BLOCH, ERNEST. (1880-1959). Swiss-born, American composer of Schelomo and other 20th-century masterpieces. ALS. (“Ernest Bloch”). 2pp. 4to. Agate Beach, March 3, 1945. To French-born, American conductor of the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, PIERRE MONTEUX, 1875-1964. In French with translation.

“I would like to express all my gratitude to you and the orchestra. From all sides I hear from all sides that the execution was superb and I already knew – from Blinder, last summer – how much you searched the score to discover all my intentions.

How I wish I had been there! I have never heard this work – nor have I heard Voice in the Wilderness and Evocations! – and I must say, the records had deeply disappointed me… I had told myself that I did not know how to orchestrate – But a trip would have been unbearable for me, under the current conditions – For the last 3 months, I have been fighting against what the famous Dr. Bruig [?] used to call ‘morbid alternations’! 6 weeks of crisis – spasmodic rhinitis – then various dermatoses, the “57 Varieties,” you can choose! Old friends, much too faithful, and whom I would gladly do without – Nothing can be done – only patience – Life is made of it!

But everything that was written to me compensated for all this, in a way – although a personal experience would be more useful for future works – If you have a moment (?!!) I would be very glad if you shared with me your remarks and your criticisms – they would be invaluable to me –

In the meantime, thanks again – My warm greetings to you and to Mrs. Monteux…

Here and there, I have listened to you, on Sundays – when the radio, which is very bad here, allows to do so – Your Franck program was admirable. It reminded me of the heroic times in Brussels – 1897-98! – with Ysaye who, without having the technique and the mastery that you possess, nevertheless, also had your fervor.”

After studying in Belgium and Germany, Bloch moved to the United States where he became the first teacher of composition at the Mannes College’s New School for Music. From 1920 to 1925, he was the Cleveland Institute of Music’s first director, after which he directed the San Francisco Conservatory until 1930. Following a decade living in Switzerland Bloch returned to America in 1939 becoming a professor of music at the University of California at Berkeley until his retirement in 1952. Bloch lived in Agate Beach, Oregon, from 1941 until his death.

Bloch’s compositions reflect his varied life experiences as a Jew and as an American. Most of his works have either Jewish themes like Avodath Hakodesh, Schelomo: Rhapsodie Hébraïque for Violoncello and Orchestra and Baal Shem Suite: Three Pictures of Chassidic Life for Violin and Orchestra or are neo-classical such as the Concerto Grosso and the epic rhapsody America. Our letter discusses his 1936 cello masterpiece Voice in the Wilderness, a symphonic poem for orchestra with cello obbligato that later became the source for his suite Visions and Prophecies, and his 1937 Evocations, (the Symphonic Suite). Also discussed is Monteux’s San Francisco Symphony Orchestra’s January performances of his Concerto for Violin, featuring Russian-American violinist, teacher and San Francisco Symphony concertmaster Naoum Blinder (1889-1965).

In our letter, Bloch reminisces about the 1890s performances by violinist, conductor and composer Eugene-Auguste Ysaye (1858-1931) of the work of fellow Belgian composer and organist Cesar Franck (1822-1890) who, over the course of his 55-year career composed 120 works including the biblical oratorio Ruth, his first large-scale work; Redemption, a symphonic poem that introduces what his colleague, Vincent d’Indy, later termed Franck’s “tonal architecture;” the Lisztian Grand pièce symphonique; and the Béatitudes, his “magnum opus by which he and his disciples set so much store,” (The New Grove Dictionary). Our letter also mentions Monteux’s third wife, Doris Hodgkins Monteux (1894-1984).

As the conductor for Serge Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes, Monteux premiered such notable productions as Stravinsky’s Petrushka, The Rite of Spring and The Nightingale and Maurice Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloé. In addition to leading the San Francisco Symphony from 1935 to 1952, he led those of Boston, Amsterdam, Paris, and London. The Sunday radio show referred to in our letter, The Standard Symphony Hour, was a west coast NBC weekly broadcast featuring the San Francisco Symphony and San Francisco Opera, which often included Monteux.

During 1945, Bloch was plagued with ill health, which he calls “morbid alternations,” a homeopathic term to describe a succession of pathologies that regularly return in the same order: in Bloch’s case an unspecified skin condition and “spasmodic rhinitis.” Bloch had sought homeopathic treatment for his health as early as 1935.

A wonderful association letter written on the recto and verso of a single sheet. Folded and in very good condition. With the original airmail envelope.