with you the
publication of all my Works in futur--These Quartettos are for you a
publication so advantagous that I have not the least doubt but you
will make the Bargain of them, since there is such a long time that
nothing has been published of my composition--I wish them to appear
about the middle of January, and to be dedicated _to His Royal
Highness the Prince Louis of Prussia_ with whom I am at this moment at
the Army against the French--If you wish to write to me, give the
letter to the Gentelmen who shall deliver to you the quartettos--I beg
You to give my best greetings to Mr. Crassier, Sheener, Tonkinson and
all Those that remember me, and believe me,

Your very obedient Servant,

and sincere friend,

DUSSEK,

Privy Secretary to His Royal H^s. the Prince Louis of Prussia.

The above letter is addressed to Mr. Birchal, Music Seller, New Bond
Street, London.

[87] _Musical Times_, September and October 1877.

[88] Here is one, in the 8th Variation--

[Music illustration]

[89] Mendelssohn, too, complained that Dussek was a prodigal.

[90] The one in D minor has often been performed at the Popular
Concerts.

[91] 1822-1892.

[92] The original title is: "Sonata per il Cembalo o Fortepiano di
F.W. Rust, 1788."

[93] It is curious to note that in the supplement of the Breitkopf &
Haertel edition of Beethoven's works there are two little pieces
entitled "Lustig und Traurig."

[94] E. Bach published six easy clavier sonatas in 1765, but Neefe
probably refers to earlier and more important works.

[95] Besides those mentioned, he published in 1774 six new sonatas,
also variations on the theme "Kunz fand einst einen armen Mann."

[96] "As your Royal Highness seemed to be pleased with the sonata in C
minor, I thought it would not appear too bold to surprise you with the
dedication of it."

[97] The opening theme of that same symphony--

[Music illustration]

recalls, curiously, the last movement of Beethoven's 8th Symphony; and
still more so in the form in which he first sketched it--

[Music illustration]

[98] Schindler, by the way, relates in his _Biography of Beethoven_
(3rd ed. 2nd Part, p. 212) that, already in 1816, when there was a
proposal made by Hoffmeister to Beethoven to issue a new edition of
his pianoforte music, the master conceived the intention of indicating
the poetic idea ("Poetische Idee") underlying his various works. And
the biographer adds: "This term (_i.e. poetic ide