Arnold Schönberg's Voice Recordings
Quartets, strings. Speeches

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Recording date: 1936 December 29-30
Duration: 4:42
Description: On the occasion of the recording of the four quartets with the Kolisch Quartet. The members of the Quartet (Rudolf Kolisch, Felix Khuner, Eugene Lehner, Benar Heifetz), Alfred Newman, and recording engineer, Frank Maher, also speak. In English and German.
ASC call nos.: 28/C (4:42); 98/D-100/D (untimed); 50/R7 (3:11)
Publications: Fred Steiner. "A history of the first complete recording of the Schoenberg String quartets." Journal of the Arnold Schoenberg Institute 2/2 (1978 February): 122-137. -- Transcription only. The German has been translated into English.
Schoenberg String quartets nos. 1-4: Kolisch Quartet 1936-37. -- Archiphon ARC-103/04 digital mono [2 CD], p1992. -- Transcription (p. 19 of booklet) and recording (tracks 9-11). The German has been translated into English in the transcription. Includes the full text of Steiner's article about the recordings.

Transcription:

Quartet, strings, no. 1, op. 7, D minor. Speech (2:24)

SCHOENBERG: Dieses Quartett habe ich vor einunddreissig Jahren komponiert aber erst die Noblesse meine jungen Freundes Alfred Newman und die hervorragenden Leistungen seiner Mitarbeiter vom United Artists studio, sowie die uneigennützigkeit meiner treuen Freunde vom Kolisch Quartett, die auch die anderen Quartette repertieren[?] werden, ermöglichen die innige Freundschaft für diese Musik. Möge diese Bekundung für das Ausmass meines herzlichsten Dankes zeugen.

[Translation: I composed this quartet thirty-one years ago. But it took the noblesse of my dear friend Alfred Newman, and the outstanding work of his collaborators at the United Artists studio, as well as the selflessness of my loyal friends of the Kolisch Quartet, who also will record the other quartets, to make possible an intimate acquaintance with this music. May this suffice as a justification for my warmest thanks.]

And now listen to this man Alfred Newman.

ALFRED NEWMAN: It has been an honor and our very good fortune to be in a position to record these great Schoenberg quartets, to contribute in a measure to their perpetuation. I am sure his friends who are fortunate enough to receive from Mr. Schoenberg these recorded albums, played with such devotion by the Kolisch Quartet, will consider them as we do, historic musical documents. And so, Mr. Schoenberg, we of the United Artists studios--the sound engineers, recorders, and all the others who made possible this memorial to your great art--we are proud and honored. And now the Kolisch Quartet.
Mr. Kolisch:

RUDOLF KOLISCH: I am very happy indeed to have the opportunity, at last, to hear this work which, since my childhood, has been one of my dearest.

ALFRED NEWMAN: Mr. Khuner:

FELIX KHUNER: Ich freue mich sehr dass unsere Arbeit auf diesen schönen Platten belohnt wurde. [Translation: I am very glad that our effort was rewarded by these fine records.]

ALFRED NEWMAN: Mr. Lehner:

EUGENE LEHNER: Ich hoffe die Zuhörer haben auch etwas von der Freude die wir in empfinden, wenn wir diese, uns so teure Musik spielen dürfen. [Translation: I hope the listeners also have something of the joy we feel when we are given the opportunity to play this music which is so dear to our hearts.]

ALFRED NEWMAN: Mr. Heifetz:

BENAR HEIFETZ: Es fällt mir sehr schwer die Worte zu finden die meiner Freude Ausdruck tun an der Arbeit[?] teilgenommen zuhaben. [Translation: It is very difficult for me to find the words to express my joy at having participated in the work.]

ALFRED NEWMAN: Mr. Frank Maher, our sound recorder:

FRANK MAHER: [speaking from the control booth] It has been a pleasure and an honor to contribute in my small way in assisting in such an art.


Quartet, strings, no. 2, op. 10, F-sharp minor. Speech (0:53)

SCHOENBERG: Although the premiere of this quartet was exceptionally well presented by master Rose' and his wonderful string quartet, one knows that perfection cannot be expected at the very first performance. So it was this Second String Quartet about which a gentleman once asked me whether I had heard it already in a perfect manner. I had to answer, "yes, during the composing." Now, since the Kolisch Quartet exists, and thanks to my friend Alfred Newman, who gave me the opportunity to record these compositions, everybody--and even myself--are [sic] in the position to hear it in a perfect manner, in a perfect performance.


Quartet, strings, no. 3, op. 30. Speech (0:56)

SCHOENBERG: These are private records, as private as my music is still today. I personally like privacy, but I want to include in it my friends--the friends of my thoughts, of my music. Nevertheless, I am astonished that other people do like my privacy, liked it for so long a time, and like it still. I enjoy very much this opportunity, given me through the generosity of Mr. Alfred Newman and his excellent cooperators of the United Artists studio. Many thanks for enabling me to send so a message to my friends of today and of the future.