Great composers: accurate vs. attributed statements

[stormx]

Hi !! 

we have all read posts on this forum where people claim that a composer said something. They have probably read it from another person who claim it, and so on...i tend to beleive that in this long chain, things get somewhat distorted many times...

So, to narrow the problem to 2 of my favorite composers: BEETHOVEN and CHOPIN.

What is the best source to know EXACTLY their opinions?

As far as i know, neither of them wrote any books (or gave any interview that was preserved), so i beleive that most of their sayings come from letters they wrote to friends, family, lovers, etc. Right?

Do you know about any site where we can look for ACCURATE statements of those composers?

Thanks

[amanfang]

Well, for Beethoven, here is a catalogue of his complete correspondence...

https://www.beethoven-haus-bonn.de/sixcms/detail.php?id=5055&template=einstieg_digitales_archiv_en&_mid=Written%20documents%20by%20Ludwig%20van%20Beethoven%20and%20others

I hope you can read German.  Otherwise, I believe that Dover publishes a complete edition of his correspondence translated.  Although I may be mistaken.  Dover may also publish Chopin's letters too.  I would check their online catalogue.  Dover books are usually very inexspensive.