Chapter XX: Part III: From 1824 Till Beethoven's Death in 1827 (9)

[195] When I left England I went to live at Godesberg, near Bonn, one of the most beautiful parts on the Rhine. I had invited Beethoven to come and see me there; and had pressed him to live at once with me, and in his native home, for some little time.--RIES.

[196] From the Harmonicon, October, 1824.

[197] Most of our readers will concur with us in thinking this a most eccentric mode of colouring musically so gentle a word.

[198] This passage has puzzled many a leader and conductor, and many have altered it thus:--

Whilst in the score it is written,--

ED.

[199] Beethoven being in the box of a much esteemed lady during the performance of "La Molinara," she said, on hearing the well-known "Nel cor più," "I had some variations on this subject, but have lost them." Beethoven, the same night, wrote the six Variations on this subject, and the next morning sent them to the lady, writing upon them, "Variazioni, &c., perdute da----, retrovate du Luigi v. B." They are so easy that the lady might well have played them at first sight.--WEGELER.

[200] As it proves to be in our days, where it is always the one most admired.

[201] Consequently after his hearing had been impaired.--WEGELER.

[202] _Manu propria_, with his own hand.

[203] A music-seller at Vienna.

[204] A village in a romantic country, about three miles from Vienna.

[205] Towards the latter end of 1826.

[206] In answer to the above, I informed Mr. Rau, in the name of the Philharmonic Society, that the money having been sent for the express purpose, and on condition that Beethoven himself should make use of it, the Society would, now that the event had taken place before the end in view could be achieved, expect the money to be returned.--ED.

[207] The above-mentioned enclosure from the guardian (Mr. Hotschilar, imperial notary) urges still more forcibly all that Mr. Rau hints confidentially, with the request that I would lay before the Philharmonic Society the case of young Beethoven (then under age), and earnestly solicit that body not to reclaim the one thousand florins, but, in honour of the great deceased, allow the small patrimony, which he spared no sacrifice in securing for his nephew, to remain untouched. I complied with Mr. Hotschilar's request, and the Society gave its tacit consent by relinquishing all further proceedings: thus doing homage to the great man even in death.--ED.

[208] Given in the following pages.--ED.

[209] The original MS. of this curious production is in the possession of Mr. Haslinger, and prized as a relic of no common kind.--ED.

[210] This gentleman, who stands in high repute as a professor of music at Bonn, has made himself so meritoriously known as a teacher of harmony and counterpoint, that the honour of instructing H. R. H. Prince Albert, while at the University of Bonn, in that branch of the art, devolved upon him.

[211] From the Harmonicon, April, 1828.

[212] This work has indeed been published.--ED.

[213] M. Schindler has informed us that this valuable collection was bought by Haslinger for 100 florins, about £10 sterling--a price which would not seem to bespeak much spirit in the rival bidders; and the writer of the above account of the sale adds, in a note, that the purchaser almost immediately advertised it for sale in the Leipzig Musical Gazette, price 450 florins, or £45.--TRANSLATOR.