BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Friday, December 24, 1824

Brother Johann visits and lets Ludwig and Nephew Karl know that he has acquired some small birds, and he will bring them this evening to eat. They are fresh, as they were captured yesterday.

Johann asks about the four-hand piano sonata that publisher Anton Diabelli requested. Ludwig says he has agreed to write that sonata, but he has been occupied with the quartet and with the proofreading of the Missa Solemnis subscription copies and the Ninth Symphony. Johann mentions that Diabelli is in business with a court agent, and needs the permission of the Emperor.

Johann thinks Ludwig should give another Akademie concert. This time he can do a subscription for two concerts, to be held in the University Hall [which can be had for free.]

Johann discusses the bills of exchange from Schott for the miscellaneous pieces that are being sold to them for publication. He plans to sell the bill, though he may take a loss, since they are not payable for three months. Johann will have another copy of the Six Bagatelles, op.126 made right away, if it’s all right with Ludwig. That way they can deliver everything at once and show the Schott company that they are punctual.

A banker from Dresden told Johann that he might have gone to the Christmas concert, but only because the Consecration of the House Overture, op.124, was being played. He also said that a few years ago there had been a rumor Ludwig was going to go to Dresden; an honoraria had been assembled and they had arranged for an apartment for Ludwig with 18 rooms. The banker imitated Ludwig’s conducting style, to Johann’s amusement. Johann explained to him how Ludwig had composed the Overture.

Johann asks about the B-A-C-H Overture. “Have you already begun the new Overture, about which you spoke to me?” Ludwig has done some sketching but it has not progressed very far.

Ludwig makes some reference to the errors of young Karl. Johann reminds him that they were also young once, and people corrected their mistakes daily. “But just think! Nobody ever wants to be reminded all the time of the mistakes of one’s youth.”

Johann asks for what still needs to be copied for Schott, and he will get it copied right away, so it can be sent off and he can get the bill of exchange. Ludwig presumably gives that material to him, and Johann leaves.

Later that evening, Johann returns with the copies, and probably also the birds that he referenced earlier today. He went to Benjamin Gebauer, the old copyist from the Theater auf der Wieden, who knows Ludwig’s handwriting well from back then. [Gebauer had copied the Third Symphony for Ludwig, and he was not pleased with Gebauer’s work.] Johann asks how many sheets a copyist can copy in a day. [Ludwig may reference Wolanek’s recent comment that he can copy 30 pages of Rossini in a day, but only six of Beethoven.] Looking through the copy of the bagatelles, Ludwig is annoyed at the great many errors. Johann tells him to tear it up, and he’ll have a fresh copy made.

Conversation Book 79, 3r-5r.

Having been advertised over the last two days by T. Weigl and Cappi & Co., today it is the turn of the J. Bermann firm to advertise the Musical Gift for the New Year, of 40 new waltzes by various composers, including Beethoven’s Waltz in E-Flat WoO 84. Wiener Zeitung Nr.295 at 262. The Weigl firm again advertises the same publication just below Bermann’s ad. The title page of the compendium states that it is available at most music shops, which appears to be quite accurate.

Today, Ferdinand Ries accepts the invitation to be the conductor of the Lower Rhenish Music Festival, to be held at Aix-la-Chapelle in May of 1825. The organizers of the festival would like to have the Ninth Symphony be part of the celebrations. Because the work has not yet been published, there will need to be arrangements made to get the score and the parts. Thayer/Forbes at 931-932.