Carl Maria von Weber an Barham Livius in London
Dresden, Donnerstag, 30. Juni 1825

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Direct Context

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Following

Barham Livius Esq:re

Theatre Royal, Coventgarden.

LondonΔ

Sir!

I have received in due timeΔ your honored letter of the 14th of this month, and hasten to inform you of a little confusion which has resulted byΔ your own arrangements. Instead of requiringΔ me, via rectaΔ “Euryanthe”, you have adressed yourΔ demands to Mr Simrok at Bonn, and only after the answer of this very honestΔ man, you have had the goodness to advise him to require Euryanthe from me*. This he has now done in a letter of the 9th JuneΔ, in which he writes me that the Sum of one hundred Pounds Sterling — which I have received of Mr B‡assengeΔ without Knowing the Sender — was remitted to me at your Request byΔ Mr Kemble. — In consequence of all this I have announcedΔ to Mr Kemble the receipt of this Sum and that I shall send him “Euryanthe” by Mr Simrok.      Now, I am obliged to tell him the contrary; and this is not my fault, but onlyΔ the consequenceΔ of your contradictory Dispositions.

I can not conceal my dear Sir, that I am very sorry, to see your works correspond not withΔ all the Kind things which you have lavished uponΔ me Δ by word‡Δ of mouth as well as now in your honored Letter. But I mayΔ be in the wrong, and some things resulte perhaps more fromΔ a certain pleasingΔ confusion which often accompanies lively minds in mattersΔ of bussiness, and I am perhaps too severeΔ relativelyΔ to those who name themselvesΔ friends of me.      I hope you will not be out of humour on account ofΔ my sincerity, which will only exhibitΔ my wayΔ, “few words, and accuracyΔ in bussiness.” — —. 

AccordingΔ to your Request, I shall deliver in a few days the text and the Partition of “Euryanthe” and also the little Ballet of “Preciosa”Δ — to Mr Bassenge for Mr Hawes in London.      Whilest I am acknowledging with thanks that this honored gentlemanΔ is determinedΔ to have Euryanthe performed in its perfect and entire state*, I must own, that I can not promise to myselfΔ any success of it, after all I was told — also by yourself — of the taste of the public‡Δ in London.

With regard to your wishes to purchase any manuscripts of mineΔ which have not yet been published in Germany, I can not do so, evenΔ with the best will, not having any of them.      Yet must I remark hereat, that none of my Partitions have been printed, and that consequentely all those who have not received them by me, are not entitled to theirΔ possession. |

You write me. “the Theatres have reaped an abundant harvest from your labours, and those of your translators — and every body has been delig[h]ted an[d]Δ profitted but the composers and the poor authors,Δ who have been at most overlooked pp.”

Was I not entitled to hope that you my dear Sir would fight Δ my causeΔ? and does it agreeΔ with the renowned brittish Rightcousness and generousity to overlook entirely such an object? and is Δ not it naturalΔ thatΔ the composer finds himself stillΔ more Δ grieved than overreached by it?Δ and is not itΔ pardonable that he confess his feelings? — — But — let us pass over it — —. My health is yet so bad, that I am obliged to go the 3rd July to the Bath of Ems near CoblenzΔ, where I shall remain till the middle of August. there your letters can find me.‡

I beg you, to tell Mr Planché manyΔ kind things from my part, and that I am occupied with nothing, than withΔ his beautiful Poetry.

I hope to see you the next Season in London, and there we can come better to an explanation by word of mouth, than by the weak surrogate of writting, the more so on my parteΔ in a foreign language.
MistressΔ Weber returns you your good wishes with thanks and I am with esteem
Sir your most obedient
Servant
CMvonWeberΔ. Dresden June 30th 1825.Δ

Editorial

Summary

Klage über Livius’ Verhalten und Bestellung der Euryanthe bei Simrock; bestätigt Geldempfang; will die Oper und ein Ballett zu Preciosa schnell liefern; kann keinen Erfolg der Oper versprechen; Livius’ Wunsch, unpublizierte Werke Webers zu erwerben, kann er nicht erfüllen; beklagt, dass Livius sich nicht für seine Rechte in London einsetze; erwähnt Kur in Ems

Incipit

“I have received in due time your honored letter”

Responsibilities

Übertragung
Eveline Bartlitz; Joachim Veit

Tradition in 2 Text Sources

  • 1. Text Source: Washington, D.C. (US), The Library of Congress, Music Division (US-Wc)
    Shelf mark: ML95.W394

    Physical Description

    • 1 DBl. (3 b. S. einschl. Adr.)
    • Siegelrest
    • PSt: a) DRESDEN | 30. Jun. 25 b) ALLEMAGNE | PAR | FORBACH; c) Rundstempel: FPO | JY: 11 | 1825
    • durchgehend in lateinischer Schrift

    Provenance

    • Maggs Brothers Kat. 433 (Weihn. 1922), Nr. 3819

    Corresponding sources

    • Copy: Berlin (D), Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin – Preußischer Kulturbesitz, Musikabteilung (D-B)
      Shelf mark: Weberiana Cl. II B, 2ß, Nr. 5, S. 892–894

      Physical Description

      • dt. Übers.
  • 2. Text Source: Draft: Berlin (D), Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin – Preußischer Kulturbesitz, Musikabteilung (D-B)
    Shelf mark: Mus. ms. autogr. theor. C. M. v. Weber WFN 6 (XVII), Bl. 90b/v u. 91r

Text Constitution

  • 1.
    “in due time”added above
  • 2.
    “by”“from” crossed out and replaced with “by”
  • 3.
    “ering”“e” crossed out and replaced with “ering”
  • 4.
    “via recta”“directly” crossed out and replaced with “via recta”
  • 5.
    “adressed your”“directed your” crossed out and replaced with “adressed your”
  • 6.
    “honest”“gent” crossed out and replaced with “honest”
  • 7.
    “This”“Which” crossed out and replaced with “This”
  • 8.
    “has mad”crossed out
  • 9.
    “[…]”added above
  • 10.
    “[…]”deleted text illegible
  • 11.
    “which I has was receiving d. 12t of this month /:exinted:/”crossed out
  • 12.
    “exinted”uncertain transcription
  • 13.
    “B”“M” overwritten with “B”
  • 14.
    “of Mr Bassenge”added in the margin
  • 15.
    “by”“fr” crossed out and replaced with “by”
  • 16.
    “announced”“written” crossed out and replaced with “announced”
  • 17.
    “only”added below
  • 18.
    “consequence”“conseque” crossed out and replaced with “consequence”
  • 19.
    “not to see”crossed out
  • 20.
    “not to see conform […]”crossed out
  • 21.
    “lavished upon”“overfilled” crossed out and replaced with “lavished upon”
  • 22.
    “as well”crossed out
  • 23.
    “d”“th” overwritten with “d”
  • 24.
    “may”“am” crossed out and replaced with “may”
  • 25.
    “from”“of” crossed out and replaced with “from”
  • 26.
    “pleasing”deleted text illegible
  • 27.
    “accompagnies lively minds in matters”“for to spirit animated Spirits in things” crossed out and replaced with “accompagnies lively minds in matters”
  • 28.
    “g”crossed out
  • 29.
    “severe”“rigourous” crossed out and replaced with “severe”
  • 30.
    “relatively”“in face” crossed out and replaced with “relatively”
  • 31.
    “themselves”“thereselves” crossed out and replaced with “themselves”
  • 32.
    “on account of”“to on” crossed out and replaced with “on account of”
  • 33.
    “exhibit”“put down” crossed out and replaced with “exhibit”
  • 34.
    “way”“fashion” crossed out and replaced with “way”
  • 35.
    “cy”“tness in” crossed out and replaced with “cy”
  • 36.
    “ly”crossed out
  • 37.
    “gentleman”“Sir” crossed out and replaced with “gentleman”
  • 38.
    “is determined”“will execute” crossed out and replaced with “is determined”
  • 39.
    “to myself”“me” crossed out and replaced with “to myself”
  • 40.
    “c”“k” overwritten with “c”
  • 41.
    “the taste of”added in the margin
  • 42.
    “taste”crossed out
  • 43.
    “of mine”added in the margin
  • 44.
    “so, even”“in” crossed out and replaced with “so, even”
  • 45.
    “their”“its” crossed out and replaced with “their”
  • 46.
    “for the sake”crossed out
  • 47.
    “cause”“sake” crossed out and replaced with “cause”
  • 48.
    “does it agree”“it comfortable the” crossed out and replaced with “does it agree”
  • 49.
    “it”crossed out
  • 50.
    “ it natural if by it”“per donable if” crossed out and replaced with “ it natural if by it”
  • 51.
    “if by it”crossed out
  • 52.
    “that”added in the margin
  • 53.
    “still”added above
  • 54.
    “yet”crossed out
  • 55.
    “near Coblenz”added in the margin
  • 56.
    “… your letters can find me.”im Entwurf ursprünglich: there an find me your letters; durch Ziffern Reihenfolge umgestellt; danach: if you will honor me.‡
  • 57.
    “if you will honor me.”crossed out
  • 58.
    “many”deleted text illegible
  • 59.
    “with”added above
  • 60.
    “so”added above
  • 61.
    “on my parte”“for me sake” crossed out and replaced with “on my parte”
  • 62.
    “Dresden June 30th 1825.”“Dresden 30th June 1825.” crossed out and replaced with “Dresden June 30th 1825.”

Commentary

  • 1.
    “… to require Euryanthe from me”Zum diesbezügichen Briefwechsel zwischen Livius und Simrock vgl. Simrocks Schreiben an Weber vom 9. Juni 1825.
  • 2.
    “… its perfect and entire state”Eine Einstudierung kam nicht zustande; die Oper erklang in London erstmals 1833 vollständig; vgl. Weberiana 18, S. 145–149.

Readings

  • 1.
    Text Source 1: “London”
    Text Source 2: No text present.
  • 2.
    Text Source 1: “in due time”
    Text Source 2: “in due time”
  • 3.
    Text Source 1: “by”
    Text Source 2: “from by”
  • 4.
    Text Source 1: “requiring”
    Text Source 2: “requireering”
  • 5.
    Text Source 1: “via recta”
    Text Source 2: “directly via recta”
  • 6.
    Text Source 1: “adressed your”
    Text Source 2: “directed your adressed your”
  • 7.
    Text Source 1: “honest”
    Text Source 2: “gent honest”
  • 8.
    Text Source 1: “This he has now done in a letter of the 9th June”
    Text Source 2: “Which This he has mad done […] in a letter which I has was receiving d. 12t of this month /:exinted:/ of the 9th June”
  • 9.
    Text Source 1: “of Mr MBassenge”
    Text Source 2: “of Mr Bassenge”
  • 10.
    Text Source 1: “by”
    Text Source 2: “from by”
  • 11.
    Text Source 1: “announced”
    Text Source 2: “written announced”
  • 12.
    Text Source 1: “only”
    Text Source 2: “only”
  • 13.
    Text Source 1: “consequence”
    Text Source 2: “conseque consequence”
  • 14.
    Text Source 1: “to see your works correspond not with”
    Text Source 2: “not to see your works not to see conform […] correspond not with”
  • 15.
    Text Source 1: “lavished upon”
    Text Source 2: “overfilled lavished upon”
  • 16.
    Text Source 1: No text present.
    Text Source 2: “as well”
  • 17.
    Text Source 1: “worthd”
    Text Source 2: “word”
  • 18.
    Text Source 1: “may”
    Text Source 2: “am may”
  • 19.
    Text Source 1: “from”
    Text Source 2: “of from”
  • 20.
    Text Source 1: “pleasing”
    Text Source 2: “[…] pleasing”
  • 21.
    Text Source 1: “accompanies lively minds in matters”
    Text Source 2: “for to spirit animated Spirits in things accompagnies lively minds in matters”
  • 22.
    Text Source 1: “severe”
    Text Source 2: “rigourous severe”
  • 23.
    Text Source 1: “relatively”
    Text Source 2: “in face relatively”
  • 24.
    Text Source 1: “themselves”
    Text Source 2: “thereselves themselves”
  • 25.
    Text Source 1: “on account of”
    Text Source 2: “to on on account of”
  • 26.
    Text Source 1: “exhibit”
    Text Source 2: “put down exhibit”
  • 27.
    Text Source 1: “way”
    Text Source 2: “fashion way”
  • 28.
    Text Source 1: “accuracy”
    Text Source 2: “accuratness incy”
  • 29.
    Text Source 1: “According”
    Text Source 2: “Accordingly”
  • 30.
    Text Source 1: “and also the little Ballet of “Preciosa””
    Text Source 2: “and also the little Ballet of Preciosa”
  • 31.
    Text Source 1: “gentleman”
    Text Source 2: “Sir gentleman”
  • 32.
    Text Source 1: “is determined”
    Text Source 2: “will execute is determined”
  • 33.
    Text Source 1: “to myself”
    Text Source 2: “me to myself”
  • 34.
    Text Source 1: “the taste of the publikc”
    Text Source 2: “the taste of the public taste”
  • 35.
    Text Source 1: “of mine”
    Text Source 2: “of mine”
  • 36.
    Text Source 1: “so, even”
    Text Source 2: “in so, even”
  • 37.
    Text Source 1: “their”
    Text Source 2: “its their”
  • 38.
    Text Source 1: “and”
    Text Source 2: “and”
  • 39.
    Text Source 1: “,”
    Text Source 2: “–”
  • 40.
    Text Source 1: No text present.
    Text Source 2: “for the sake”
  • 41.
    Text Source 1: “cause”
    Text Source 2: “sake cause”
  • 42.
    Text Source 1: “does it agree”
    Text Source 2: “it comfortable the does it agree”
  • 43.
    Text Source 1: No text present.
    Text Source 2: “it”
  • 44.
    Text Source 1: “it natural”
    Text Source 2: “per donable if it natural if by it”
  • 45.
    Text Source 1: “that”
    Text Source 2: “that”
  • 46.
    Text Source 1: “still”
    Text Source 2: “still”
  • 47.
    Text Source 1: No text present.
    Text Source 2: “yet”
  • 48.
    Text Source 1: “?”
    Text Source 2: “,”
  • 49.
    Text Source 1: “not it”
    Text Source 2: “it not”
  • 50.
    Text Source 1: “near Coblenz”
    Text Source 2: “near Coblenz”
  • 51.
    Text Source 1: “many”
    Text Source 2: “[…] many”
  • 52.
    Text Source 1: “with”
    Text Source 2: “with”
  • 53.
    Text Source 1: “so on my parte”
    Text Source 2: “so for me sake on my parte”
  • 54.
    Text Source 1: “Mistress”
    Text Source 2: “Mrs”
  • 55.
    Text Source 1: “CMvonWeber”
    Text Source 2: “CMvW”
  • 56.
    Text Source 1: “Dresden June 30th 1825.”
    Text Source 2: “Dresden 30th June 1825. Dresden June 30th 1825.”

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