Vienna,
January 15, 1801
I have read your letter with very great pleasure,
my most beloved and worthy brother and friend. I thank you most warmly
for the good opinion you have formed of me and my works, and I only
hope that I shall be able fully to deserve it. Please convey too to
Herr K[uhnel] my dutiful thanks for his courteous and friendly remarks
about me -- I am delighted also to hear of your undertakings and I hope
that if works of art can produce any profit, the latter will fall to
the lot of genuine and true artists rather than to that of mere tradesmen
-- Your desire to publish the works of Sebastian Bach is something
that really warms my heart which beats sincerely for the sublime and
magnificent art of that first father of harmony. I trust that I shall
soon see this plan fully launched and I hope that as soon as we hear
the announcement of our golden age of peace I myself shall be able even
from Vienna to contribute something to this scheme when you are collecting
subscriptions for it -- Well, as to our own business matters, since
you now desire such an arrangement, I am prepared to serve you. And
for the time being I am offering you the following compositions: a septet
(about which I have already told you, and which could be arranged for
the pianoforte also, with a view to its wider distribution and to our
greater profit) 20 ducats -- a symphony 20 ducats -- a concerto 10 ducats
-- a grand solo sonata (Allegro, Adagio, Minuetto, Rondo) 20 ducats.
(This sonata is a first-rate composition, most beloved and worthy brother).
Now for a fuller elucidation. Perhaps you will be surprised that in
this case I make no distinction between sonata, septet and symphony.
the reason is that I find that a septet or a symphony does not sell
as well as a sonata. That is the reason why I do this, although a symphony
should undoubtedly be worth more (NB. The septet consists of a short
introductory Adagio, then Allegro, Adagio, Minuetto, Andante with variations,
Minuetto, another short introductory Adagio and then Presto) -- I am
valuing the concerto at only 10 ducats because, as I have already told
you, I do not consider it to be one of my best concertos -- If you treat
all the works as one item you will not, I believe, find my demand excessive.
At least I have endeavoured to make the prices as moderate for you as
possible -- As to the draft, since you give me the option, you may send
it to Geimuller or Schuller -- The total sum for all four works would
thus be 70 ducats. How much that sum amounts to in your thalers and
gulden does not concern me, because I am really an incompetent business
man who is bad at arithmetic --
Well, that tiresome business has now been settled.
I call it tiresome because I should like such matters to be differently
ordered in this world. There ought to be in the world a market for
art where the artist would only have to bring his works and take
as much money as he needed. But, as it is, an artist has to be to a
certain extent a business man as well, and how can he manage to be that
-- Good Heavens -- again I call it a tiresome business -- As
to the Leipzig r[eviewers], just let them talk; by means of their chatter
they will certainly never make anyone immortal, nor will they ever take
immortality from anyone upon whom Apollo has bestowed it --
Now may Heaven preserve you and your partner.
For some time I have not been well; and so it is a little difficult
for me even to write down notes and, still less, letters of the alphabet.
I hope that we shall often have an opportunity of assuring ourselves
how much you are my friends and how much I am
your brother and friend
L. v. Beethoven
I am expecting an early reply -- Adieu.