An important, lengthy, and very touching autograph letter from the great violinist and composer to his new wife Louise. Dated Mannheim, November 13, 1886, less than two months after their wedding. 16 pp. on 4 bifolia, 12mo. In the long and intimate love letter, Ysaÿe responds with joy to the news that his wife is pregnant with their first child: "A son! A child! From you! From you, my darling wife! Nothing in the world could be to me such a source of joy! Nothing... nothing." Offering a "fervent prayer" that their children will have "your dear sweet eyes, so divinely good, your little mouth, alas, so far from my kisses!, your character, so free of pride, your nature, which seems to be made of the sublime essence of the soul of an angel," he goes on to reflect on his plans for their children's upbringing: "you see, my adored angel, we mustn't love them too much, we must be strict with them to the right degree, one must mold the souls of children, form them and not leave the care of their education to their nature..." He promises on his return to help her with the prescribed enemas: "You will see on my return that I can play that instrument very well, especially when it is for my little mother, my big girl, my child who is my wife..." and reports that on her urging he has seen a doctor about a case of eczema on his ear.

In a particularly endearing moment, Ysaÿe writes a musical quotation that apparently evokes memories of intimacy with his wife: lamenting their separation at length, he writes that he will put his violin "naked on the pillow of that oppressive second bed -- let's hope that in the night it doesn't start on its own to moan that phrase from Parsifal," (he writes out seven bars of music from the opera.) "What would become of me then! Or rather what would become of you, even from far away! ... (shh...)........ If all those dots don't give you enough of a sense of "shh," wait patiently for my return and I assure you that you will understand." He follows this with seven more measures of the Wagner theme, adding "It's a good thing for you that it's the serenade." Returning to domestic matters, he asks after the arrangements for their new home before concluding: "Must I say how much I embrace you? -- no, this letter is nothing but a long kiss."

16 pp. on 4 bifolia, 12mo. Some light toning, folding creases, light paperclip marks on two pages and light staple holes. A date and page numbers have been added in pencil in a later hand. Overall otherwise in fine condition. 4.5 x 7 inches (11.5 x 17.8 cm). The biography of Ysaye by Antoine Ysaye and Bertram Radcliffe, Ysaye, His Life, Work and Influence (1947) includes a brief quotation on p. 52 from the present letter.

The Belgian violinist, composer and conductor Eugène Ysaÿe, known as the "King of the Violin," married  Louise Bourdeau de Coutrai on September 29, 1886. Their wedding present from César Franck was his Violin Sonata in A, which after a hurried rehearsal Ysaÿe performed at the ceremony. They had three sons and one daughter, and remained married until Louise's death in 1924.

Translation from the French, in full: