
	Beethoven digital contents \| search \| legal \| location \| links \| patrons \| contact us \| about us \|

back to "Works by Ludwig van Beethoven" |

back to "Symphonies" |

back to op. 68

Ludwig van Beethoven, Brief an Breitkopf & Härtel in Leipzig, Heiligenstadt, etwa 10. Juli 1808, Autograph

Beethoven-Haus Bonn, Sammlung H. C. Bodmer, HCB Br 70

					Image 1 / 2

Audio letter

Summary
Beethoven modifies his offer concerning the works opp. 67, 68, 69 and 85. He reduces the price to 700 florins (from the original sum of 900 florins), also offering them two sonatas or a symphony. He places a great deal of worth on the publication of the mass. Breitkopf & Härtel had rejected it - "there is no demand for church things, they tell me". Beethoven is sure of himself and extols the virtues of the mass as a concert work (e.g. to be published in piano reduction with a German text).
He is also prepared to collect names for a subscription, as well as to compose an additional offertorium and graduale.
Beethoven briefly explains his wishes concerning the completion of the deal and hopes to be able to win over the publisher for his suggestions.

Letter text

Library indexing

Glossary