The Life of Ludwig van Beethoven, Volume IIThayer, Alexander Wheelock
History
The Life of Ludwig van Beethoven, Volume II
Thayer, Alexander Wheelock
Beethoven, Ludwig van, 1770-1827
He repeats his request that the texts be sent with the Scottish
songs, asks if violin and violoncello are to be treated ~obbligato~
or if the pianoforte might compose an ensemble in itself, and closes,
after having again demanded 9 ducats in gold, with: “we need the gold
here, for our country is at present only a paper fountain, and I in
particular, for I shall probably leave this country and go to England
and then to Edinburgh in Scotland, and rejoice in the prospect of there
making your personal acquaintance.”
The letter to Brunswick which follows, has been printed with the date
1809; but in that year Beethoven was not in the Pasqualati house; he
was then on the most cordial terms with Oliva (barring the disagreement
at Teplitz in 1811); and his satisfaction with the “honorable
decree”--the annuity contract--which retained him in Vienna, was at
the flood. The date, 1812, renders every point in the letter, except
who is meant by “R,” perfectly intelligible.[94] “T” is the manuscript
Trio, Op. 97; “S,” the printed sonata, “Les Adieux, etc.,” Op. 81a;
“the quartet” is Op. 95, also in manuscript; “nothing decisive” refers
to the non-receipt of the desired written instructions from Kinsky and
Lobkowitz to their cashiers respecting the notes of redemption, and
the “unhappy war” was that movement by Napoleon which proved to be the
fatal invasion of Russia.
The letter reads:
Dear friend! Brother!
I ought to have written you earlier; I did so 1000 times in my
heart. You ought to have received the T. and S. much earlier; I
cannot understand how R. could have detained these so long from
you. To the best of my recollection I told you that I would send
both sonata and trio, do as you feel inclined, keep the sonata or
send it to Forray[95] as you please, the quartet was designed for
you long ago, my disorderliness alone is to blame that you receive
it only now. And speaking of disorder I am unfortunately compelled
to tell you that it still persecutes me on every hand, nothing
decisive has been done in my affairs; the unhappy war may delay the
final settlement still more or make the matter worse. At one time
I resolve upon one thing, at another time upon a different one,
unfortunately I must remain in the neighborhood until the matter is
settled. O unhappy decree, seductive as a siren, against which I
should have stopped my ears with wax and had myself bound so that
I could not sign, like Ulysses. If the billows of war roll nearer
here I shall come to Hungary; perhaps in any event, if I must care
for my miserable self I shall no doubt beat my way through--away,
nobler, loftier plans! Infinite are our strivings, the vulgar puts
an end to all!
Farewell dear brother, be such to me, I have no one to whom I can
give the name, do as much good around you as the evil times will
permit.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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