Ludwig van Beethoven, Brief an Ignaz Schuppanzigh, Wien, zwischen dem 21. und 26. Februar 1825, Autograph

Beethoven informs Schuppanzigh, a violinist friend, that the quartet (op. 127) can be performed in two weeks' time. He apologizes for the delay, citing too much work (in spring 1825 Beethoven had been occupied with the performance material for Ries for the Lower Rhine Music Festival in Aachen) and his generally bad situation. To make up for this Schuppanzigh has exclusive performance rights, because "the quartet will not be published for a long time".

In January/February 1825 Beethoven was planning one or several academies. As co-organizer Schuppanzigh was to be in charge of the organization. Beethoven now reproaches him that he has "not got in touch and so no-one will be in touch" with him.

As was often the case when talking to friends, Beethoven teases Schuppanzigh. Schuppanzigh was so fat that he was even caricatured in Vienna at the time. On account of his great girth Beethoven mainly called him "Falstaff" or "Mylord" (an abbreviation of "Mylord Falstaff", a reference to the very large figure with the same name in Shakespeare's comedy).

In this letter he also seizes the opportunity of laughing at his friend, "as soon as my machine is finished which will be able to transport you quite leisurely up to me on the fourth floor, I will let you know".