[17]Frau von Breuning was the widow of the electoral counsellor von Breuning. The family consisted of three sons and a daughter, Eleonora, who for some time was a pupil of Beethoven, and eventually married Dr. Wegeler. Beethoven dedicated his first variations for the piano to her.
[18]Franz Anton Ries, violinist, was born at Bonn, Nov. 10, 1755, and was a teacher and friend of Beethoven. His son Ferdinand was a pupil of Beethoven.
[19]The Count von Waldstein was a patron of the arts and a connoisseur in music. He was of special service to Beethoven, who dedicated to him his great Sonata (op. 53).
[20]Beethoven was appointed organist to the electoral chapel in 1785, being then in his fifteenth year.
[21]Dr. Heinrich Doring, in his “Life and Characteristics of Beethoven,” says: “He preferred the English writers to the French. Thompson is his favorite poet, but particularly great is his admiration for Shakespeare.”
[22]A bass singer in the electoral chapel.
[23]Prince Karl Lichnowski was a highly cultivated nobleman, and a pupil of Mozart. His consort, Princess Christiane, born Countess of Thun, was also refined, scholarly, and devoted to music.
[24]Mozart was at this time thirty-one, and Beethoven seventeen years of age.
[25]Gluck was born in 1714, and Haydn in 1732, so at this time (1788) Gluck was seventy-four and Haydn fifty-six years of age. Both these composers made Vienna their home, and both died there.
[26]Haydn was at this time returning from his visit to England.