BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Friday, November 4, 1825

Beethoven makes an errand list:

• Wicker chair.
• Straw sack [mattress] sewn shut.
• Wood this very day.

Nephew Karl comes to visit Ludwig early this afternoon. There is an issue with Ludwig’s unpaid income taxes. [In April, he had received reminders to pay his 1824 and 1825 income and class taxes, but apparently neglected to pay one or the other of them.] Brother Johann thinks Ludwig can ignore them, “because they would never dare to make trouble for you about it.” Karl denies knowing anything about the reminder being sent to Uncle Ludwig, because otherwise he would not have delayed a single day, since it was not the first reminder. Nephew Karl and unpaid assistant Karl Holz will attempt to get to the bottom of this problem over the coming weeks.

Karl says he has been horribly busy. He has been interviewing potential housekeepers, one after another. “I have already made note of several who were very useable.” [Rosalia Schlemmer, the wife of Karl’s landlord, had advertised for a housekeeper on Beethoven’s behalf on November 2.] Frau Schlemmer is also interviewing the applicants; she is taking a great deal of trouble with it. A tobacco saleswoman was here at Beethoven’s apartment; “when she heard about the 300 florin salary, she said that she wanted to give up her business and become a housekeeper.”

“There was one here who had learned that you were from the Rheinland. She said that she knew that housekeeping was carried on especially well and in an orderly manner in that region. She was accustomed to maintaining a household in that way.” She prefers to sleep in the kitchen, because the maidservants don’t have any respect if they sleep in the same room as the housekeeper.

Karl does some financial computations, and confirms that they are correct. 20 kreutzers too little was paid, which will need to be carried over.

Karl says that another applicant is coming.

The topic of the requested letter of introduction for Sedlaczek to Cherubini comes up. Karl mentions that Sedlaczek also wanted one to Rodolphe Kreutzer, the conductor of the Royal Orchestra in Paris, but he was afraid to ask Beethoven for a second letter. If Uncle Ludwig will just give him some ideas, Karl can write them up and all Uncle Ludwig has to do is sign them.

[The next three paragraphs are from a leaf that has been separated from the conversation book, presently held at the Bonn Beethovenhaus as part of BH 53, pages 29-30.] Uncle Ludwig and Nephew Karl go out to a coffee house and read the newspapers. Uncle Ludwig copies part of an advertisement for the wine shop Zum schwarzen Kameel, for red Villaner wine at 48 kreutzers per measure. Beethoven makes also note of a little book of what to do in emergencies, with many beautiful woodcuts, available at Wallishauser’s bookshop. The advertisement describes this booklet by R.Z. Becker as follows: “This little book of need and help teaches:…how farmers, despite the hard times, can live happily, become rich with honor, and help themselves in all sorts of life’s emergencies.”

On their return to the apartment, the current housekeeper tells them that there will be beef for dinner. She has bought 2 pounds.

One of the prospective housekeepers learned to cook in the Lichtenstein kitchen; Karl thinks she will definitely suit Uncle Ludwig’s tastes. She would have to bring her furniture along with her, though, because she has no other place to keep it.

Karl draws up two letters of introduction for Johann Sedlaczek in French for his uncle to approve. The first is to Cherubini:

“To Mons. Cherubini: Monsieur! The bearer of this letter, Monsieur Sedlatzek, ardently wishes to pay you his respects. I am sufficiently convinced of the honor that you give to artists worthy of the name, to hope for a favorable reception from you. At the same time, accept the assurance of the very highest consideration with which I have the honor to be, Monsieur, Your most humble servant, L.v.B.“

The second letter is addressed to Rodolphe Kreutzer: “To Monsieur Kreuzer, Monsieur! It is in the hope that you still remember your old friend that I dare to recommend to you the bearer of this letter, Monsieur Sedlatzek, one of the most distinguished artists, in asking you not to refuse him your advice or support. I take advantage of this occasion to demonstrate my consideration and my eternal friendship with you. I am, Monsieur, Your most humble s., L.v.B.“

These drafts are catalogued as Brandenburg Letters 2086 and 2087, respectively.. Karl presumably writes out a fair copy, which Uncle Ludwig signs, since Sedlaczek will be by tomorrow morning to pick them up. These letters of introduction are not, however, known to survive.

Conversation Book 98, 2v-6r; BH 53 29-30.

Today’s Wiener Zeitung (Nr.252) at 1062 contains an advertisement from Artaria & Co. of a number of works by Beethoven, all of which have been published recently, though by Schott’s, not by Artaria. These are:
Bundeslied, by Goethe, for vocal and instrumental voices, in full score, or in piano arrangements. 122nd Work.
Opferlied by Matthisson, with solo voices, in full score or piano reduction. 121st Work.
Ariette, with piano accompaniment, or the guitar. Op.121. [Der Kuss, op.128.]
Bagatelles for Pianoforte, Op.126.