Volume II of Schenker's series of theoretical works entitled Neue
Musikalische Theorien und Phantasien (New Musical Theories and Fantasies),
originally intended as a single volume, but ultimately split into two half-volumes, the
first, subtitled Cantus Firmus and Two-voice Counterpoint,
published by J. G. Cotta of Stuttgart in 1910, the second,
subtitled Three- and More-voice Counterpoint; Bridges to Free
Composition, by Universal Edition of Vienna in
1922.
Kontrapunkt 1
Bibliographical Data
volume title-page:
KONTRAPUNKT | VON | HEINRICH SCHENKER | ERSTER HALBBAND: | CANTUS FIRMUS UND
ZWEISTIMMIGER SATZ | [publisher's device] | STUTTGART UND BERLIN
1910 | J. G. COTTA'SCHE BUCHHANDLUNG NACHFOLGER
dedication:
DEM ANDENKEN MEINES VATERS [To the memory of my father]
printer:
Druck der Union Deutsche Verlagsgesellschaft in Stuttgart
publication number: UE 6867
Publication History
Preparation of Kontrapunkt is recorded in Schenker's diary
from at least August 1906. The "Foreword" to Harmonielehre
(released November 10, 1906), states:
I will not neglect, before the publication of my Psychology of
Counterpoint, and to reinforce and put into practice the present Theory of Harmony, to publish a supplementary text entitled "The
Decline of the Art of Composition—a Technical-critical Inquiry."
The Niedergang der Kompositionskunst (Decline of the Art of
Composition) was never published, and Schenker dropped the "Psychology of" from his
title. After a two-month delay to prepare the second edition of Beitrag
zur Ornamentik, Schenker continued drafting Kontrapunkt in June 1908, submitting the manuscript of Sections I and II of the
book on September 23. On October 8, Schenker proposed splitting the work into two
half-volumes, but Cotta resisted this, agreeing finally only on June 1, 1909. Proofing
began in late October 1908 and continued, with interpolation of preliminary matter and
supplementary material, until August 1910, the work being published on October 4, 1910.
After the negotiations with Universal Edition over Kontrapunkt
2 (see below), a print-run of 708 copies of Kontrapunkt
1 was produced for UE on February 21, 1921 (UE 6867). (A pencil note states that
on March 26, 1940, 11 copies were handed over to the Gestapo.)
Kontrapunkt 2
Bibliographical Data
volume title-page:
KONTRAPUNKT | VON | HEINRICH SCHENKER | ZWEITER HALBBAND: | DREI- UND MEHRSTIMMIGER
SATZ | ÜBERGÄNGE ZUM FREIEN SATZ | UNIVERSAL-EDITION A. G. | WIEN
[–] 1922 [–] LEIPZIG
dedication:
DEM ANDENKEN MEINER MUTTER [To the memory of my mother]
printer:
Universitäts-Buchdrückerei "Styria", Graz
publication number: UE 6868
Publication History
Schenker spoke of "putting the finishing touches to Kontrapunkt
2" in May 1911, and persevered despite the parallel work on his monograph Beethovens Neunte Sinfonie (1912) and Erläuterungsausgabe (1913, 1914, 1916, 1920). On March 25, 1920,
Schenker promised Cotta he would deliver the manuscript of the work in person in
September (CA 171); but instead, Otto Vrieslander delivered Section III (three-part
counterpoint) on October 4 (CA 180 and 181). On November 6, Schenker claimed that
Section III was the "complete" volume, and urged Cotta to proceed with printing, while
at the same time vaguely retaining the possibility that he might send them more to be
incorporated (CA 183).
Cotta replied with new financial proposals, in the face of which Schenker realized that
he could no longer fall back on Alphons von Rothschild for the publication costs.
Schenker then turned to Emil Hertzka. In a series of
letters and meetings (November–January, midst high drama over Der Tonwille), Hertzka offered to take over publication of Kontrapunkt 2 and any further volumes in the series, on condition
that he gain control of all previous volumes (OC 52/239–240, December 18,
1920; CA 188, January 21, 1921). Hertzka produced a draft contract (OC 52/244, January
12, 1921). Cotta agreed on February 5 to dissolve its 1905 contract and to hand over all
residual stocks to UE (OJ 9/31, [46], also CA 192).
When Schenker submitted the remaining material, and when proofing took place, are
unclear. The volume went to press on May 30, 1922, and according to the UE
Verlagsdruckbuch the printers delivered 994 copies to UE on November 30, 1922; however,
Schenker records the release of the volume in his diary for July 7, 1922, and informs
his pupils and friends. (A pencil note states that on March 26, 1940, 431 copies were
handed over to the Gestapo.)
Bibliography:
Counterpoint, trans. Rohn Rothgeb
& Jürgen Thym (New York: Schirmer Books, 1987), vol. I: Cantus Firmus and Two-Voice Counterpoint; vol. II: Counterpoint in Three and More Voices; Bridges to Free Composition
Sources:
correspondence between Schenker and Cotta; between Schenker and UE; between UE and
Cotta