Beethoven's Letters 1790-1826 Volume II Part 25

POUR M. DE HASLINGER, GeNeRAL MUSICIEN ET GeNeRAL-LIEUTENANT.

MY DEAR FRIEND,--

You would really do me great injustice were you to suppose that negligence prevented my sending you the tickets; I a.s.sure you that it was my intention to do so, but I forgot it like many other things. I hope that some other opportunity may occur to enable me to prove my sentiments with regard to you. I am, I a.s.sure you, entirely innocent of all that Duport has done, in the same way that it was _he_ who thought fit to represent the Terzet [Op.

116] as new, _not I_. You know too well my love of truth; but it is better to be silent now on the subject, as it is not every one who is aware of the true state of the case, and I, though innocent, might incur blame. I do not at all care for the other proposals Duport makes, as by this concert I have lost both time and money. In haste, your friend,

BEETHOVEN.

377.

TO STEINER & CO.

MY KIND FRIEND,--

Be so good as to read the enclosed, and kindly forward it at once to the authorities.

Your servant and _amicus_,

BEETHOVEN.

378.

TO HERR TOBIAS PETER PHILIP HASLINGER.

The horn part and the score are shortly to follow. We are immensely indebted to you. Observe the laws. Sing often my Canon in silence,--_per resurrectionem_, &c. Farewell!

Your friend,

BEETHOVEN.

379.

TO HASLINGER.

Have the goodness to send me my shoes and my sword. You can have the loan of the "Eglantine" for six days, for which, however, you must give an acknowledgment. Farewell!

Yours,

BEETHOVEN.

380.

TO HASLINGER.

Baden, June 12.

MY GOOD FRIEND,--

Something worth having has been put in your way; so make the most of it.

You will no doubt come off with a handsome fee, and all expenses paid. As for the March with Chorus [in the "Ruins of Athens," Op. 114], you have yet to send me the sheets for final revision, also the Overture in E flat ["To King Stephen," Op. 117]; the Terzet [Op. 116]; the Elegy [Op. 118]; the Cantata ["_Meeresstille und gluckliche Fahrt_," Op. 112]; and the Opera.

Out with them all! or I shall be on very little ceremony, your right having already expired. My liberality alone confers on you a larger sum than you do on me. I want the score of the Cantata for a few days, as I wish to write a kind of recitative for it; mine is so torn that I cannot put it together, so I must have it written out from the parts. Has the Leipzig musical paper yet retracted its lies about the medal I got from the late King of France?

I no longer receive the paper, which is a shabby proceeding. If the editor does not rectify the statement, I shall cause him and his consumptive chief to be _harpooned_ in the northern waters among the whales.

Even this barbarous Baden is becoming enlightened, and now instead of _gutten Brunn_, people write _guten Brun_. But tell me what are they about in Paternoster Street?

I am, with all esteem for yourself, but with none for the barbarian Paternoster-Ga.s.sel,

Your devoted, _incomparativo_,

B----N.

Paternoster-Ga.s.sel _primus_ will no doubt, like Mephistopheles, emit fiery flames from his jaws.

381.

TO M. DIABELLI.

SIR,--

Pray forgive my asking you to send me the score of my Ma.s.s,[1] being in urgent need of it; but I repeat that no public use is to be made of it until I can let you know _how_ and _when_. It will be at first performed under my direction, with the addition of several new pieces composed expressly for it, which I will with pleasure send to you afterwards. There are certain conventionalities which must be observed, especially as I am so dependent on foreign connections, for Austria does not furnish me with the means of existence, and gives me nothing but vexation. I will soon appoint a day for you to visit Carl.

I remain, sir, with the highest esteem, yours,

BEETHOVEN.

[Footnote 1: This letter seems to be addressed to Diabelli, who in the summer of 1824 begged the loan of the Ma.s.s in D for a few days, but neglected to return it.]

382.

TO PROBST,--LEIPZIG.

Vienna, July 3, 1824

SIR,--

Overwhelmed with work and concerts, it is only now in my power to inform you that the works you wished to have are finished and transcribed, and can be delivered at any time to Herr Gloggl [music publisher in Vienna]. I therefore request you will transmit the 100 Viennese ducats to Herr Gloggl, and let me know when you have done so. I must conclude for to-day, and defer the pleasure of writing further till another opportunity. I am, with esteem, yours obediently,

BEETHOVEN.[1]

[Footnote 1: Probst answered the letter as follows:--

"August 18, 1824.