Kaspar Karl van Beethoven, Brief an Breitkopf & Härtel in Leipzig, Wien, 12. Februar 1805, Autograph

Karl van Beethoven sends the publisher Härtel in Leipzig corrections for the Third Symphony op. 55. In addition he tells him that at the beginning his brother had thought the symphony might be too long if the first part of the first movement was repeated. However, after having heard the symphony several times, he now believes, "that it would even be a disadvantage if the first part were not repeated". As far as the format of the edition is concerned, his brother wants it to be just as easy to hold as the Paris edition of Haydn's symphonies.

In order to prevent pirate copies and unlawful arrangements, Karl also suggests publishing the symphony as a piano reduction and making an arrangement for string quartet. If Härtel does not have anyone who can do this, he would recommend Ignaz Franz Mosel. Further works (op. 56 and a piano sonata) as well as the score of op. 85 will be sent with the next post.