My most beloved
and worthy Brother,
You
have reason to complain of me, and no small one indeed. My excuse
is the following: I was ill and, in addition, I had a great deal
to do, so that it was scarcely possible for me to give even a
thought to what I ought to send you. Moreover, perhaps the only
touch of genius which I possess is that my things are not always
in very good order. Yet no one but myself is able to deal with
them. For instance, as is usual with me, the pianoforte part of
the concerto [Opus 19] was not written out in the score. I have
only written it out now, so that, as I am in a hurry, you will
receive that part in my own not very legible handwriting. -
In
order to thave the works so far as possible in their correct sequence,
I remind you that you should call
The solo
sonata . . . . Opus
22
The symphony . . . . Opus
21
The septet . . . .
. . Opus 20
The concerto . . . . .
Opus 19
--
I will shortly send you the titles - Enter my name as a subscriber
to the works of Johann Sebastian Bach, and also the name of Prince
Lichnowsky - Your arrangement of Mozart's sonatas as quartets
will do you honour and will certainly bring you some profit. I
should like to be able to do more for people on such occasions,
but I am an untidy fellow, and despite the best will in the world
I seem to forget everything. However, I have already mentioned
your undertaking here and there and have found in every case the
warmest welcome -- It would be very nice if my dear brother, besides
publishing the septet as it stands, were to arrange it too for
a flute, for instance, and perhaps as a quintet. This would satisfy
the lovers of the flute who have already entreated me to do this;
and they would swarm around it and feed on it like insects. --
Well, to tell you a little more about myself, I have composed
a ballet; but the ballet-master has not done his part very successfully.
- Baron von Lichtenstein has also bestowed on us one of his products,
which does not bear out the ideas that the papers have given us
of his genius; a further proof of what the papers perpetrate.
The Baron seems to have chosen for his ideal Herr Müller
of the Kasperletheater, without attaining - even to that ideal
- Such are the pleasant conditions in which we poor Viennese have
to exist and thrive - My dear brother, do make great haste and
bring these works into the world for all to see. And write to
me soon so that I may now that notwithstanding my neglect of you
I have not altogether forfeited your confidence. Please give my
kindest regards to Kühnel your Associé. In future
everything will be sent off immediately, promptly and in good
condition - The quartets could certainly be published in a few
weeks - Now my best wishes for your welfare. And love your friend
and brother
Beethoven