Ludwig van Beethoven, "Feuerfarb", Lied für Singstimme und Klavier, op. 52,2, Überprüfte Abschrift, Fragment

Property of my brother Johann

On 13 September 1803 Ferdinand Ries wrote on Beethoven's behalf to the Bonn publisher Nikolaus Simrock concerning music to be printed. On this occasion he also offered Simrock the eight songs op. 52: "You may now purchase 8 songs by Beethoven and a prelude, which he gave to his youngest brother for favours bestowed. (...) He did them 4 years ago." The subject of this favour is not known - it probably refers to a loan. Ries' statement as such is confirmed by the copy shown here. Beethoven noted on the title page, "I declare these 8 songs and the prelude in F minor to be the property of my brother Johann Beethowen [sic]. Ludwig van Beethoven Vienna, 7 October 1803". The copy has only survived as a fragment, the leaf is the only one remaining from the previously complete manuscript. (J.R.)