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Ludwig van Beethoven, Brief an George Thomson in Edinburgh, Wien, 23. November 1809, Autograph, Erstschrift

Beethoven-Haus Bonn, BH 6

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Summary
Beethoven writes to his English publisher Thomson to tell him that he is prepared to write an accompaniment to the 43 folk songs which Thomson had sent him; but asks for more money. After all this kind of composition is not one an artist really enjoys writing. In addition Beethoven asks for 120 pounds for different chamber music works, for which Thomson had offered 100 pounds sterling. He justifies this by quoting the weak currency of the time and the difficult financial situation in Vienna.
He wants to choose the instrumentation himself and does not want the publisher to do so for him. In a postscript the composer adds that he would like the texts for the folk-song melodies next time, in order to be able to give his work the right form of expression.

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