Seite - 569 - in Arthur Schnitzler & Hermann Bahr - Briefwechsel, Aufzeichnungen, Dokumente 1891–1931

dezember 1922 569 is in the Chromatic Fantasy, however, that he first gives his name a triumphant transformation. He now makes the name with which he was born consciously his own in that he transposes the letters. 120 He no longer merely accepts what he received at his birth, but out of b a c h he now makes a b h c. This means that what he passively received he is now making a free and intense activity of his own. This results in the creation of a symbol–namely, that freedom can only consist in that we not only suffer what is necessary but also 125 do what is necessary; that we let the will of God not only act upon usbutalso throughus.»Makeuseofwhateverexperiencecomes to you!« said Goethe; and always this has been the ultimate secret of allwisdom.It lieswithinourselvesalone to learn tomasterourdes- tiny, in that we obey it. Suffering, no matter how great, will burst 130 forthinacryofrejoicingassoonaswecourageouslysay»Yea«toit. Only he who resists the gods eternally remains bound. Sitte’s work is theresultofprofoundexperience. It leadsustotheultimateprob- lems where the highest art always intermingles with ethics, but it also is rich in technical knowledge. He shows us that Bach to-day 135 is almost universally misunderstood by pianists. They romanticise him,andhavegrownaccustomedtotreatingthepianolikeanorgan. Bach must be cleansed of the romantic accretions: he must not be played like an organ; he must be »fingered,« that is to say, played »with the weight and force of the fingers alone, without any special 140 co-operationofthearm-muscles.«Duringrecentyears itseemsas if thespiritof imperialismhadlikewisepassed intothepiano.Among pianists,too,prideofmusclewaseverywhereintheascendancy.The bookshouldbewelcomedasasignthat thegoodoldGermantradi- tion is not forgotten, for through it alone can we regain our health. 145 The real success of the book bears testimony to the vitality of the Germanspirit. HERMANNBAHR 1292.TagebuchvonSchnitzler,31.12.1922,Auszug Mit Lili Rmdth. Bahrs Meister (Klöpfer, außerordentlich). Heini den»Balsam«zu leise (manrief»lauter«).