BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Saturday, February 5, 1825

Brother Johann has guests for dinner and does not come to visit Ludwig today. It seems Nephew Karl does not visit Uncle Ludwig today either, because the following letter is entirely in Ludwig’s hand, and Karl customarily wrote out the correspondence with publishers from Ludwig’s dictation.

Beethoven writes his publishers, B. Schott’s Sons, in Mainz today. This is the letter confirming ownership that Johann had been insisting for weeks that Ludwig write, and which he is finally doing grudgingly. “You will soon have all the works. I certify to you with my signature that you are the sole owner of the Josephstadt Overture [Beethoven seems to have decided to use this as a name rather than Consecration of the House], and piano arrangements from it, as well of my 6 bagatelles or trifles, and 3 songs, 2 of which are with wind instruments or piano alone, and an Ariette with piano, and that your editions of these are the only correct and legitimate ones, and were provided by the author himself. Ludwig Van Beethoven.”

After this statement of ownership, Beethoven adds, “You would do well to publish the piano arrangements of the overture immediately. I see that you have already been informed of Herr Henning’s nonsense [his pirated piano duet arrangement of the Overture, published in Berlin], because I wanted to let you know that the overture was only given to the Königsstadt Theater for performance, not for engraving or for publication. This was agreed in writing with Behtmann [sic; Heinrich Bethmann, the then-director of the Berlin theater,] but as you know they had a falling-out with him and now they believed they were right not to honor what had been negotiated by him. I immediately received news of this from an acquaintance of mine in Berlin and wrote to Henning on the spot. He wrote back straight away that this had indeed been done with the four-hand piano score, and that it was impossible now to take it back, but that I could count with complete certainty that nothing else of the like would happen. I sent you the letter but it will not be necessary at all. Just publish the piano score immediately under my name or under the name of Carl Czerni, who did the arrangement.”

“I would also like to make the Overture known to the musical public soon, and that it will remain under this Josephstadt title. The dedication is to His Serene Highness Prince Nicolaus von Galitzin, i.e. only on the full score. You will now do well to announce these works everywhere, including in Paris, etc. You have full authority from me to promote your interests in the best possible way. I hereby approve everything that you will find it necessary to do.”

“I have sent you some canons for [the musical journal] Cäcilia. Should you prefer something different in this regard, then write to me. You have no worries about Brockhausen [sic; Franz Stockhausen is meant] in Paris; I will write to him. Have fun asking Tobias for his romantic biography from me. [Beethoven had suggested in his January 22 letter to Schott that they ask Tobias Haslinger’s permission. Schott neglected to do so before printing the fanciful biography.] That is the way to deal with these people. A Viennese without a heart, he is actually the one who advised me “silentium” against them. There is no other way. The actual Steiner alias Paternostergäßler [the short street where Steiner’s shop was located] here is a very stingy scoundrel. Tobias is more of a weak person and pleasant, and I need him for many things. Let them say what they want, in dealing with them it is of no consequence to them.”

“As soon as you are willing, you should in the near future undertake a collected publication of all my works, because here and there a lot is to be expected on that account, with a new work in every genre, even if not always great, and that would greatly promote this matter. The future editions of my new works that you have now taken on are all organized under my supervision, and you may say so in your announcements.”

“I have not received either the 4th or 5th issue of the Cäcilia. Now, live well, and let me hear kind words from you soon. With true respect, your Beethoven.” In a postscript, Beethoven adds, “Nb: The Mass published in Paris is a re-engraving of an earlier Mass of mine. [The Mass in C, op.86. Beethoven had been worried about rumors that a pirated edition of the Missa Solemnis was to be printed in Paris. The Mass in C had indeed been published in Paris by Castil-Blaze in late 1824, in connection with the Concerts Spirituels held there over Christmas.]

Brandenburg Letter 1932; Anderson Letter 1349. The original is held by the Mainz City Library, and it can be seen here:

https://www.dilibri.de/dilibri_kalliope/content/pageview/2170238