RAVEL, MAURICE. (1875-1937). French composer; creator of masterpieces such as Daphnis et Chloe, Gaspard de la nuit and Bolero. ALS. (“Maurice Ravel”). 1p. 12mo. Paris, [June 10, 1910]. On a Carte-Lettre. To French-Norwegian composer William Molard (1862-1937) about the cancellation of Molard’s Symphony, Hamlet, which had not been selected for the first orchestra concert of the Société Musical Indépendante. In French with translation.
“I have received from Ouvré a letter that amazes me: 1st He did not ask for Liabeuf’s pardon because Hamlet was not performed. 2nd It is I who caused the symphony not to be produced.
I thought that, in this affair, I had shown myself to be if not a better comrade than Schmitt, at least not as disorganized and more effective.
I do not like ambiguous situations. I demand from my colleagues that at the next committee meeting, on Monday or Tuesday, you be received and that a full explanation be given.
I apologize for bothering you, but I believe that an old friendship, if it is not worth a man’s head, is at least worth a few minutes…”