FIRST EDITION OF BEETHOVEN’S SONG FROM THE DISTANCE

BEETHOVEN, Ludwig van. Lied aus der Ferne, mit Begleitung des Piano Forte [WoO 137]. Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel, [1810]. Oblong quarto, modern full brown morocco. $3500.

First edition of Beethoven’s setting of Reissig’s poem arranged for piano and voice. Fully engraved.

Beethoven often turned to poetry for inspiration, most notably Goethe, whom he admired above all writers then living; but he found that he could more freely compose musical settings for the works of lesser poets, among them Christian Ludwig Reissig (1783-1847). The five songs composed to Reissig’s words later “gave rise to much annoyance” when the poet claimed ownership of Beethoven’s compositions (Thayer, 476). Engraved title page and music text. Kinsky-Halm, 604.

A few small and inoffensive stains, still a fine copy.