It is a long time since I have heard from you, and
it is also a long time since you have heard from me. I
don’t know what have been your reasons for not writing to
me. But mine are these: I am frequently sick and can then
not work very much; in spite of this I still work very much
in order to finish urgent business.

Thus I could not proceed in writing the new version of my
“Five Orchestra Pieces Op. 16“[.], which is very bad. Because,
not only were there a number of performances in Europe,
(Frankfurt, Darmstadt etc.) but probably on account of mis-
sing orchestral parts, many might have failed to take place.

I am afraid, in the near future I will not be able to make
this reduction for standard symphony orchestra for which a
new copyright could be acquired. For this reason I want to
make a suggestion: I have a pupil, Mr. Richard Hoffmann from
New Zealand, who is able, under my supervision and according
to my suggestions, to change this score into a form, reduced
to standard orchestra size, which also will facilitate the
performance.

The first question is now: – are you ready to print this new
score and to make the necessary changes in the parts. The
second question is: – shall the copyright be taken in Mr Hoff-
mann’s, in my, or in Peter’s name. The third question is:
concerns a fee to be paid, (not royalties) to Mr Hoffmann;
the forth question is: – what will be my share, which in this
case should reemburse me for the great loss I suffered by
neglecting to take out a copyright, and for my part in super-
vising the reduction – – – and, after all, I am the author.

I am anxious to hear your opinion about this as soon as pos-
sible, especially because of the great publicity which my
works might enjoy now, on account of my 75th birthday throughout
the world.