Life of Beethoven Part 28

Your sincere friend,

BEETHOVEN.

24.

BEETHOVEN TO RIES.

Vienna, April 25, 1823.

Dear Ries,

The cardinal (Archduke Rudolph) has been staying here for a whole month; and as I had to give him two hours and a half's lesson per day, I was robbed of much time, besides feeling, the day after such lessons, scarcely able to think, much less to write.

My distressed circ.u.mstances, however, require that I should instantly write that which will procure money, sufficient for the moment. What a sad discovery this must be to you! And, moreover, all my troubles have caused me to be unwell--have given me sore eyes. But do not be alarmed; you will shortly receive the Symphony. Indeed it is all brought on by these miserable circ.u.mstances. You will also receive, a few weeks hence, thirty-three new Variations on a subject (a Valse Op. 120) dedicated to your wife. Bauer (first secretary to the Austrian emba.s.sy) has the score of the "Battle of Vittoria," which was dedicated to the then Prince Regent, and for which I have still to receive the copying expenses. Now I beg of you, dear friend, to send me, as soon as possible, a draught for the amount of whatever you may be able to get me for it. You and I know the publishers well.

With regard to your tender conjugal point, you will always find me in direct opposition to yourself, and decidedly taking the lady's part.

Ever your friend,

BEETHOVEN.

25.

BEETHOVEN TO RIES.

Hetzendorf, near Vienna, July 16, 1823.

My dear Ries,

The receipt of your letter, the day before yesterday, gave me great pleasure. I suppose you have got the Variations by this time. I could not write the dedication to your wife, as I do not know her name. Pray make it in the name of your own and your wife's friend, and let her be surprised with it, on its coming out. The fair s.e.x is fond of that sort of thing. Between ourselves, the great charm of the _beautiful_ lies in its coming upon us unawares.

With regard to the Allegri di Bravura, I shall pardon yours. To say the truth, I am no friend to that species of writing, calculated to promote mechanism all too much, in those at least which I know. I have not looked at your's yet, but shall inquire for them at ----, with whom I beg you will not communicate without great prudence. Might I not be your agent here for many things?

These publishers are certainly acting up to their name by _publis.h.i.+ng_ your works; but you get nothing by such publicity, which is only a _reprint_. Matters might perhaps be differently managed. I shall certainly send you a few chorusses; and, if required, produce a few new ones. They are quite my hobby.

Many thanks for the produce of the _Bagatelles_. I am quite content with it. Do not give anything to the King of England. Take whatever you can get for the Variations: I shall be satisfied anyhow. But one thing I must stipulate, that I shall positively take no other reward for the dedication to your wife than a kiss to be received by me in London. You sometimes write guineas, whereas I receive but pounds sterling, and I understand there is a difference.[191] Do not be angry at this, with a _pauvre musicien autrichien_; but indeed my situation is a difficult one. I am likewise writing a new violin Quartett. Might that too be offered to the musical or unmusical London Jews?--_en vrai juif_. With the sincerest embrace,

Your old friend,

BEETHOVEN.

26.

BEETHOVEN TO RIES.

Vienna, Sept. 5, 1823.

My dear good Ries,

I still continue without news of the Symphony, yet you may depend upon it ... will soon reach London. Were I not so poor as to be obliged to live by my pen, I should not take anything of the Philharmonic Society.

As it is, I must certainly wait until my terms for the Symphony be made payable here. Wis.h.i.+ng, however, to prove my confidence and affection for this Society, I have already sent off the new Overture. I leave it to the Society to settle for it at its own rate. My worthy brother (Johann), who keeps his carriage, thought fit to draw upon me too; and has consequently offered this same Overture, unknown to me, to a London publisher, Boosey. Pray tell him, my brother was mistaken with regard to the Overture. He bought it of me to carry on usury with it, as I perceive.--_O frater!_ As yet I have not seen anything of your Symphony dedicated to me. Did I not consider this dedication as a kind of challenge, demanding satisfaction on my side, I should by this time have inscribed some work to you. As it is, I thought I ought by rights to see your work first; and how I wish I could in any way show you my grat.i.tude! I am deep in your debt for so many proofs of attachment and active kindness.

Should my health improve by a proposed course of bathing, I shall embrace your wife in 1824 in London.

Ever yours,

BEETHOVEN.

[The following three letters are given as originally written in French, not in Beethoven's own hand, but signed by himself:]--

27.

BEETHOVEN a MONSIEUR C. NEATE.

Vienne, le 15 Janvier, 1825.

Ce fut avec le plus grand plaisir que je recus votre lettre du ... par laquelle vous avez eu la bonte de m'avertir que la Societe Philharmonique distinguee d'artistes m'invite a venir a Londres. Je suis bien content des conditions que me fait la Societe, seulement je desire de lui proposer de m'envoyer, outre les 300 guinees qu'elle me promet, encore 100 guinees pour faire les depenses du voyage; car il faudra acheter une voiture; aussi dois-je etre accompagne de quelqu'un.

Vous voyez bien que cela est necessaire; d'ailleurs je vous prie de m'indiquer l'auberge ou je pourrai descendre a Londres.

Je prendrai un nouveau Quatuor avec moi. Quant au bruit dont vous m'ecrivez, qu'il existe un exemplaire de la 9^{eme} Symphonie a Paris, il n'est point fonde. Il est vrai que cette Symphonie sera publiee en Allemagne, mais point avant que l'an soit ecoule, pendant lequel la Societe en jouira.

Sur ce point il faut encore vous avertir de ne faire que de pet.i.tes preuves de cette composition, en Quatuor par exemple, car c'est la seule maniere d'etudier bien une belle oeuvre; les choeurs, avant tout, doivent etre exerces. Il y a encore quelques erreurs, dont je vous enverrai le catalogue par la poste prochaine.

Il me semble avoir ete oublie dans la 2de partie de la Symphonie, qu'a la repet.i.tion du minor apres le Presto il faut commencer de nouveau du signe [Ill.u.s.tration: musical sign, "segno"] et continuer sans repet.i.tion jusqu'a la Ferma, alors on prend aussitot la Coda.

Je vous prie de me repondre au plus vite possible, car on demande de moi une grande composition nouvelle, que je ne commencerai cependant pas, sans avoir votre reponse. Il faut que j'ecrive toujours, pas pour me faire des richesses,--seulement pour pourvoir a mes besoins.

Or je dois avoir de la cert.i.tude sur ce point.--Je serai bien charme de vous voir, et de connoitre la n.o.ble nation Anglaise.

Je suis, avec la plus haute consideration,

Monsieur,

Votre sincere ami,

LOUIS VAN BEETHOVEN.

28.

BEETHOVEN a MONSIEUR NEATE.

Vienne, le 19 Mars, 1825.

Mon tres cher ami!