A Musical Cornucopia: Thirty Years of Correspondence between Goethe and Zelter

Abstract

Goethe's correspondence with Zelter, which began in 1799 and lasted until 1832, the year in which both friends died, is an important sourcefor the poet's understanding of music, and testifies to his musical interest and intelligence. Goethe's correspondence with Zelter not only records the poet's own constant musical activity and sincere concern to understand the art, but also highlights his interest in the history of music as part of the chronicle of human culture. His consultation with Zelter about the music he heard provides a valuable chronicle of concert life in Germany at the beginning of the nineteenth century and yields insight into the reception of contemporary music and musicians. While the beginning of Goethe's correspondence with Zelter is marked by his dependence on the composer, frequently Goethe opens up their musical discussion and gradually this reliance diminishes. At the end of their correspondence Zelter himself recognized the reversal in their roles and in a letter to the poet, he admits: ‘you are the only person I know, whose musical judgement offers unique insight and value’.Zelter's musical ability is continually called into question by scholars, yet his letters to Goethe reveal a reflective musician. His correspondence with Goethe chronicles the composer's artistic growth and the impact he had on the musical life of Berlin. Zelter's love for the melismatic melodies of Bach reveals his independence of the musical judgement of others at that time and suggests the composer was not as conservative as is traditionally held. The correspondence provides a fascinating account of Mendelssohn's and Goethe's discovery of Bach through Zelter, and throughout the letters Zelter's encouragement of Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn is continually affirmed. In one letter he compares one of his settings to Fanny Mendelssohn's, and recommends the latter as being better than his own—an incredible admission for any composer.Musik […] die ganze Fülle der schönsten Offenbarung Gottes'1