ainting."
H. E. K.]

89. "My 'Fidelio' was not understood by the public, but I know that it
will yet be appreciated; for though I am well aware of the value of my
'Fidelio' I know just as well that the symphony is my real element. When
sounds ring in me I always hear the full orchestra; I can ask anything
of instrumentalists, but when writing for the voice I must continually
ask myself: 'Can that be sung?'

(A remark made in 1823 or 1824 to Griesinger.)

90. "Thus Fate knocks at the portals!"

(Reported by Schindler as Beethoven's explanation of the opening of the
symphony in C minor.)

["Hofrath Kueffner told him (Krenn) that he once lived with Beethoven in
Heiligenstadt, and that they were in the habit evenings of going down
to Nussdorf to eat a fish supper in the Gasthaus 'Zur Rose.' One evening
when B. was in a good humor, Kueffner began: `Tell me frankly which is
your favorite among your symphonies?' B. (in good humor) 'Eh! Eh! The
Eroica.' K. 'I should have guessed the C minor.' B. 'No; the Eroica.'"
From Thayer's notebook. See "Music and Manners in the Classical Period."
H.E.K.]

91. "The solo sonatas (op. 109-ll?) are perhaps the best, but also the
last, music that I composed for the pianoforte. It is and always will be
an unsatisfactory instrument. I shall hereafter follow the example of my
grandmaster Handel, and every year write only an oratorio and a concerto
for some string or wind instrument, provided I shall have finished my
tenth symphony (C minor) and Requiem."

(Reported by Holz. As to the tenth symphony see note to No. 95.)

92. "God knows why it is that my pianoforte music always makes the worst
impression on me, especially when it is played badly."

(June 2, 1804. A note among the sketches for the "Leonore" overture.)

93. "Never did my own music produce such an effect upon me; even now
when I recall this work it still costs me a tear."

(Reported by Holz. The reference is to the Cavatina from the quartet
in B-flat, op. 130, which Beethoven thought the crown of all quartet
movements and his favorite composition. When alone and undisturbed
he was fond of playing his favorite pianoforte Andante--that from the
sonata op. 28.)

94. "I do not write what I most desire to, but that which I need to
because of money. But this is not saying that I write only for money.
When the present period is past, I hope at last to write that which is
the