BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY – Friday, November 1, 1822 (approximately)

Some of the following remarks may date from tomorrow, November 2; the exact chronology is unclear and there are not many references that permit precise dating.

Beethoven starts a to-do list in the conversation book, including engaging a carpenter and buying a new razor, the latter probably to look his best for the dress rehearsal of Fidelio tomorrow, which he will be conducting.

Later in the afternoon, he meets with nephew Karl at a wine house and they have a lengthy chat. Karl complains of the rudeness of certain unnamed gentlemen. Karl comments on uncle Ludwig’s delicate hair, then continues, “I won’t allow them to say such a thing to me; I will be treated as a gentleman.” Apparently referring to the furniture that the carpenter is making, Karl says it was specified as 30 inches high, which was high enough for Karl but he’s not sure it will be right for his uncle’s use. [A writing desk?] Karl reminds Ludwig to make an appointment with a glazier for the new apartment.

Karl reminds his uncle how expensive soda water is. He believes the wares at the shop where they are to be of higher quality than those at Zum schwarzen Kameel [The Black Camel], since that’s a large shop with an established clientele, while this one is new and still trying to make a good impression. Beethoven makes some loud remarks and Karl reminds him to be quieter; “the walls have ears.” Ludwig’s brother Johann was expected to join them, but Karl believes he is not coming. Karl suggests that Johann would not be so foolish as to bequeath his property to his wife and her illegitimate daughter; “he full well knows that it would soon be squandered.”

Karl again warns his uncle not to talk so loudly: “We, Herr Carl van Beethoven, foresee with our clear sight, that, in such a conversation, an easily possible change can lead to things that ought not to be heard by everyone, especially by questionable persons; all the more so since everyone pays attention as soon as anyone says such a thing.”

Karl says he is not going to see any of his professors tomorrow, and that he will not get up until he has at least ten hours of sleep. Karl totals up their tab for wine, bread, almonds and dates as 3 florins 54 kr., but notes that piano maker Matthäus Andreas Stein graciously paid it for them.

Earlier today, Karl was fortunate enough to encounter all of his professors at once. Apparently he had to undergo some freshman hazing, since he complains about having to gulp down a great many little fish. Karl continues on about the professors, noting that all without exception have small, cramped apartments of only one or two rooms. They all know uncle Ludwig, it seems.

Karl insults the Austrian nobility and is scolded by Ludwig not to put such things in writing. Karl says that they also cannot speak such things, because as soon as Ludwig says a word, everyone is silent and listens. According to the “old woman” [Barbara Holzmann, back for another stint as Beethoven’s housekeeper], Ludwig’s brother Johann is not here in town. Karl is annoyed that Ludwig calls him lazy, saying he spent three hours marching about in the morning and again in the afternoon [apparently running errands for his uncle?]

Perhaps after their meal, Beethoven writes a short shopping list of two chamber pots, bowls, a stove, a coffee spoon and an eating spoon.

Back at Beethoven’s apartment, Karl notes that the one of the servants has not received her salary yet. There are nothing here but large pieces of wood with knots, which can’t be chopped and are only good to lay in the stove. The evening meal is brown rice soup, and blue cabbage with chestnuts. Ludwig apparently offers to get something else, but Karl is fine with this repast; it’s been a long time since he has had a really good soup. The “old woman” promised the woman next door the small stove for 3 florins. Holzmann is apparently still irked because her son had once owned this building, but he fell on hard times and he had to sell it and she had to move out and work as a servant. Karl says he will return Monday between 10 and 11.

The woman next door also wants to buy their cooking stove [apparently aware that Beethoven intends to replace the stoves with the new models Holzmann had told him about.] Karl tells Ludwig to ask her for 30 florins, which is more than they would get from the secondhand dealers.

Conversation Book 18, f.1r through 8v.