BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Friday, November 25, 1825

Ludwig writes a short undated note to Nephew Karl, probably this morning, imploring him to come help with some letters that need to be written. “Regarding the letters, it is necessary that you kindly write when you want to and can come to me. There can be no more delay. I await your kind decision. B.”

“I will see you at one o’clock, surely.” [This last line is in French.]

Brandenburg Letter 2092; Anderson Letter 1493. Most likely this relates to the letters that Karl will write to Peters and Schott today. The original letter is held by the Bonn Beethovenhaus (NE 48) and can be seen here:

https://www.beethoven.de/de/media/view/5261009652547584/scan/0

Nephew Karl comes to see his uncle and handle his correspondence, probably between noon and 1 p.m. Uncle Ludwig dictates and Nephew Karl writes the letters in a fair hand, both bearing today’s date. One is to publisher Carl Friedrich Peters in Leipzig: “Your Excellency! When I offered you the quartet [op.132], your associate‘s reply was not definite and clear. Your last two letters are just the same. As soon as you clearly state the sum, namely 360 florins C.M., which I have received from you, and assure me that you are willing to accept the quartet for that, you can receive it shortly. If you had done that right away, you could have received two new quartets. You cannot demand that I suffer any loss. If I wanted to tighten the strings further, I would be allowed to demand an even larger sum for a quartet.

“As soon as you write to me, I will put you in possession of a new quartet [op.130], as soon as possible. However, if you would rather have your money back, you can have it back immediately, for it has long been ready. Incidentally, I am not sending anything for you to look through. I expect a speedy reply on this matter.”

“Yours sincerely, L. v. Beethoven”

Brandenburg Letter 2093; Anderson Letter 1451. The letter is in Nephew Karl’s handwriting, with a signature by Ludwig. The letter from Peters’ associate that Beethoven refers to has not survived, nor have the two previous replies from Peters. The letter bears a Vienna postmark. The original is held by the Bonn Beethovenhaus, H.C. Bodmer Collection BBr 42, and can be seen here:

https://www.beethoven.de/de/media/view/6029884530884608/scan/0

Karl also writes to B. Schott’s Sons in Mainz on behalf of Uncle Ludwig. “Your excellency! The tempo indications according to Mälzel’s metronome will follow shortly. I am sending you today the title of the Mass:”

“Missa
composita, et
Serenissimo ac Eminentissimo Domino Domino Rudolpho Joanni Caesareo Principi et Archiduci Austriae, S.R.E. Tit. S. Petri in monte aureo Cardinali et Archipiscopo Olomucensi profundissima cum veneration dicata
a
Ludovico van Beethoven.“

“The list of subscribers must be preceded by the dedication:

The Emperor of Russia [Alexander I (1777-1825)]
The King of Prussia [Friedrich Wilhelm III (1770-1840)]
The King of France [Louis XVIII (1755-1824)] and
The King of Denmark [Frederick VI (1768-1839)]
Elector of Saxony [Friedrich August III (1750-1827), since 1806 King Friedrich August I of Saxony]
Grand Duke of Darmstadt [Ludwig I (1753-1830)]
Grand Duke of Tuscany [Ferdinand III (1769-1824)]
Prince Galitzin [Nikolai Galitzin (1794-1866)]
Prince Radzvill [Anton Heinrich von Radziwill (1775-1833)]
The Cäcilia Society of Frankfurt”

“I request that the dedication of the [Ninth] symphony be delayed a little longer, as I am still undecided about this; in general, however, I request that you postpone the publication of these works for about three months. I will be very indebted to you by doing so. What is missing will be taken care of as quickly as possible.”

“I request you again to kindly send me a copy of the improved bassoon.” [This relates to an essay by Gottfried Weber in Cäcilia 2 (1825) pp. 123-140, “Significant Improvements to the Bassoon,” which describes various inventions by bassoonist Carl Almenräder.]

“Perhaps you have not yet received confirmation of ownership of the Quartet in E-flat. [op.127] I hereby enclose it.”

“Yours faithfully, Ludwig van Beethoven.”

“I hereby confirm under my signature that Messrs. B. Schott‘s Sons have received a Quartet in E-flat for 2 violins, viola and violoncello from me, and that it is entirely their property. Vienna, November 25, 1825. Ludwig van Beethoven.”

Brandenburg Letter 2094; Anderson Letter 1452. Like the preceding letter, this is in Karl’s hand, with signatures by Ludwig. Under the declaration of ownership, Gottfried Weber has written in red chalk, “Should the above perhaps be published in the Intelligenzblatt?” The declaration was not published. Beethoven also never got around to sending the metronome markings for the Missa Solemnis to Schott’s. Kalischer noted that the word “dicata” would mean consecrated, rather than dedicated. However, “dedicata” was used in the original edition as published.

The original letter is in the Mainz City Library (Hs III 71, Nr.18) and can be seen here:

https://www.dilibri.de/dilibri_kalliope/content/titleinfo/2115365

Also about now, Beethoven writes several undated letters. The first is to unpaid assistant Karl Holz, letting him know that the new housekeeper has run away. “Good fellow, I already told you yesterday that I had already learned that she [the housekeeper] doesn’t cook everything according to good taste, and in a way that is good for one’s health. It was noticeable that she acted snippy right away when she was reprimanded. However, I indicated to her in the kindest of terms that she should pay more attention to this. I didn’t look after them any more yesterday. I went for a walk in the evening, and when I returned, I didn’t find her anywhere. She left this letter behind. Since this was an escape, the police will probably know best whether she is coming back. I ask for your assistance. If you could come for a moment, that would be very nice.”

“Yours, Beethoven.”

Brandenburg Letter 2095; Anderson Letter 1449. This letter was written shortly before November 27, when it is known that the housekeeper has fled. The enclosed letter is not known to have survived. On December 8, Nephew Karl will comment that she was reproached by Uncle Ludwig so severely that she hasn’t been able to sleep and she ran away because she feared that Ludwig would treat her even worse. As of the time Sieghard Brandenburg compiled his edition of the Letters of Beethoven, this letter was in a private collection in Braunschweig.