This Surprisingly Unknown Beethoven
By mmila, November 25, 2007, 8:13 pm
Many of us used to infuriated Beethoven’s image, full of anger and rage thanks to Hollywood film makers. Bellow you’ll discover the profound and beautiful soul of this greatest genius, that ever lived. Please enjoy reading his letter to this young pianist, that Beethoven wrote in 1812, entitled to “Miss Emilie M., at H” (possibly Hamburg). The young Emilie had embroidered a pocketbook and had sent it to Beethoven as a gift with an admiring note. Beethoven sent this reply


My dear, kind Emilie, my dear friend!

My reply to your letter is late in arriving. A great amount of business and persistent illness may serve to excuse me. The fact that I m here for the recovery of my health proves the truth of my excuse. Do not rob Handel, Haydn and Mozart of their laurel wreaths. They are entitled to theirs, but I am not yet entitled to one.

Your pocketbook will be treasured among other gifts of a regard that many people have shown me but that I am still far from deserving.

Persevere, do not only practice your art, but endeavor also to fathom its inner meaning: it deserves this effort. For only art and science can raise men to the level of gods. True artist has no pride. He sees unfortunately that art has no limits. He has a vague awareness of how far he is from reaching his goal and while others perhaps admire him, he laments that he has not yet reached the point to which his better genius only lights the way for him like a distant sun. I should probably prefer to visit you and your family than to visit many rich people who betray themselves with poverty of their inner selves. If I should ever come to H. I will call on you and your family. I know of no other advantages then those which entitle one to be numbered among one’s better fellow creatures. Where I find them, there is my home.

If you want to write to me, dear Emilie, just address it directly to Teplitz, or send it to Vienna. Look upon me as your friend and the friend of your family.

Ludwig van Beethoven. On July 17, 1812.
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