Several
reasons impel me to write to you, my highly honoured Herr Härtel
- Presumably you too may have got wind of a report that I have
signed a contract for all my works with a firm in Vienna (and
to the exclusion o all other publishers). As several foreign publishers
have enquired about this rumour, I am informing you, and that
too on my own initiative, that there is no truth in it - and indeed
you yourself know that I have not been able to accept a similar
offer from you - not yet, at any rate - Another matter which affects
me closely is that several publishers who have some of my compositions,
are so atrociously dilatory about bringing them to the light of
day. Each of these publishers attributes his delay now to this
circumstance now to that one - I distinctly remember that you
once wrote to me saying that you would be able to deliver a prodigious
number of copies in a few weeks - I have now finished several
compositions, and precisely because I intend to let you have them
all, my desire to see them published in the near future may perhaps
be satisfied all the sooner - So I am just telling you in a few
words what I can let you have: my oratorio [Opus 85] - a new grand
symphony [Third Symphony, Opus 55] - a concertante for violin,
violoncello and pianoforte with full orchestra [Opus 56] - three
new sonatas for pianoforte solo [Opus 53, Opus 54, Opus 57] Should
you like to have one of these with an accompaniment, I would also
agree to arrange this too. - Well, if you would like to have these
works, then you must be so kind as to let me know exactly how
much time it will take you to publish them. Since it is my most
earest desire that the first three works at any rate should appear
as soon as possible, we could fix the time in writing or by contract
(according to what you decide); and to this arrangement, I tell
you quite frankly, I would, of course, strictly adhere - The oratorio
has not yet been published because I have added an entirely new
chorus and have also made a few alterations, the reason being
that I wrote the whole work in a few weeks and that naturally
some passages did not altogether satisfy me later on - That is
why I have kept it back until now. These alterations were not
made until after the date when my brother wrote to you about this
work. - The title of the symphony is really Bonaparte: and in
addition to all the other usual instruments it has the accompaniment
of three horns - I think that it will interest the musical public
- I should like you to publish the symphony in score instead of
engraving the parts. I have nothing to add about the other works,
although indeed a concertante with three such concerto parts is
surely something new - Well, if you are really inclined to agree
to these conditions which I have proposed for the works in respect
of their publication, I would let you have them for a few of 2000
(two thousand) gulden - I assure you on my honour that in the
case of some individual works, such as, for instance, sonatas,
I am really a loser, seeing that people give me up to 60 ducats
for a single sonata for pianoforte solo.. I beg you not to think
that I am bragging - Far be it from me to do such a thing-But
I just want to say that I will gladly forgo a little profit merely
in order to arrange for a speedier publication of my compositions
-
Now
please let me have a reply about this at once - I trust that Herr
Wiems has received my letter. I took the liberty of addressing
it to you. I expect an early reply and remain your most devoted
Ludwig van Beethoven