BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Friday, February 3, 1826

Conversation Book 103 begins being used about today. This book is comprised of 31 leaves, with writing on every page. Anton Schindler correctly identified this book as belonging to February, 1826. Thayer added further information that on leaf 31 there is reference to Adalbert Gyrowetz’s concert that took place on February 12, 1826. Leaf 4 is bound out of order, in between leaves 2 and 3 instead of leaves 3 and 5.

Beethoven is having continued trouble with the new housekeeper, Frau Lindner, and he has brought back “the old woman,” Barbara Holzmann, who admits that the woman Beethoven has now is very absent-minded, and never knows what she is supposed to think about. She does not go out at nights, but she should really get up an hour earlier in the morning. Holzmann has been brought back because the current housekeeper in many ways is not skilled in preparation, plus she doesn’t know arithmetic. Unpaid assistant Karl Holz suggests that she accepted employment that she was not prepared for.

Holzmann tries to evade any responsibility for the current housekeeper; Holzmann says she is too slow, fundamentally lazy. She likes to sleep for a long time. But the meat didn’t come yesterday until 11 o’clock, so how was there enough time to tenderize it? If she were not too lazy to walk into the City, she would have gotten loin of beef, but instead she wanders from one butcher to another in the suburbs, and finds nothing suitable. And then she doesn’t get home until late. Holzmann declares good meat can only be had in the City.

Holz asks Beethoven for the address of the housekeeper that the Vivenots have suggested. She understands how to cook the usual dishes, so Holz will make an appointment with her. Holzmann needs to put the wood in order. The laundry will be ready tomorrow. Beethoven ought to tell the housekeeper Frau Lindner that she needs to get the meat at 7 a.m., and if she doesn’t, Holzmann will be sent and get it herself. Holz says he didn’t agree with Beethoven about the housekeeper’s shortcomings at first, but he has been persuaded differently. She also didn’t get any more bratwursts. The bread needs to be warmed up. They’re holding a cooking trial right away; but she doesn’t know what Abschredel [chopped herbs or vegetables] are; that is the sort of thing she would learn in any restaurant. But Holzmann says the woman is loyal.

Holz mentions that Court Councilor Mosel is one of those who did not understand the Quartet. [Which quartet he means is unclear; but the most recent Schuppanzigh Quartet concert, last Sunday, January 29, featured the op.127 quartet in E-flat.]

Nephew Karl stops by Uncle Ludwig’s apartment. He offers to make a copy of the libretto for Melusine for his uncle, but it’s long enough that he will need thin paper to copy it out on, since it has to be mailed to Berlin, so weight will be important.

Holz reports Mathias Artaria has not finished engraving the op.130 quartet, but he would like the foreign permission letter for the censor. Holz says that he will get the first proof impression of the quartet, proofread it, and then bring Beethoven the corrected copy for his review.

For Beethoven’s proposed Akademie concerts, there are several musicians that Beethoven should invite personally; the invitations from Piringer and Schuppanzigh will not suffice to convince them to take part. Holz says he will draft a letter of invitation, they can make as many copies as necessary, and all Beethoven has to do is sign it.

Beethoven asks whether anything has been heard from Prince Galitzin in Russia. Holz tells him no; the courier, Augustin Lipscher, took the quartet op.130 to Galitzin earlier this year, and he will bring the report when he returns. Holz calls him “The courier of His Musical Majesty.”

The article by Gottfried Weber about the authorship of Mozart’s Requiem is still under discussion. Holz thinks that Weber has a lot to answer for, and he ridicules Weber using his own Requiem mass as the model, a point he has made before.

Mention is made of a four-volume Theory of Composition. Holz is sure that Beethoven already has a copy; he remembers seeing it in Baden because someone had sent it to Beethoven. It’s probably packed away in a chest somewhere.

Karl goes home to his rooms in the Alleegasse since he still has things to do for tomorrow. Holz departs as well, arranging to meet Beethoven at noon tomorrow to go shopping. They can meet then at the Landhaus administration building.

Conversation Book 103, 1r-5r.