Letter to S. A. Taneev

Dear Sir! Sergey Alexandrovich! When I have the good fortune to receive your letters, I spend a long time admiring your very handwriting, not to mention the pure pleasure the thoughts and feelings that your letters breathe bring me. How distressing it was for me to read, upon my return to the monastery today, that you were with me on June 1st, the day on which I was three hundred miles from my monastery! But I do not lose hope of seeing you during this summer in the Sergius Hermitage. In the month of June I have to make another trip; but I hope to spend July and August, at least half of August, at home. Kindly visit me during this time. I will consider myself completely happy if I see you and Anna Vasilievna in the Sergius Hermitage. Please welcome me to have a meal and breathe in the fresh air, which is especially good here in July and August. Notify me with your most beautiful line whether my desire will be fulfilled. In this case, I will try to notify you about the time most convenient for your arrival at the monastery: because, I believe, days of holidays and crowded arrivals may seem shy for you - and rightly so! They take away from our desert what makes it especially pleasant: its rural silence and ease. Invoking your abundant blessing of Heaven on you and your young family, with feelings of perfect respect and devotion, I have the honor to be most humble servant and worshiper 1851 June 1st day Printed from an autograph stored in the Russian State Historical Archive (F. 1060. Op. 1. D. 34. L. 1–2. Published for the first time. Sergei Aleksandrovich Taneyev (1821–1889) – actual Privy Councilor, manager of His Majesty’s own chancellery, member of the Charity Committee for Honored State Officials. S. A. Taneyev was fond of music and was the author of a number of musical works (works for orchestra, choirs, romances). A distant relative of the famous composer S.I. Taneyev. You might be interested in: