y the most popular and celebrated musicians of the day; as no one
declined giving a musical contribution to the editor, the profits being
intended to enable him to go to Carlsbad for the benefit of the waters
there. The work met with unusual support and sympathy. It then occurred to
the editor to apply for a contribution to the great Ludwig van Beethoven,
with whom he had been acquainted in former days through his father and
grandfather. The great musician at once, in the most gracious and amiable
manner, promised to comply with the request, and sent him not only a waltz,
but (the only one who did so) also a trio, desiring the editor to send in
the course of a month for these works, which would by that time be
completed. As the editor was in the mean time taken ill, he was not able to
call for the work himself, and was thus obliged to give up this interesting
visit. He therefore requested his mother to apply for the waltz, &c., and
to express his thanks; but the housekeeper, to whom she gave her name,
refused to admit her, saying she could not do so, 'for her master was in
such a crazy mood.' As at this very moment Beethoven chanced to put his
head in at the door, she hurried the lady into a dark room, saying, 'Hide
yourself, as it is quite impossible that anyone can speak to him to-day,'
getting out of the way herself as fast as she could. A couple of days
afterwards Beethoven sent the waltz, &c., to the house of the musical
editor in question, with the above letter."]

403.

TO F. RIES.

Vienna, April 9, 1825.

MY DEAR GOOD RIES,--

I write only what is most pressing! So far as I can remember in the score
of the Symphony [the 9th] that I sent you, in the first hautboy, 242d bar,
there stands [Music: F E D] instead of [Music: F E E]. I have carefully
revised all the instrumental parts, but those of the brass instruments only
partially, though I believe they are tolerably correct. I would already
have sent you my score [for performance at the Aix musical festival], but I
have still a concert in prospect, if indeed my health admits of it, and
this MS. is the only score I possess. I must now soon go to the country, as
this is the only season when I profit by it.

You will shortly receive the second copy of the "Opferlied;" mark it at
once as corrected by myself, that it may not be used along with the one you
already possess. It is a fine specimen of the wretched copyists I have had
since Schlemmer's death. It is s