BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Friday, November 26, 1824 (approximately)

Beethoven writes an undated note sometime about now to his patron and pupil Archduke Rudolph regarding a score that has been copied by the continued operations of Josepha Schlemmer, widow of Beethoven’s favorite copyist, Wenzel Schlemmer, who died in 1823. “Your Imperial Highness! The Widow Schlemmer is bringing to you the copy of the small items [Kleinigkeiten] from me. The amount due is 3 florins 30 kreutzers W.W. The poor woman would be very well off if Y.I.H. would add something to it, as she really needs the help.”

“Y.I Highness’ Most Obedient Servant, Beethoven.” [Part of the closing is torn off.]

Brandenburg Letter 1905; Anderson Letter 1339. The original letter is held by the Vienna City and State Library (I.N. 40635). This letter is also on paper used by Beethoven between September 1824 and January 1825, but must come between Beethoven’s return to Vienna in early November of 1824 and the Archduke’s departure for Ölmutz on December 16. The “small items” Beethoven references are very likely a copy of the Six Bagatelles op.126 for the Archduke’s music library. This set was in the Archduke’s music catalogue under the same name that Beethoven uses here, “Kleinigkeiten,” though the actual copy is now lost. The request for charitable assistance to the Widow Schlemmer reflects Beethoven’s fondness for her and continued respect for her late husband.