Reprinted from Aoyama Flute Institute magazine "Fuefuki-tachi" Nnumber 19, 1990

"Visiting Kuhlau"

 

Lyngby Library

　

It took less than 10 minutes by taxi to get to the house from the Lyngby library. It was Mr. Busk's house which is located in a quiet residential area surrounded by trees in Virum. It had the appearance of a fairy tale structure.
"Now, I am going to meet Mr. Busk."
I was remembering my first visit to Kuhlau's grave.

I gave a recital of a Kuhlau program in 1986 which was the 200th anniversary of Kuhlau's birth. (note 1)
note 1: at Tokyo Cultural Small Hall, April 21, 1986
At that time, I wrote a commentary after reading the biography of Kuhlau written by Thrane. This book was published in Denmark in 1875, and the section about Kuhlau was translated in German in Leipzig in 1886, at the 100th anniversary of Kuhlau's birth.
It was at this time that I decided to study Kuhlau closely. In 1987, my wife and I visited Kuhlau's grave for the first time in August - September.
The next day we arrived in Copenhagen, I looked for "the Assistens Churchyard" in which Kuhlau's grave was located, on a tourist map.
However, I learned the name of the churchyard in the biography written by Thrane more than 100 years ago, so I checked the map closely wondering if it still exsisted----- and, in the end, I found!
The churchyard was at Nørrrebro where Kuhlau moved becauase of economic reasons.
I looked for the name of Kuhlau on the map on the wall of the Assistens church yard. A lot of famous Danish people including author Andersen, composer Kunzen, Weyse, who lived in the same time of Kuhlau, rest here.
I was delighted to find the name of Kuhlau, which was written the same way as in the 100-year-old record, however, as you know graves are not moved often. Then I visited his grave according to the map, and noticed that I did not bring any flowers or incense.
The gravestone of Kuhlau was built with the fund raised by his friends after his death. According to the letter from Kuhlau's friend Hashagen to Kuhlau's elder brother Andreas (note 2) although it took 90 Rigsdaler, they could raise only 38 Rigsdaler. They would have to rely on the profit from a memorial concert. He was sad that Denmark was not more proud of Kuhlau. Kuhlau's body was moved from St.Petri church to this grave on March 12, 1833, which fell on the first anniversary of his death.
note 2: Andreas Christian ran a tobacco factory in Leipzig
"Kuhlau is resting here." I prayed for him feeling sorry about not having any flowers or incense.

The prime purpose of this tour was to copy all Kuhlau's music notes at the Royal Library which were out of print.
I visited the library everyday, and spent much time looking over the music and filling in the copy-request cards. I also looked at his music manuscripts. Very few of his manuscripts remain now because of a large fire in Lyngby (note 3) that ravaged his home.
note 3: February 5, 1831

One day after finishing the requests for all copies, I visited Lyngby with my wife, where Kuhlau spent his last few years. It took about 30 minutes by taxi from Copenhagen. This visit was included in my plan even though I didn't know where he lived. At least, I thought, I could walk on the same path as Kuhlau had once walked.
There was a church on a hill in the center of the town. I walked around the hill looking over the roofs of Lyngby, then stepped down to find a little white building in front of me. A sign said "The Lyngby library". Although I had visited the Royal Library often, I felt I had to go in. As we entered the library, a middle aged woman came up to us.
My first words were, " Do you know of Kuhlau?" It was an impolite way of asking a question, and moreover, it was in German. I expected her to scowl with displeasure. But surprisingly, she responded in clear German. "Of course I know. This library has all the music of Kuhlau." I was astonished. Another librarian came up to me and we talked about Kuhlau. I told them why I had come to Denmark and that I was studying Kuhlau. Then the first woman brought a thick book from the stack. The title was written in Danish on the cover. A portrait of Kuhlau was on the first page. I recognized this book as something about Kuhlau.
The author's name was Gorm Busk. The title of the book was "Friedrich Kuhlau--- biography and analysis of his theater music" It was the latest study of Kuhlau published in the privious year, October 1986. Although the contens were mostly written in Danish. I noted down the title and the publisher. The music of Kuhlau which the Lyngby library posessed was almost the same as at the Royal Library, however, some of them were differrent editions. The librarians were so kind that they said they would copy them. I promised to visit the library later on in order to recieve the copies, and then left.

I wondered why they were so hospitable even though I had heard that Danish people were very kind. Thankful for our good fortune, we returned to Copenhagen. In no time I bought two copies of the book by Busk in Copenhagen. After coming back home, I donated one of them to Kunitachi Music College.
I looked over the book in the hotel room. Some parts of the book which were the letters written by Kuhlau were in German. Living in Denmark for 22 years, he spoke German all his life. He also wrote his letters in German to people living abroad. Denmark was such a big and strong country in those days, with the land expanding to the north of Hamburg, I guess many people understood German.
By the way, I could imagine that it was an incredible study. The book included a map of Lyngby of that time, and marked several places where Kuhlau had lived. The day before I left Denmark, I visited Lyngby by myself and took pictures of where I guessed Kuhlau had lived. Then I went to the Lyngby library and recieved the copies.

The story of my trip to Paris from Copenhagen after that might be familiar to you since I wrote it for the recital "The Afternoon of Gaubert, PART 2" (note 4)
note 4: at Tokyo Cultural Small Hall, December 23, 1989

I thougt I gathered all references about Kuhlau during that tour. I especially remenber that I was so pleased, that I almost jumped up when I found a biography of Kuhlau written by Thrane (in Danish) at a secondhand book store. Then, in the next year, I had a lecture concert about Kuhlau.(note 5)
note 5: at Tokyo Cultural Small Hall, March 13, 1988
It was the first opportunity for me to have a three-and-half-an hour recital. It was tough to play music while I explained something to people. Moreover, I had to memorise what I spoke about, and the substance needed to be the latest study. Three monthes before the recital, I realized all of these situations would forced me to read the book by Busk which I bought in Denmark. I always remenber the words of my teacher, Mrs. Ririko Hayashi, "Where there is a will, there is a way"
>I said to myself, "OK, I will make it." Then I started to look for a Danish teacher. I made arrangements to see a teacher from Denmark at the Tokai University, Scandinavian Language Department. I arrived there only to find that, that person was sick and could not come. Since I was in an urgent situation, I asked them to introduce me to somebody else, and then started intensive lesson that day with Mrs. Nobuko Fukui, an assistant teacher. She agreed to my eagerness to go through at least the biography part by the recital day. It might have been easy if I had only asked her to translate it. But I also intended to learn Danish while I had this chance. At that time, there were no Danish-Japanese dictionaries.(note 6)
note 6: in 1990.

I studied Mr. Busk's book with a Danish-German dictionary and a grammer text book. Of course, I read the book in the train. I read it, even during a business trip, on the plane and at a hotel. I would say so that I did not waste any time. First, I translated the paper. Then, I sent it to Mrs. Fukui to be looked at in advance of our meeting. Lastly, we examined it together.
While reading this book, the existence of Mr. Busk was getting bigger inside of me. What is he like? I heard he attained his doctor's degree with this study. Is he a difficult person? I imagined him and went through the part of Kuhlau's biography just before the concert. Therfore, at the concert, I quoted much from the study by Mr. Busk.
You think "Oh, Mr. Ishihara is great. He mastered Danish in three months."---Out of the question. Danish is said to have a very difficult pronunciation. When I listen to Danish people talking to each other, I have no idea what they are saying. However my reading comprehension with the help of a dictionary has improved to some extent. To understand the Danish language is indispensable to study Kuhlau since many references of Kuhlau are written in Danish. After that, I gave myself to Kuhlau so much that I was said to be obsessed by him. However, I did not close my right eye in spite of myself, or I did not call my dog (Gonbei) Presto, (not.7) or I did not swill wine like water.
note 7: Kuhlau's companion dog, and he experienced the large fire in Lyngby too.
You might have seen my enthusiasm for Kuhlau in the death-match concert until dawn at the flute camp, and in "The Night of Kuhlau Ensemble" (note 8)
note 8: at Tsuda Hall, August 2, 1989

And then, in 1989, the last year, from October to November, I visited Kuhlau for the second time. This time, my wife chose to care for Ami, our daughter, so I left by myself.
The object of this trip was to look for copies of references which I needed (note 9) and books, and to go to "Kuhlau competition" held in Uelzen where he was born, and to meet Mr. Busk if I had any chance.
note 9: voluminous note by Thrane, the letters written by Kuhlau, the first edition of the music for flute, etc.
I had Mr. Busk's Adress previously at the Lyngby library. I wrote to him before I left Japan, and got an answer by return mail. He said that he wanted me to call him soon after I arrived in Copenhagen in oder to arrange our meeting and asked me to bring my flute with me.

It was on the night of October 25 when I checked in to a hotel in Copenhagen. I timidly dialed the number which he told me. I was afraid of his speaking in Danish. After several rings, I heared a man. Yes, it was him. It was Mr. Busk whom I have had in my mind for a long time. He had hardly changed to German when he recognized that it was me. He kindly told me the way to his house, and we made an appointment for the next day.I finished the request for reference at the Royal Library (note 10) before 4 o'clock which was the meeting time with Mr. Busk. Then I left for the Lyngby library.
note 10: I got them the next day, because I requested a lot.
At the Lyngby library, they welcomed "that Japanese". This was a very important place for me because if I had not come here, I would not have known Mr. Busk.
I had good luck this day, too. Because, the next day, all the music of Kuhlau they had was supposed to move to the Royal Library. The librarian said "you came here for the first time by chance, and now it is by chance that you arrived here just before Kuhlau's music will be moved. What a wonder!"I was grateful to them that they would copy the first edition of the flute music since the mail from the Royal Library would take time. It was unbelievable that the library offered you cake and hot coffe, but the Lyngby library was something special.

Now, we return to the first sentence of this article.

No sooner had I pushed at the gate beside the hedge, when the door at a distance opened, and "that man" came out. He was a little bit differrent from the man that I had imagined. His hight was about 175cm, I guessed. He was slim and smart, and had brown hair. We shook hands tightly with each other. The episode of Kuhlau having visited Beethoven flashed into my mind. (note 11)
note 11: Kuhlau visited Beethoven in Baden on September 2, 1825
Mr. Busk was very delighted to have me. He might have been interested that there was another Kuhlau freak in Japan. I was sent in a room in which the den and the livingroom were connected. It had a grand piano and a lot of books lining the wall. The room had a neat and warm atmosphere.

In no time, our talk turned to Kuhlau. I had many questions and our topics did not run out. He responded to my questions sincerly with references, one after another. It was after midnight when we realized that it was so late. Then we had dinner at midnight, which his wife cooked for us. I returned to the hotel with the promise to see each other again and play the piano and flute together.

Two days later, I visited Mr. Busk's house again. I stayed with him from 4 o'clock in the evening to 4 o'clock in the morning that day. We played Kuhlau's music together. Mr. Busk said he had studied to become a pianist in his young days. His tempo rubato was very musical and we enjoyed playing together.

Now he teaches music and French at a Gymnasium. (in English: upper secondary school, grammer school, senior highschool) He majored in music in the Department of Music of the university. Then he studied in France, and attained his doctor degree with the study of Kuhlau. He studied Kuhlau for a long time and memorized all the number of kuhlau's work and his music. I can't forget his words, "In my youth, Kuhlau was everything to me."He talked about his visiting Beimfohr in Hamburg who had got his doctor degree with the study of Kuhlau's piano music. Also he told me that he had looked for articles about Kuhlau in news paper of that day at a library in Hamburg. (He had felt very sleepy while looking over the microfilms, and all in sudden, he had become wide awake when he had found the name of Kuhlau.) He also told me that he had read news papers of that day every Wendnesday at a library in Copenhagen as well for one year. When I told him "It must have been hard work", he replied "That is study." I was amazed and embarrassed about my study of Kuhlau to hear that.

I visited Mr. Busk four times while I stayed in Copenhagen. Every time, he tauhgt me what books I schoud buy, and prepared the copies of references I needed. I had more and more questions to ask him, therefore I stayed with him after midnight each time. Our conversation included not only about Kuhlau but also all about music, Japan, Denmark, and life. Looking back, we called each other "Sie" only for the first hour, after that, we called each other "Du".

We planned to meet in Nyhavn in Copenhagen, then to go to Mr. Busk's house together the day before I left Denmark. He chose caffé-restaurant named "Elverhøj"(The Elf Hill) for our meeting place. "Elf Hill" was the title of Kuhlau's theatrical music play which was a blockbuster in 1828. Kuhlau died in a room on the second floor of this restaurant. I spent the last night in Denmark Busk's house listening to the tapes of Kuhlau's piano quartets and other works.

We talked with each other until 2 in the morning, and I felt as if I were in my own room. I felt it strange to leave.

Farewell came. What tied us together was certainly Kuhlau. But I felt it was not only Kuhlau. The reason why I was attracted to Mr. Busk might be that he had showed me his way of life, in which he had dedicated himself to one thing.

It was a significant event for me to have met Mr. Busk. I decided to treasure the ties with him as long as I live.

I learned that life has such an encounter.

<The end>

Translated in English by Chieko Ikegami