Beethoven's Letters 1790-1826 Volume I Part 28

Vienna, Jan. 20, 1816.

DEAR RIES,--

The Symphony is to be dedicated to the Empress of Russia. The pianoforte score of the Symphony in A must not, however, appear before June, for the publisher here cannot be ready sooner. Pray, dear Ries, inform Mr. Birchall of this at once. The Sonata with violin accompaniment, which will be sent from here by the next post, can likewise be published in London in May, but the Trio at a later date (it follows by the next post); I will myself name the time for its publication. And now, dear Ries, pray receive my heartfelt thanks for your kindness, and especially for the corrections of the proofs.

May Heaven bless you more and more, and promote your progress, in which I take the most sincere interest. My kind regards to your wife. Now as ever,

Your sincere friend,

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN.

166.

TO MR. BIRCHALL,--LONDON.

Vienne, le 3. Febr. den 1816

VOUS RECEUES CI JOINT--

Le grand Trio p. Pf. V. et Vllo. Sonata pour Pf. et Violin--qui form le reste de ce qu'il vous a plus a me comettre. Je vous prie de vouloir payer la some de 130 Ducats d'Holland come le poste lettre a Mr. Th. Cutts et Co.

de votre ville e de me croire avec toute l'estime et consideration

Votre tres humble Serviteur,

LOUIS VAN BEETHOVEN.

167.

TO CZERNY.[1]

MY DEAR CZERNY,--

Pray give the enclosed to your parents for the dinners the boy had recently at your house; I positively will not accept these _gratis_. Moreover, I am very far from wis.h.i.+ng that your lessons should remain without remuneration,--even those already given must be reckoned up and paid for; only I beg you to have a little patience for a time, as nothing can be _demanded_ from the widow, and I had and still have heavy expenses to defray;--but I _borrow_ from you for the moment only. The boy is to be with you to-day, and I shall come later.

Your friend,

BEETHOVEN.

[Footnote 1: Carl Czerny, the celebrated pianist and composer, for whom Beethoven wrote a testimonial in 1805 (see No. 42). He gave lessons to Beethoven's nephew in 1815, and naturally protested against any payment, which gave rise to the expressions on the subject in many of his notes to Czerny, of which there appear to be a great number.]

168.

TO CZERNY.[1]

Vienna, Feb. 12, 1816.

DEAR CZERNY,--

I cannot see you to-day, but I will call to-morrow being desirous to talk to you. I spoke out so bluntly yesterday that I much regretted it afterwards. But you must forgive this on the part of an author, who would have preferred hearing his work as he wrote it, however charmingly you played it. I will, however, _amply_ atone for this by the violoncello Sonata.[2]

Rest a.s.sured that I cherish the greatest regard for you as an artist, and I shall always endeavor to prove this.

Your true friend,

BEETHOVEN.

[Footnote 1: Czerny, in the _A.M. Zeitung_, 1845, relates:--"On one occasion (in 1812), at Schuppanzigh's concert, when playing Beethoven's quintet with wind-instruments, I took the liberty, in my youthful levity, to make many alterations,--such as introducing difficulties into the pa.s.sages, making use of the upper octaves, &c., &c. Beethoven sternly and deservedly reproached me for this, in the presence of Schuppanzigh, Linke, and the other performers."]

[Footnote 2: Opera 69, which Czerny (see _A.M. Zeitung_) was to perform with Linke the following week.]

169.

TO RIES,--LONDON.

Vienna, Feb. 28, 1816.

... For some time past I have been far from well; the loss of my brother affected both my spirits and my works. Salomon's death grieves me much, as he was an excellent man whom I have known from my childhood. You are his executor by will, while I am the guardian of my late poor brother's child.

You can scarcely have had as much vexation from Salomon's death as I have had from that of my brother!--but I have the sweet consolation of having rescued a poor innocent child from the hands of an unworthy mother.

Farewell, dear Ries; if I can in any way serve you, look on me as

Your true friend,

BEETHOVEN.

170.

TO GIANNATASIO DEL RIO,--VIENNA.

Feb. 1816.

SIR,--

I have great pleasure in saying that at last I intend to-morrow to place under your care the dear pledge intrusted to me. But I must impress on you not to permit any influence on the mother's part to decide when and where she is to see her son. We can, however, discuss all this more minutely to-morrow.... You must keep a watchful eye on your servant, for mine was _bribed by her_ on one occasion. More as to this verbally, though it is a subject on which I would fain be silent; but the future welfare of the youth you are to train renders this unpleasant communication necessary. I remain, with esteem,

Your faithful servant and friend,

BEETHOVEN.

171.

TO G. DEL RIO.

1816.