Ferdinand Ries, Brief an Franz Gerhard Wegeler in Koblenz, London, 10. September 1836, Autograph

On the occasion of the birthday of his second oldest daughter Emily, born on September 10th, 1820, Ries wrote this letter. He is still looking for a suitable subject for his oratorio. Together with Carl Moritz Kneisel (1794-1872), a teacher and poet from Bonn, Wegeler intends to write a libretto. He had suggested the biblical story of Esther. Although the subjects finds the approval of Ries ("da ist Kraft und Verschiedenheit von Charakter darin" (there is power and variousness of character)), he declines to set it to music in order to avoid being compared to Händel. The aim is not an oratorio able to fill a whole evening but rather a small one like Beethoven's composition to ensure an entertaining concert programme in combination with other pieces. According to Ries the libretto has to meet the following four requirements: 1) Diversity expressed in arias, choirs and duets; 2) Various characters to provide light and shadow; 3) Various versifications and short verses, something particularly German poets find hard to do; 4) Natural language, which helps the composer. "1/ Abwechslung in Rec[itativen]:, Arien, Chören, Duetten & & - 2/ Abwechslung der Charaktere, um Licht und Schatten zu haben. 3/ Verschiedenheit der Versivikation und keine langen Verse worin unsre deutschen Dichter besonders stark sind. 4/ Natürliche Sprache, die dem Komponisten sehr viel erleichtert." (An oratorio based on a text from Wegeler was never written. In 1837 the composition "The kings in Israel" was performed for the first time. Confer W 73.) In terms of pianos Ries prefers a round and rich tone, not like a "chopping board". He has made the experience that piano manufacturers give a discount of 10%, rarely 15%. (FG)