Grove's dictionary of music and musicians

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RIES RIES 97
a great deal of pains with his pianoforte-playing,
but would teach him nothing else. He,
however, prevailed on Albrechtsberger to take
him as a pupil in composition. The lessons
cost a ducat each ; Ries had in some way saved
up twenty -eight ducats, and therefore had
twenty-eight lessons. Beethoven also got him
an appointment as pianist to Count Browne, the
Russian chargi d'affaires, and at another time
to Count Lichnowsky. The pay for these
services was probably not over-abundant, but
it kept him, and the position gave him access
to the best musical society. Into Ries's relations
with Beethoven we need not enter here. They
are touched upon in the sketch of the great
master in vol. i. of this work, and they are
fully laid open in Ries's own invaluable notices.
He had a great deal to bear, and considering
the secrecy and imperiousness which Beethoven
often threw into his intercourse with every one,
there was probably much unpleasantness in the
relationship. Meantime of course Ries must
have become saturated with the music of his
great master ; a thing which could hardly tend
to foster any little originality he may ever have
As a citizen of Bonn he was amenable to the
French conscription, and in 1805 was summoned
to appear there in person. He left in Sept.
1805, made the journey on foot via Prague,
Dresden, and Leipzig, reached Coblenz within
the prescribed limit of time, and was then
dismissed on account of the loss of his eye.
He then went on to Paris, and existed in
misery for apparently at least two years, at the
end of which time he was advised to try Russia.
On August 27, 1808, he was again in Vienna,
and soon afterwards received from Reichardt
an offer of the post of capellmeister to Jerome
Bonaparte, King of Westphalia, at Cassel,
which Reichardt alleged had been refused by
Beethoven. Ries behaved" with perfect loyalty
and straightforwardness in the matter. Before
replying, he endeavoured to find out from
Beethoven himself the real state of the case
but Beethoven having adopted the idea that
Ries was trying to get the post over his head,
would not see him, and for three weeks behaved
to him with an incredible degree of cruelty
and insolence. When he could be made to
listen to the facts he was sorry enough, but the
opportunity was gone.
The occupation of Vienna (May 12, 1809) by
the French was not favourable to artistic life.
Ries, however, as a French subject, was free to
wander. He accordingly went to Cassel, possibly
with some lingering hopes, played at
Court, and remained tiU the end of February
1810, very much applauded and feted, and
making money—but had no offer of a post.
From Cassel he went by Hamburg and Copenhagen
to Stockholm, where we find him in
Sept. 1810, making both money and reputation.
VOL. IV
He had still his eye on Russia, but between
Stockholm and Petersburg the ship was taken
by an English man-of-war, and all the passengers
were turned out upon an island in the Baltic.
In Petersburg he found Bernhard Romberg, and
the two made a successful tour, embracing
places as wide apart as Kiev, Reval, and Riga.
The burning of Moscow (Sept. 1812) put a stop
to his progress in that direction, and we next
find him again at Stockholm in April 1813, en
route for England. By the end of the month
he was in London.
Here he found his countryman and his father's
friend, Salomon, who received him cordially
and introduced him to the Philharmonic
Concerts. His first appearance there was March
14, 1814, in his own PF. Sextet. His symphonies,
overtures, and chamber works frequently
occur in the programmes, and he
himself appears from time to time as a PF.
player, but rarely if ever with works of
Beethoven's. Shortly after his arrival he married
an English lady of great attractions, and he
remained in London till 1824, one of the most
conspicuous figures of the musical world.
'
Mr.
Ries,' says a writer in the Hai-monicon of March
1824, 'is justly celebrated as one of the finest
pianoforte performers of the day ; his hand is
powerful and his execution certain, often surprising
; but his playing is most distinguished
from that of all others by its romantic wildness.
His sojourn here was a time of herculean
labour. His compositions numbered at their
close nearly 180, including 6 fine symphonies ;
4 overtures ; 6 string quintets, and 14 do.
quartets ; 9 concertos for PF. and orchestra
an octet, a septet, 2 sextets, and a quintet,
for various instruments ; 3 PF. quartets, and
5 do. trios ; 20 duets for PF. and violin ; 10
sonatas for PF. solo ; besides a' vast number of
rondos, variations, fantasias, etc., for the PF.
solo and duet. Of these 38 are attributable to
the time of his residence here, and they embrace
2 symphonies, 4 concertos, a sonata, and many
smaller pieces. As a pianist and teacher he
was very much in request. He was an active
member of the Philharmonic Society. His
correspondence with Beethoven during the
whole period is highly creditable to him,
proving his gratitude towards his master, and
the energy with which he laboured to promote
Beethoven's interests. That Beethoven profited
so little therefrom was no fault of Ries's.
Having accumulated a fortune adequate to
the demands of a life of comfort, he gave a
farewell concert in London, April 8, 1824, and
removed with his wife to Godesberg, near his
native town, where he had purchased a property.
Though a loser by the failure of a London
bank in 1825-26, he was able to live independently.
About 1830 he removed to
Frankfort. His residence on the Rhine brought
him into close contact with the Lower Rhine