Charles Malherbe 
(1853 -1911)

TRANSCRIPTION

Paris, 34 rue Pigalle

Très honoré monsieur,

    Chargé des intérêts artistiques de la famille
Weckerlin, je vous donne volontiers l’autorisation
que vous me demandez de reproduire dans
votre livre la mélodie « C’est mon ami. » Il vous suffira
d’indiquer : « Publié avec l’autorisation des héritiers
Weckerlin. » Malheureusement, je ne saurais
vous renseigner sur le point qui vous intéresse.
Le manuscrit original n’est pas toujours facile à retrouver
 

Side Two

quand il s’agit d’auteurs anciens, mais quand il s’agit
d’un souverain,  la tâche se complique, et bien souvent on
leur attribue ce qu’ils n’ont pas fait ou ce qu’ils ont tout au
plus inspiré. Je doute que Marie-Antoinette ait jamais
écrit elle-même une note de musique, peut-être a-t-elle
inspiré en chantant un petit air que son professeur de chant
(c’était justement mon arrière-grand-père!) aura
transcrit; mais retrouver un autographe, il n’y faut guère
songer! Veuillez agréer, Monsieur, l’assurance de ma
haute considération.

 Ch. Malherbe

Bibliothécaire de l’opéra de Paris

TRANSLATION
 

Paris 34, rue Pigalle¹ 

Dearest Sir:

Being in charge of the artistic interests of the Weckherlin
family², I willingly give you the authorisation you ask me to
reproduce in your book the melody “C’est mon ami.³” You
simply have to indicate: “Published with the authorisation
of the Weckerlin heirs.” Unfortunately, I cannot advise you
on the item of interest to you. The original manuscript is not
always easy to find

Side Two

when it concerns ancient authors, and when it concerns a
sovereign, the task is complicated, and they often get credit
for things they did not do or for things they have at very most
inspired. I doubt that Marie-Antoinette⁴ has ever herself written
one single musical note, maybe did she inspire by signing a tune
that her singing teacher (who as it happens was my great grandfather!⁵)
transcribed; but finding an autograph, do not think of it!
Receive, Dear Sir, assurance of my highest consideration.

Ch. Malherbe

Opéra de Paris Librarian⁶

July 24, 1910⁷

NOTES:

1) Paris 34, rue Pigalle is in northern Paris at the intersection of rue La Bruyère, in an area
then known as "La Nouvelle Athènes."

2) The reference is to the family of Jean-Baptiste Weckerlin (b. November 29, 1821;-
d. May 20, 1910). Composer, choirmaster, music collector and publisher. He was assistant
librarian  at the Paris Conservatoire from 1869 to 1875. He then was made head librarian
from 1875 to 1905. J.P. Weckerlin died only 2 months before this letter.

3) The song titled “C’est mon ami" ("He is My Love") was allegedly composed by Marie Antoinette,
but as Malherbe states it is widely doubted that she actually composed the song. Additionally,
he says that no manuscript exists to prove the allegation. The rights to the song, however,
seem to have been in the control of the Weckerlin family.

4) Marie-Antoinette was born November 2, 1775 and guillotined October 16, 1793.

5) Malherbe's great-grandfather's name is uncertain, but he would have to have been born ca. 1750.
Two of the queen's voice teachers were Christoph Willibald Gluck (1714-1787) and François Lays or Laïs
(1758-1818). At present no connection has been made with either to Malherbe.

6) "From 1896 Malherbe assisted Charles Nuitter, the archivist-librarian of the Opéra,
and succeeded him in 1898 or 1899. He improved the organization of the Opéra library considerably."
(Source-Grove, 6th; XI, p.573)

7) July 24, 1910 was a Sunday. Malherbe was about 57 years old.

 Rev. 03/22/04

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