Ludwig van Beethoven, Brief an Nikolaus Simrock in Bonn, Wien, 23. April 1820, Autograph

Beethoven tells his publisher Simrock that he has sent the Variations (op. 107) to Brentano in Frankfurt. He is now expecting payment. In addition he says that he has also sent two themes with variations and that Simrock can either exchange them for existing ones or can publish more. He does not expect to be paid more for this. As far as the publication date is concerned he will make enquiries and let him know in good time.

Beethoven talks about the many corrections which were necessary in the copy. His usual copyist had not been available, which is why he had to use one who "is not sufficiently familiar with my handwriting, which often only fleetingly writes notes. The usual copyists mostly have difficulties with this and prefer big and juicy notes, as they allow them to write faster."

Beethoven promises to send something about Austrian dialect (shortly before this he had given Simrock two Austrian folksongs in letter HCB BBr 227, BGA 1372, and Simrock had probably enquired about the texts). He will gladly send further folksongs. In return he will surely find something, for instance a little black bread.

Finally Beethoven enquires after works by the publisher as he would like to have some single scores for his nephew. At the end he promises to send the Mass (op. 123) in May or June and asks for payment to be made now. (The Missa solemnis was only completed at the end of 1822 and was published by Schott in Mainz in the end.)

In a postscript on the address page he points out a mistake in the copy.