of a scholarship. Mr. Cowell was rather vague, but definitely stated that you prepare students for Dr. Schoenberg, and advised me to send my compositions to you.

      I am writing, then, to ask if you will teach me. And, are there any possibilities of obtaining a scholarship, for I have no money?

      I am not ignorant that I will have to work hard; I add this because of the stories I have heard of the disappointments of “modernists” who have wanted to study with Schoenberg, hoping to find in him someone who would “sympathize.”

      Of course, I am very anxious to receive a reply from you, as soon as it would be convenient for you to send me one.

      References: Richard Buhlig

      102 S. Carondolet

      Los Angeles, California

      Henry Cowell

      Menlo Park, California

      P.S. I am twenty-one years old, and have worked for the last three years without a teacher.

      J.C.

      Box 1111, Carmel, Calif

      To Henry Cowell

       October 26, 1933 | 803 Griffith Park Blvd. Los Angeles

      Dear Mr. Cowell,

      I am writing in order to let you know that I have moved from the Santa Monica address which I gave you in connection with the Sonata for B-flat Clarinet Alone which I sent you for publication in New Music at Mr. Buhlig’s request. I am, of course, very interested in receiving your criticism.

      I am, at present, in extremely straight circumstances. I feel that you must be interested in the economic problems of the composer. If you know of any solution that would give me leisure to study and write, I would be very grateful if you would let me know of it.

      I am writing now a Sonata for Two Voices and have finished the first movement. In it I treat each sound as absolutely individual; two different A’s, for example, are absolutely different. It is a way of writing which I have approached with difficulty and yet inevitably. The last movement of the Clarinet Sonata which I sent you is obviously not written from this, my present point of departure. There I have, in writing a crab-canon, exchanged at will one A for another, desiring a change in flow-character.

      I have no piano now. But that doesn’t bother me much. What I want is time.

      To Pauline Schindler⁶

       11 December 1934 | Location not indicated

      Dearest Pauline:⁷

      I am terribly excited at the prospect of seeing you soon again and I want you to know I am extremely worried that you won’t or will get the flavor of N.Y. via me. I am in a rush of vortex!!! and you must pardon if this arrives to be only a note. Will travel by Santa Fe where Cowell + I are invited for Xmas Holiday. I forget the names of the people. How soon will I see you. You are probably in Ojai + I will (probably) have to stay in L.A. for a dutiful period which I will enjoy however. I will meet Schoenberg (whom you have already) by taking him presents from Mrs. Weiss who is not coming. How is Mark.⁸ Give him my best + Pat.⁹

      And Buhlig! I can’t wait. And everybody. There are two more important people in L.A. whom I think you don’t know. Joseph Achron, Jew + Wm. Grant Still,¹⁰ negro (composers). These distinctions are important now. Everything is important. Equalities. Distinctions wiping them out + emphasizing them.

      To Adolph Weiss

       [Winter, 1934?] | Location not indicated

      Dear Mr. Weiss:

      Please write to me and let me know what your plans are. This is an S.O.S. I count almost entirely on working with you.

      I am to be married soon. In May, as far as I know. Xenia is now in Alaska.¹¹ We will want to live near you and Mrs. Weiss.

      Please let me know where you will be. Otherwise I will feel that you have cast me aside, which I can’t believe.

      I think I am progressing with the horn. My tongue, though, is very sluggish. And people begin to object to my practicing.

      And now I reach a point where my respect and affection for you and Mrs. Weiss pass bounds, and I am afraid of seeming not sincere, but believe in my deep respect and friendship.

      To Herr Jawlinski¹²

       [ca. 1935] | 1207 Miramar, Los Angeles

      Herr Jawlinski

      Ich kann nicht Deutsch schreiben oder sprechen, aber ich bin sehr freudig, weil ich habe eines Ihnen Bilder gekauft. Jetzt ist es in mir.

      Ich schreibe Musik. Sie sind mein Lehrer.

      Ich will mehr schreiben aber ich kann nicht geben auf Deutsch alles was ich will.

      Es war #116

      To Mrs. Adolph Weiss

       January 3, 1935 | 1207 Miramar, Los Angeles

      My dear Mrs. Weiss:

      I wish that you were here enjoying the very beautiful weather that we are having. The hills are all intensely green, and from my window I awake to look at snow-capped mountains. The air is very gentle and the sunlight is brilliant and warm. I hope that you are not angry with me for telling you about these things, because I don’t mean to be boasting of them; I only wish that you were enjoying them.

      It has taken me a few days to get back into the swing of working, but I’m there now and enjoying writing exercises and working on my song. Mother says that I may buy a flute, but I am going to wait until Mr. Weiss arrives; he may have something to say about what kind, etc.

      Mr. Buhlig is giving several concerts which I’m going to hear. A modern one with Copland, Scriabin, Busoni, Schoenberg, Chavez and Bartok; then a Bach program (two toccatas and the Goldberg Variations); three Beethoven Sonatas, 106, 110, 111, I think; and the last will be the Art of the Fugue. He is much better, and says, in fact, that he hasn’t felt better in at least ten years.

      Don is staying with relatives in San Fernando, California. Henry left a few days ago for Menlo Park. We had an excellent trip across country. I was sorry that Don changed his mind about Santa Fe.

      I am wishing with all my heart that this letter finds you well and not too burdened with the illness in Mr. Weiss’ family. And that the coming year will be an excellent one for you and Mr. Weiss.

      Did you