Description:

Einstein Albert

Einstein Signed Letter with an Incredible Music Association, Lauding a Colleague about Being a Conscientious Objector

 

Single page typed letter signed, 8.75" x 11" on Albert Einstein's personal letterhead of "Albert Einstein, Caputh, Bei Potsdam." Dated "August 29, 1931." Einstein's letter is typed in German and will be accompanied by a English translation. Expected folds. Fine condition.

 

Einstein writes a letter from his summer home in Caputh Potsdam in Germany, lauding a colleague about being a conscientious objector. We are aware of several other letters between the two focusing on the concerns of the economic situation in central Europe, and the enormous umemployment in America. However in this letter he is writing to another musician, most likely a violinist, a passion shared very deeply by Einstein, with the likely intent to assist him to find work. Einstein suggests to Carl that he reaches out to Lilli Petschinkoff, (who at the time was considered a world-famous violinist who goes beyond the mechanics of this most difficult art into the realm of spirituality), to see if Lilli delivered Einstein's letter to Mr. Rodzinski, the music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

 

As such it appears Einstein's association with Carl, Mme. Petschinkoff and Rodzinski was one of a spiritual musical nature, all of whom were at the top of their fields in 1931. Einstein developed a deep passion for violin sonatas, when at age 13 he discovered Mozart's violin sonatas. After that, the young genius was hooked and would play the violin in string quartets later as a young adult and throughout the rest of his life. "Mozart's music is so pure and beautiful that I see it as a reflection of the inner beauty of the universe itself," Einstein later told a friend. He frequently played classical music as a brainstorming technique with music helping him when he is thinking about his theories. Einstein's intimate relationship to music led to his revealing comment as an old man of “I know that most joy in my life has come to me from my violin.” It was this incredible very personal connection that he held so close to his heart that explains why his personal violin owned and played by Albert Einstein achieved $516,500 at Bonham's New York auction in 2017!

 

Einstein's letter is shown transcribed in full below:

 

" Dear Sir!

Please ask Mrs. Lilli Petschinkoff, 2210 Highland Ave, Hollywood, California, if, she delivered my letter to Mr. Rodzinksi. I can imagine, incidentally, that it must be very difficult under the prevailing economic conditions to deliver new vigor. I have not received any answer.

 

I am glad to hear that you are active as a conscientious objector. In the meantime I wish whole heartedly that you will soon find a professionally satisfying field of activity.

 

With best regards yours

Albert Einstein"

Albert Einstein's love of music was so intense that many of his famous quotes evoke his passion:

"Life without music was inconceivable for me"

"I live my daydreams in music"

"I see my life in terms of music"

"I get most joy in life out of music"

 

Two years later, by 1933 Germany's new government passed a law that prevented Jews from holding any official positions — including academic ones. For the following few months, Einstein was unemployed until he too  eventually emigrated to the U.S. in Oct. 1933 where he took a position at Princeton University, but not before writing letters to countries asking that they take in unemployed German-Jewish scientists. His letters reportedly saved over 1,000 individuals.

 

A phenomenal letter with outstanding content relating to Einstein's greatest passion in life!

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