BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Friday, December 10, 1824

Leaf 22v of Conversation Book 78 is heavily crossed out. The phrase “new library” and “half” can just barely be made out, as seen here. Beethoven may have seen a book of this title, perhaps in half leather, at a bookshop.

Copyist Ferdinand Wolanek comes to Beethoven’s apartment, presumably at 9 a.m. as he had promised yesterday, with more copies from the subscription manuscripts of the Missa Solemnis for the composer to proofread. He writes, “Herr van Beethoven ought to be satisfied with me; I don’t promise anything more.” Wolanek needs to pay a commission to Frau Josepha Schlemmer, since she had sent Wolanek to Beethoven. He has been paid for the copy of the Sanctus, and only needs to get the Benedictus to Beethoven and then one copy of the Mass will be complete.

Ludwig writes to Brother Johann at his estate in Gneixendorf. Dear brother! I inform you that [B. Schott’s Sons in] Mainz wants to give 130 gold ducats for your works. [The Consecration of the House Overture, op.124, Opferlied op.121b, Bundeslied op.122, Six Bagatelles op.126, and Der Kuss op.128, which Ludwig had given to satisfy loans made to him by Johann.] So if [Leipzig publisher Heinrich Albert] Probst does not give that much, one can give it to Mainz. They will immediately issue you a bill of exchange for it, just as they did for me. They are really open, and not common merchants. So come soon, that this can be worked out to your advantage. Your faithful brother ludwig [sic]

Brandenburg Letter 1909; Anderson Letter 1323. As of the writing of Brandenburg’s edition of Beethoven’s letters, this was held in a private collection. The letter bears a Vienna postmark in full caps.

Later at a coffee house, Beethoven makes a note of an advertisement in today’s Intelligenzblatt for fresh wild game at the Lion, behind the capon stalls.

Beethoven makes a note that 1,000 francs equals 250 thalers. [He appears to still be thinking about entering the contest put out by the French crown for the best operatic composition, the prizes for which would be payable at either 2,000 or 4,000 francs.] He adds up a column of four sets of 250 thalers, coming up with 1,000 thalers for the first prize for a three or five-act opera. [This financial speculation is as far as Beethoven will get in entering this opera contest.]

Conversation Book 78, 22v-23v.

Meanwhile, in London Johann Reinhold Schultz, a German-born businessman, associated with The Harmonicon musical journal, writes to Beethoven’s friend Tobias Haslinger. He would like Haslinger to act as Vienna correspondent for The Harmonicon. He also wants to acquire various opera scores.

“Further, I would like to know if you could not obtain for me the beautiful Overture by Beethoven for the opening of the Josephstadt Theater, in case it is not sold to London or elsewhere.” [Schultz is just a little too late on that request.]

In a postscript tucked into the left margin, Schultz adds, “After I had so much misfortune with Beethoven’s Trio [the Variations on “Ich bin der Schneider Kakadu” op.121a], I do not want to risk printing the agreed-upon Sonatas that you sent with me. [Most likely the last three sonatas, op.109, 110 and 111. He may have become aware that these sonatas had already been published in London about a year earlier.] I am therefore keeping them for you.”

“I have a few little things for your wife, which are, however, more worthy of acceptance than those for which you have thanked me, in an entirely unmerited manner, through [Beethoven’s recent visitor Johann Andreas] Stumpff–also something for Beethoven–and I only await a secure opportunity.” [The reference to “something for Beethoven” probably relates to Stumpff’s promise to acquire a set of Handel’s Complete Works for him. Stumpff had just returned to London on December 6, so he was working quickly. The gift would, however, not so easily be delivered.]

Albrecht Letter 386. Translation by Prof. Theodore Albrecht, from Theodor Frimmel, “Beethovenstellen aus zeitgenössischen Briefen,” Beethoven-Forschung 3, Nr.10 (1925), pp.49-51. As of 1925, the original was owned by Dr. Gustav Riehl, a professor at the University of Vienna, who had acquired it from Haslinger’s descendants.