"One, two or three new quartets"
Prince Nikolas Galitzin was one of Beethoven's greatest admirers. The Russian, who lived in St. Petersburg, was a music lover and a talented cellist. As early as 9 November 1822 he sent Beethoven a letter commissioning "one, two or three new quartets". Beethoven accepted the offer in 1823, but work on them dragged on until 1825 - parallel projects, especially the Ninth Symphony, delayed work on the quartets. The three quartets op. 127, 130 and 132 were finally dedicated to the Prince, whose impatience was curbed due to his extreme admiration for Beethoven and the subscription of the Missa solemnis. In January 1826 Beethoven sent the Prince corrected copies of a set of parts, which were more or less finished material. The copy of op. 130 shown here is the dedication copy, with the dedication to the Prince on the first page of the first violin part. Beethoven sent Prince Galitzin op. 130 as originally conceived, as it was finished in November 1825, with the "Grosse Fuge" as the last movement (later separated from the quartet to become op. 133).
The copy of the parts for the Quartet op. 130 was accompanied by a letter in French, bearing no date or signature. The first sentence, "The enclosed quartets are those, which Beethoven dedicated to and sent to my father, Prince Nikolas", suggests that the letter was written by the Prince's son, Jurij Nikolajewitsch Galitzin.
The previous supposition that the copy of the quartets was done by Beethoven's nephew Karl was occasioned by this letter (the supposition is incorrect as one of Beethoven's professional copyists, Wenzel Rampl, made the copy). In addition Jurij Galitzin confirms that he had ended the legal wrangling over the outstanding payment for the quartets by paying the 2000 francs to Beethoven's heirs (the composer had still not received payment on his death). In the letter the young Prince Galitzin offers the quartets up for sale. (J.R.)
