Walter Meyer wrote:

>Neither Beethoven nor Brahms, so far as I know, composed under the
>protection of any patrons.

Depends on what you prefer to call "protection of any patrons." For
Beethoven I tend to disagree with this statement.  In 1800 (he arrived in
Vienna in November 1792) very rich Lichwowsky decided to give his protege
a yearly allowance and he continued to do so until 1806.  Then the two
quarreled and Beethoven didn't receive the allowance anymore.  But in
March 1809 he and Kinsky, Lobkowitz and Rudolph von Habsburg undersigned a
contract in which he was given an even nicer yearly allowance, paid by the
three noblemen.  Unfortunately it went downhill already by the end of 1810,
due to the horrible inflation.  By the end of 1812 Kinsky died suddenly and
the widow refused to pay Beethoven.  The next disaster was Lobkowitz's
bankruptcy.  Not until early 1815 Beethoven got all the money again as was
promised in the contract.  Unfortunately the amount was not impressive
anymore, compared to what it had been.  However, he got it.  IMHO it's more
than one step too far to state that he never composed under the protection
of any patrons.

Greetings,
Joyce Maier
www.ademu.com/Beethoven