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Beethoven's Letters 1790-1826, Volume 2

Chapter 5: 217. TO STEINER.
By Ludwig van Beethoven
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About This Book

This volume assembles the composer's personal and professional correspondence from his later career, arranged in consecutive parts. Letters to friends, patrons, publishers, and pupils discuss composition, commissions, negotiations over performances and publications, and practical domestic arrangements and caretaking. Recurring concerns include failing hearing, health, financial and legal matters, and the burdens of travel, balanced by wry humor, gratitude, and occasional blunt frustration. Taken together, the letters reveal creative intentions and working methods, the management of professional relationships, and the everyday trials that shaped his later output.

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Title: Beethoven's Letters 1790-1826, Volume 2

Author: Ludwig van Beethoven

Compiler: Ludwig Ritter von Köchel

Ludwig Nohl

Translator: Lady Grace Wallace

Release date: August 25, 2004 [eBook #13272]
Most recently updated: December 18, 2020

Language: English

Credits: Produced by Juliet Sutherland, John Williams and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team.

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BEETHOVEN'S LETTERS 1790-1826, VOLUME 2 ***

BEETHOVEN'S LETTERS.

(1790-1826.)

FROM THE COLLECTION OF DR. LUDWIG NOHL.

ALSO HIS

LETTERS TO THE ARCHDUKE RUDOLPH, CARDINAL-ARCHBISHOP
OF OLMÜTZ, K.W., FROM THE COLLECTION OF DR.
LUDWIG RITTER VON KÖCHEL.

TRANSLATED BY
LADY WALLACE.

WITH A PORTRAIT AND FAC-SIMILE.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. II.

BOSTON:
OLIVER DITSON & CO., 277 WASHINGTON STREET.
NEW YORK: C.H. DITSON & CO.

CONTENTS OF VOLUME II.

SECOND PART.

LIFE'S MISSION.
1815-1822.
(Continued.)

  1. To Steiner & Co.
  2. To the Same
  3. To Tobias Haslinger
  4. To the Same
  5. To Baroness Dorothea von Ertmann
  6. To Zmeskall
  7. To Steiner & Co.
  8. To G. del Rio
  9. To the Same
  10. To the Same
  11. To the Same
  12. To the Same
  13. To Czerny
  14. To the Same
  15. To the Same
  16. To Zmeskall
  17. To G. del Rio
  18. To Frau von Streicher
  19. To the Same
  20. To the Same
  21. To F. Ries, London
  22. To Zmeskall
  23. To the Same
  24. To Frau von Streicher
  25. To G. del. Rio
  26. To Zmeskall
  27. To the Same
  28. To the Same
  29. To the Same
  30. To Frau von Streicher
  31. To the Same
  32. To the Same
  33. To the Same
  34. To the Archduke Rudolph
  35. To G. del Rio
  36. To the Same
  37. To the Archduke Rudolph
  38. To G. del Rio
  39. To the Same
  40. To Czerny
  41. To F. Ries, London
  42. To the Rechnungsrath Vincenz Hauschka
  43. To the Archduke Rudolph
  44. To the Same
  45. To Ferdinand Ries
  46. To the Same
  47. To the Same
  48. To the Philharmonic Society in Laibach
  49. To Ferdinand Ries, London
  50. To the Archduke Rudolph
  51. To the Same
  52. To the Same
  53. To the Same
  54. To the Same
  55. To the Same
  56. To the Same
  57. To the Same
  58. To the Same
  59. To the Same
  60. To the Same
  61. To Herr Blöchlinger
  62. Canon on Herr Schlesinger
  63. To Artaria, Vienna
  64. A Sketch by Beethoven
  65. To Artaria
  66. Petition to the Magistracy
  67. To F. Ries, London
  68. To the Archduke Rudolph
  69. Memorandum
  70. To the Archduke Rudolph
  71. To the Same
  72. To the Royal and Imperial High Court of Appeal
  73. To the Archduke Rudolph
  74. Testimonial in favor of Herr von Kandeler
  75. To Theodore Amadeus Hoffmann
  76. To Haslinger
  77. To the Same
  78. To the Archduke Rudolph
  79. To the Same
  80. To Artaria & Co.
  81. To Bolderini
  82. To the Archduke Rudolph
  83. To Artaria & Co.
  84. To Haslinger
  85. To the Archduke Rudolph
  86. To the Same
  87. To Steiner & Co.
  88. To a Friend
  89. To the Archduke Rudolph
  90. To F. Ries, London
  91. To Herren Peters & Co., Leipzig
  92. To the Same
  93. To the Same
  94. To Artaria
  95. To Herr Peters, Leipzig
  96. To the Archduke Rudolph
  97. To Herr Peters, Leipzig
  98. To F. Ries, London
  99. To Ignaz Ritter von Seyfried

THIRD PART.

LIFE'S TROUBLES AND CLOSE
1823-1827.

  1. To Zelter
  2. To F. Ries, London
  3. To Schindler
  4. To the Same
  5. To Herr Kind
  6. To Cherubini
  7. To Schindler
  8. To Herr Peters, Leipzig
  9. To Zelter
  10. To the Archduke Rudolph
  11. To Schindler
  12. To F. Ries, London
  13. To Herr Lissner, Petersburg
  14. To Schindler
  15. To the Same
  16. To the Same
  17. To the Same
  18. To the Same
  19. To the Same
  20. To the Same
  21. To the Same
  22. To the Archduke Rudolph
  23. To Schindler
  24. To Pilat, editor of the "Austrian Observer"
  25. To Schindler
  26. To the Same
  27. To the Same
  28. To the Same
  29. To the Same
  30. To the Same
  31. To the Archduke Rudolph
  32. To F. Ries
  33. To Herr von Könneritz
  34. To Herr von Könneritz
  35. To Schindler
  36. To his Nephew
  37. To the Archduke Rudolph
  38. To the Same
  39. To the Same
  40. To F. Ries, London
  41. To the Same
  42. To the Archduke Rudolph
  43. To the Same
  44. To Schindler
  45. To the Same
  46. To the Same
  47. To Herr Grillparzer
  48. To Herr Probst, Leipzig
  49. To Schindler
  50. To Herr von Rzehatschek
  51. To Prince Trautmannsdorf
  52. To Count Moritz Lichnowsky
  53. To Herr Schuppanzigh
  54. To Schindler
  55. To Herr von Sartorius
  56. To Schindler
  57. To the Same
  58. To the Same
  59. To the Same
  60. To the Same
  61. To Steiner & Co
  62. To Haslinger
  63. To Steiner & Co
  64. To Haslinger
  65. To the Same
  66. To the Same
  67. To M. Diabelli
  68. To Herr Probst, Leipzig
  69. To Haslinger
  70. To Herr Schott, Mayence
  71. To the Archduke Rudolph
  72. To his Nephew
  73. To Herr Peters
  74. To Hans Georg Nägeli, Zurich
  75. To his Nephew
  76. To Herr Nägeli
  77. To Herr Schott, Mayence
  78. To Hauschka
  79. To Herr Nägeli, Zurich
  80. To the Archduke Rudolph
  81. To Herr Schott, Mayence
  82. To Carl Holz
  83. To the Same
  84. To Herr Schott, Mayence
  85. To Friends
  86. To Schindler
  87. To Linke
  88. To * * *
  89. To F. Ries
  90. To Herr Jenger, Vienna
  91. To Schott
  92. To Ludwig Rellstab
  93. To * * *
  94. To his brother Johann
  95. To Herr von Schlemmer
  96. To his Nephew
  97. To the Same
  98. To Dr. Braunhofer
  99. To his Nephew
  100. To the Same
  101. To the Same
  102. To the Same
  103. To his Nephew
  104. To the Same
  105. To the Same
  106. To the Same
  107. To the Same
  108. To the Same
  109. To the Same
  110. To the Same
  111. To the Same
  112. To the Same
  113. To the Same
  114. To the Same
  115. To the Same
  116. To the Same
  117. To the Same
  118. To the Same
  119. To the Same
  120. To his brother Johann, Gneixendorf
  121. To his Nephew
  122. To the Same
  123. To the Same
  124. To his Copyist
  125. To his Nephew
  126. To the Same
  127. To Zmeskall
  128. To Herr Friedrich Kuhlau
  129. To his Nephew
  130. To the Same
  131. To Herr von Schlesinger
  132. To his Nephew
  133. To the Same
  134. To the Same
  135. To the Same
  136. To the Abbé Maximilian Stadler
  137. To Gottfried Weber
  138. To Herr Probst, Leipzig
  139. To Stephan von Breuning
  140. To the Same
  141. To the Same
  142. Testimonial for C. Holz
  143. To C. Holz
  144. To the King of Prussia
  145. To Wegeler
  146. To Tobias Haslinger
  147. To the Same
  148. To Carl Holz
  149. To Dr. Bach
  150. To Wegeler
  151. To Sir George Smart, London
  152. To Herr Moscheles
  153. To Schindler
  154. To Baron von Pasqualati
  155. To the Same
  156. To Sir George Smart, London
  157. To Baron von Pasqualati
  158. To the Same
  159. To Herr Moscheles
  160. To Schindler
  161. To Herr Moscheles
  162. Codicil

BEETHOVEN'S LETTERS.

216.
TO STEINER & CO.

The Adjutant's innocence is admitted, and there is an end of it!

We beg you to be so good as to send us two copies in score of the Symphony in A. We likewise wish to know when we may expect a copy of the Sonata for Baroness von Ertmann, as she leaves this, most probably, the day after to-morrow.

No. 3--I mean the enclosed note--is from a musical friend in Silesia, not a rich man, for whom I have frequently had my scores written out. He wishes to have these works of Mozart in his library; as my servant, however, has the good fortune, by the grace of God, to be one of the greatest blockheads in the world (which is saying a good deal), I cannot make use of him for this purpose. Be so kind therefore as to send to Herr ---- (for the Generalissimus can have no dealings with a petty tradesman), and desire him to write down the price of each work and send it to me with my two scores in A, and also an answer to my injunction about Ertmann, as early to-day as you can (presto, prestissimo!)--nota bene, the finale to be a march in double-quick time. I recommend the best execution of these orders, so that no further obstacle may intervene to my recovery.

L. VAN BEETHOVEN,
The best generalissimus for the good,
But the devil himself for the bad!

217.
TO STEINER.

The Lieutenant-General is requested to send his Diabolum, that I may tell him myself my opinion of the "Battle," which is printed in the vilest manner. There is much to be altered.

THE G----S.

218.
TO TOBIAS HASLINGER.

MY GOOD ADJUTANT,--

Best of all little fellows! Do see again about that house, and get it for me. I am very anxious also to procure the treatise on education. It is of some importance to me to be able to compare my own opinions on this subject with those of others, and thus still further improve them. As for our juvenile Adjutant, I think I shall soon have hit on the right system for his education. Your

CONTRA FA,
Manu propria.

219.
TO THE HIGH-BORN HERR HASLINGER, HONORARY MEMBER OF THE HÖFEN GRABENS AND PATER NOSTER GÄSSCHEN.

BEST OF ALL PRINTERS AND ENGRAVERS,--

Be kinder than kind, and throw off a hundred impressions of the accompanying small plate.[1] I will repay you threefold and fourfold. Farewell!

Your

BEETHOVEN.

[Footnote 1: This is possibly the humorous visiting-card that Beethoven sometimes sent to his friends, with the inscription Wir bleiben die Alten ("We are the same as ever"), and on reversing the card, a couple of asses stared them in the face! Frau Eyloff told me of a similar card that her brother Schindler once got from Beethoven on a New Year's day.]

220.
TO BARONESS DOROTHEA VON ERTMANN.[1]

Feb. 23, 1817.

MY DEAR AND VALUED DOROTHEA CECILIA,--

You have no doubt often misjudged me, from my apparently forbidding manner; much of this arose from circumstances, especially in earlier days, when my nature was less understood than at present. You know the manifestations of those self-elected apostles who promote their interests by means very different from those of the true Gospel. I did not wish to be included in that number. Receive now what has been long intended for you,[2] and may it serve as a proof of my admiration of your artistic talent, and likewise of yourself! My not having heard you recently at Cz---- [Czerny's] was owing to indisposition, which at last appears to be giving way to returning health.

I hope soon to hear how you get on at St. Polten [where her husband's regiment was at that time quartered], and whether you still think of your admirer and friend,

L. VAN BEETHOVEN.

My kindest regards to your excellent husband.

[Footnote 1: It was admitted that she played Beethoven's compositions with the most admirable taste and feeling. Mendelssohn thought so in 1830 at Milan, and mentions it in his Letters from Italy and Switzerland.]

[Footnote 2: Undoubtedly the Sonata dedicated to her, Op. 101.]

221.
TO ZMESKALL.

DEAR Z.,--

I introduce to your notice the bearer of this, young Bocklet, who is a very clever violin-player. If you can be of any service to him through your acquaintances, do your best for him, especially as he is warmly recommended to me from Prague.[1]

As ever, your true friend,

BEETHOVEN.

[Footnote 1: Carl Maria Bocklet, a well-known and distinguished pianist in Vienna. He told me himself that he came for the first time to Vienna in 1817, where he stayed six weeks. On April 8th he gave a violin concert in the Kleine Redoutensaale. He brought a letter of introduction to Beethoven, from his friend Dr. Berger in Prague.]

222.
TO STEINER & CO.

The Lieutenant-General is desired to afford all aid and help to the young artist Bocklet from Prague. He is the bearer of this note, and a virtuoso on the violin. We hope that our command will be obeyed, especially as we subscribe ourselves, with the most vehement regard, your

GENERALISSIMUS.

223.
TO G. DEL RIO.

I only yesterday read your letter attentively at home. I am prepared to give up Carl to you at any moment, although I think it best not to do so till after the examination on Monday; but I will send him sooner if you wish it. At all events it would be advisable afterwards to remove him from here, and to send him to Mölk, or some place where he will neither see nor hear anything more of his abominable mother. When he is in the midst of strangers, he will meet with less support, and find that he can only gain the love and esteem of others by his own merits.

In haste, your
BEETHOVEN.

224.
TO G. DEL RIO.

I request you, my dear friend, to inquire whether in any of the houses in your vicinity there are lodgings to be had at Michaelmas, consisting of a few rooms. You must not fail to do this for me to-day or to-morrow.

Your friend,
L. VAN BEETHOVEN.

P.S.--N.B. Though I would gladly profit by your kind offer of living in your garden-house, various circumstances render this impossible. My kind regards to all your family.

225.
TO G. DEL RIO.

HOUSE OF GIANNATASIO!--

The treatise on the piano is a general one,--that is, it is a kind of compendium. Besides, I am pleased with the Swiss [probably Weber, a young musician who had been recommended to him], but the "Guaden" is no longer the fashion.

In haste, the devoted servant and friend of the Giannatasio family,

BEETHOVEN.

226.
TO G. DEL RIO.

You herewith receive through Carl, my dear friend, the ensuing quarter due to you. I beg you will attend more to the cultivation of his feelings and kindness of heart, as the latter in particular is the lever of all that is good; and no matter how a man's kindly feeling may be ridiculed or depreciated, still our greatest authors, such as Goethe and others, consider it an admirable quality; indeed, many maintain that without it no man can ever be very distinguished, nor can any depth of character exist.

My time is too limited to say more, but we can discuss verbally how in my opinion Carl ought to be treated on this point.

Your friend and servant,
L. VAN BEETHOVEN.

Alser Vorstadt--Beim Apfel, 2ter Étage,
No. 12, Leiberz, Dressmaker.

227.
TO G. DEL RIO.

This is at any rate the first time that it has been necessary to remind me of an agreeable duty; very pressing business connected with my art, as well as other causes, made me totally forget the account, but this shall not occur again. As for my servant bringing home Carl in the evening, the arrangement is already made. In the mean time I thank you for having been so obliging as to send your servant for him yesterday, as I knew nothing about it, so that Carl probably must otherwise have remained at Czerny's. Carl's boots are too small, and he has repeatedly complained of this; indeed, they are so bad that he can scarcely walk, and it will take some time before they can be altered to fit him. This kind of thing ruins the feet, so I beg you will not allow him to wear them again till they are made larger.

With regard to his pianoforte studies, I beg you will keep him strictly to them; otherwise his music-master would be of no use. Yesterday Carl could not play the whole day, I have repeatedly wished to hear him play over his lessons, but have been obliged to come away without doing so.

"La musica merita d'esser studiata."

Besides, the couple of hours now appointed for his music lessons are quite insufficient. I must therefore the more earnestly urge on you their being strictly adhered to. It is by no means unusual that this point should be attended to in an institute; an intimate friend of mine has also a boy at school, who is to become a professor of music, where every facility for study is afforded him; indeed, I was rather struck by finding the boy quite alone in a distant room practising, neither disturbing others, nor being himself disturbed.

I beg you will allow me to send for Carl to-morrow about half-past ten o'clock, as I wish to see what progress he has made, and to take him with me to some musicians.

I am, with all possible esteem, your friend,

L. VAN BEETHOVEN.

228.
TO CZERNY.

DEAR CZERNY,--

I beg you will treat Carl with as much patience as possible; for though he does not as yet get on quite as you and I could wish, still I fear he will soon do even less, because (though I do not want him to know it) he is over-fatigued by the injudicious distribution of his lesson hours. Unluckily it is not easy to alter this; so pray, however strict you may be, show him every indulgence, which will, I am sure, have also a better effect on Carl under such unfavorable circumstances.

With respect to his playing with you, when he has finally acquired the proper mode of fingering, and plays in right time, and gives the notes with tolerable correctness, you must only then first direct his attention to the mode of execution; and when he is sufficiently advanced, do not stop his playing on account of little mistakes, but only point them out at the end of the piece. Although I have myself given very little instruction, I have always followed this system, which quickly forms a musician; and this is, after all, one of the first objects of art, and less fatiguing both to master and scholar. In certain passages, like the following,--

I wish all the fingers to be used; and also in similar ones, such as these,--

&c. &c.

so that they may go very smoothly; such passages can indeed be made to sound very perlés, or like a pearl, played by fewer fingers, but sometimes we wish for a different kind of jewel.[1] More as to this some other time. I hope that you will receive these suggestions in the same kindly spirit in which they are offered and intended. In any event I am, and ever must remain, your debtor. May my candor serve as a pledge of my wish to discharge this debt at some future day!

Your true friend,
BEETHOVEN.