BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO: Monday, February 14, 1825

Beethoven is interested in a new apartment (he has been told by his current landlady that he needs to leave due to all the shouting and carrying on), but it gets too much sun in the afternoon, and too little in the mornings, when he does most of his work. Nephew Karl says he’ll talk to the landlord and see what he can do [probably about getting a different apartment with better light]. Karl thinks he will make the effort to meet Uncle Ludwig’s needs.

Brother Johann arrives later in the morning. They discuss copyist Ferdinand Wolanek. Johann asks whether his 20 florin charge for the first movement of the symphony is in coinage (C.M.) or paper money (W.W.) It’s in paper money, so that equals 8 florins in silver money. Did Ludwig pay him in advance? No, Ludwig says. Johann is impressed that Wolanek’s rates are so very inexpensive. Ludwig’s favorite copyist, the late Wenzel Schlemmer, got 32 florins per bifolium, compared to Wolanek’s 15, when he was copying the Missa Solemnis.

The housekeeper is making yeast donuts for tomorrow, Fat Tuesday.

Karl reports that the prospective landlord is not willing to do anything about the light and says that they have the sun in that apartment, while the three floors below them have hardly enough light. They do not take the apartment.

Karl thinks the capon for dinner has a strange taste. It was so fatty that even though she used no fat to cook it, she still drained off an entire mugful from it.

Wolanek arrives at Beethoven’s apartment and asks whether he is satisfied with the copying work. He is leaving Beethoven the copies from the first [movement?] Beethoven gives him some comments, which Wolanek does not understand. He departs.

Johann continues, Beethoven should always get two days’ worth of meat, because if you buy quantities of 2 pounds or less, you don’t get as good meat. He always has 2 days’ worth of meat purchased, and he’s very satisfied with the quality.

Karl (possibly on behalf of Johann) says that if his uncle has the Quartet [op.127] copied, then he should have one part copied here. Johann suggests that it would be most secure if Ludwig were to remove a few sheets and either have them copied at Ludwig’s apartment or Johann’s. Wolanek lives only three buildings from Johann, so he could copy there and still go home for lunch. [From these comments, it is apparent that the parts for the quartet have still not even begun to be copied, and the quartet itself may still not be quite finished. Plainly Schuppanzigh is not going to be able to premiere it at his February 23 concert as he had hoped.]

Strangers come to the door, but Karl explains that they were apparently looking for the previous tenants.

Uncle Ludwig needs to get a dining room table, he thinks. He adds, “Dominus tecum.” [The Lord be with you, suggesting Ludwig approved.]

Karl leaves, while Johann remains at Ludwig’s apartment. Johann looked for the apartment that Ludwig had found the other day, and found it in the Himmelpfortgasse. Johann says it would be best to live on the bastion. [It is unclear whether he is saying this for Ludwig, or himself.]

Ludwig may suggest going to a coffee house. Johann agrees that strong coffee is good for his stomach.

Ludwig complains about the servants stealing things. Johann says, “They all steal, without exception. The possibility must be taken away from them.”

After the coffee house, Johann wants to see Meyer at the magistrate’s office about the bonds that are held in Karl’s name, and he seems to depart.

Ludwig turns to the newspapers and copies down an advertisement for a globe with a compass at Mollo’s for 12 florins C.M. He also makes not of a rental for half a palace on the estate of Izerdorf (about 4 miles southwest of the City), which had free access to the gardens.

After the coffee house, Ludwig returns home and meets Johann and Karl. The errand at the magistrate’s was only partly successful. Meyer was very pleasant and said they have the right to sell the obligations and buy other securities, but the new documents must remain at the magistrate’s office until Karl reaches his majority [age 24]. Their attorney Johann Baptist Bach needs to make an inquiry, requesting the magistrate to sell, and buy other financial documents. [A page seems to have been removed here during Beethoven’s lifetime, since Karl’s comment breaks off mid-sentence. However, Schindler’s page numbering is continuous.]

Conversation Book 84, 40v-44v.