Most Honoured Sir!
Scream at – curse – that B(eethoven) who hasn’t written to you – For God’s sake publish the Mass [Opus 86] just as you have it, without waiting for the organ part. It would be better for the work to appear as it is than to be kept back any longer for what is after all an immaterial reason – But I hope that it will be published in score – The translation of the Gloria I consider very suitable, but that of the Kyrie not so good. Although the beginning ‘tief im Staub anbeten wir’ is very appropriate, yet several expressions, such as ‘ew’gen Weltenherrscher’ and ‘Allgewaltigen’ seem to fit the Gloria better. The general character of the Kyrie (I consider that in a translation of this kind only the general character of each movement should be indicated) is heartfelt resignation, deep sincerity of religious feeling, ‘Gott erbarme dich unser’, yet without on that account being sad. Gentleness is the fundamental characteristic of the whole work. And hear the expressions ‘Allgewaltiger’ and so forth do not seem to convey the meaning of the whole work. Apart from ‘Eleison erbarme dich unser’ – cheerfulness pervades this Mass. The Catholic goes to church on Sunday it his best clothes add in a joyful and festive mood. Besides the Kyrie Eleison is the introduction to the whole work. If such strong expressions were used here, few would be left for those portions we’re really strong expressions are required. –– The three missing songs –– are on the way –– I cannot promise to compose and add another song to the five Italian ones. In any case four ariettas and a duet [Opus 82] ought to be acceptable –– but I don’t absolutely reject your request –– As soon as I have received everything I will send you the certificates of ownership. But it indeed I hope that you do not distrust me. Or has that scoundrel of a captain been able to achieve this? In a few days Herr Kühnel will receive from me a letter which he has been told to show you as well – in regard to this matter – Well, Herr Riotte, who came to see me the other day, informed me that you had asked him for his opinion of my latest works and, incidentally, whether you ought to take them – Well now, I must ask you whether you really instructed him to do this? In the works there are still several mistakes which are certainly not to be found at all in the manuscript. So be more careful in this respect. Furthermore, I am still convinced that the best arrangement would be for you to send me the first copies, which I promise you to have sung and played through at once. Then I will return to you immediately those passages where there are mistakes. After receiving the corrections you can let me have the other c[opies] at once – I am not well and indeed have not been well for some time, or I should have enclosed in this letter a small list of the mistakes – I will write soon about the idea you put forward for a new work and also about what I am composing – I send you all good wishes for your welfare on German soil ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Kyrie Eleison,
Wholly your
Beethoven
NB. Thanks for the Musik[alische] Zeitung; and I should like you to continue to send it. About this too I will arrange with you, in due course.