TO J. MOSCHELES IN LONDON.
My special weakness in new passages for the piano has again struck me forcibly in the “rondo brillant” which I want to adapt to your style. It is at these points that I always stick fast and get in distress; I fear you cannot but remark it. Otherwise, there is much in it that I like, and certain passages please me decidedly, but how I am to set about composing something quiet and uneccentric (I remember well that was your advice last spring), is more than I can tell. All that I have in my head for the piano is about as quiet as Cheapside, and when I sit down quite calmly to improvise, that sort of thing always comes gradually in again. On the other hand, the piece which I am now writing for the Philharmonic I am afraid will be far too tame. However, I must not criticise myself so much. I am hard at work, which is as good as saying that I am well and contented.
But when you, my dear Madame Moscheles, order me to take no account of public or critics, I must beg to state that my business is to write music in despite of the public, and in despite of the critics as well.
