Brahms, Johannes.

about the String Quintet in F major Op.88, providing Simrock with  a correction to the cello part, notated on two hand-drawn staves, and a new tempo designation ("Allegro non troppo ma"), explaining that Hellmesberger has a weak cellist, and in fact a weak quartet altogether, asking him to send copies of the parts of the quintet, but above all the choral parts of the Gesang der Parzen, op.89, which have not arrived despite repeated requests to Dr Abraham, and also a copy of the Piano Trio op.87; Brahms informs him that Gustav Nottebohm is very ill, his condition having got much worse over the last four months, and that he is planning on going to Graz to see if he can do anything for him, asks him to send his step-mother Caroline Brahms five hundred marks, together with another thousand marks for the rest of the family in Hamburg, remarking that it is a long time since Simrock sent out any money on his behalf ("...Nottebohm is sehr krank; schon die längste Zeit, aber seit 4 Monaten scheint es furchtbar ernst zu werden.  Er liegt jetzt in Graz in einem Hotel u. ich denke Morgen hin zu fahren um zu sehen wie man ihm etwa dienen oder was geschehen kann..."), 4 pages, 8vo, Vienna, 25 October 1882



 

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

"...Vor allem Geld! Geld! Geld!
Seien sie so gut an Frau Caroline Brahms in Hamburg, Anscharsplatz No.1--500Mk u and den jüngeren Br. allhier--doch wohl wieder 1000 Mk zu schicken.  Das ist doch seit längerer Zeit das einzige Bargeld, das Sie für mich ausgeben! ...Beim 5tett steht vielleicht besser All^o non troppo ma.. Dann können Sie auch gleich auf der 2. oder 3. Seite im V-Cell eine geänderte Stelle wiederherstellen:..."

The musical correction appears to relate to bars 37 and 38 of the cello part in the first movement of the String Quintet in F (the "Spring" Quintet), one of Brahms best-loved chamber works. In the final version the phrase is syncopated.  Gustav Nottebohm was one of Brahms's closest friends, archivist at the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde and a pioneering scholar of Beethoven's sketchbooks.  He fell ill returning to Vienna and was laid out in a hotel in Graz.  Brahms arrived a few days before Nottebohm died on 29 October and took care of the funeral arrangements.  This letter was formerly in the celebrated collection of Louis Koch.