Novello, Ewer and Co. Dvořák Antonín

Jan 15. 1894

 

My dear Friend Dvořák

         I am sorry we do not seem to get on in the matter of the publication of your new works. You say you sent us at our own request the ‘American Flag’ and the ‘Te Deum’ and we refused them. This is not quite the fact you know. I never advised you to write the American Flag – you did this entirely for America not for us: we also did not refuse the ‘Te Deum’: you asked us to buy this with a number of other things and we could not agree to your terms. I should still be very glad to talk about the ‘Te Deum’ if you will let us see the M[anu]S[cript] and ask moderate terms for it.

         The Cardiff Festival people are still very anxious about a new work by you. If you could let me see the libretto of the cantata you think of writing and tell me terms you propose for publishing it I daresay we could agree about it: and you could be satisfied that it would be performed + published. It would not do for it to be so difficult as the ‘Spectres Bride’. With kindest regards and wishing you and Madame Dvořák a very happy New Year.

I am

Yours very sincerely

 

Alfred H Littleton

the committee of the Cardiff festival is disappointed by AD's rejection, the company is willing to publish Te Deum for a smaller fee

Pen