Ludwig van Beethoven complained of low salary and illness, letter shows

Starting off with a “Dear Sir” written in a precise hand, Beethoven’s handwriting slowly becomes shabbier and impulsive as he scrawls down his thoughts, crossing words out and correcting himself.

“Beethoven was not a composer with beautiful handwriting,” said Stefan Weymar, a researcher at the Brahms Institute. “It is spontaneous and he wrote things, then crossed them out, his thoughts changed as he went on and that is the impression the letter gives.”

In the text the great composer also speaks of an eye complaint that was bothering him, and vents his frustration at being unable to track down a music-loving dentist who had written to him. Going back to financial problems Beethoven also complains about the cost of providing an education for one of his nephews, and ponders who would look after his relative after his death.

Beethoven’s concern over money reflects the fact that despite enjoying a reputation of one of Europe’s finest composers he never managed to profit from his remarkable talent.

But, perhaps, clearly aware of his fame, the composer finishes the letter with the line, “all letters [to me] need nothing more than ‘L. v.

Beethoven, Vienna’, where I receive everything.”

Anything written by Beethoven now commands a high price. Last year a six-word shopping list in the composer’s handwriting was sold at auction for £49,000.

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