"The descriptions of a picture belong to painting; even the poet in this matter may, in comparison with my art, esteem himself lucky, for his domain in this respect is not so limited as mine, yet the latter extends further into other regions, and to attain to our kingdom is not easy." (To Wilhelm Gerhardi in Leipzig from Nussdorf, July, 1817.) * * * * * "Liberty and progress are the goals of art just as of life in general. If we are not as solid as the old masters, the refinement of civilization has at least enlarged our out-look." (To Archduke Rudolph.) * * * * * "I am not in the habit of altering my compositions when they are once finished. I have never done this, for I hold firmly that the slightest change alters the character of the composition." (To George Thomson, publisher, Edinburgh.) * * * * * "Pure Church music ought to be performed entirely _by the voices only_, except for the _Gloria_ or words of that kind. That is why I prefer Palestrina; but it would be absurd to imitate him without possessing his spirit and his religious convictions." (To the organist Freudenberg.) * * * * * "When your piano pupil has the proper fingering, the exact rhythm and plays the notes correctly, pay attention only to the style; do not stop for little faults or make remarks on them until the end of the piece. This method produces _musicians_, which after all is one of the chief aims of musical art.... For the passage work (virtuosity) make him use all the fingers freely.... Doubtless by employing fewer fingers a 'pearly' effect is obtained--as it is put--'like a pearl.' But one likes other jewels at times." (To Czerny.) (The Baron de Trémont wrote in 1809, "Beethoven's piano playing was not very correct and his manner of fingering was often faulty; the quality of his tone was not beyond reproach. But who could dream of the player? One was completely absorbed by the thoughts which his hands tried to express as well as they could.") * * * * * "Amongst the old masters, only Handel and Sebastian Bach had true genius." (To the Archduke Rudolph, 1819.) * * * * * "My heart beats in entire concord with the lofty and grand art of Sebastian Bach, that patriarch of harmony (_dieses Urvaters der Harmonie_.") (To Hofmeister, 1801.) * * * * * "I have always been one of the greatest admirers of Mozart, and I shall remain so until my latest breath." (To the Abbé Stadler, 1826.) * * * * *