BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Friday, October 14, 1825

Beethoven is no doubt packing things up in Baden and getting ready to leave Schloss Gutenbrunn for his winter quarters at the Schwarzspanierhaus in Vienna. But he finds time to write a very short letter to Nephew Karl today.

“Dear son! I hasten to inform you that, if it doesn’t rain tomorrow, I will most certainly be in Vienna and will pick you up before dinner—Don’t be afraid, you will receive a fatherly welcome from your faithful father.”

Brandenburg Letter 2072; Anderson Letter 1443. At the time Sieghard Brandenburg compiled his edition of the Letters, this letter was in a private collection in Braunschweig.

Later in the day, Uncle Ludwig writes a longer follow-up letter to Karl. “I hasten to inform you that even if it rains, I will certainly come tomorrow morning, so let me be sure to find you. I am looking forward to seeing you again, and if gloomy clouds still appear for you, do not attribute them to deliberate malice; they will be completely banished by the better ways of working that you have promised me, and for your own pure happiness based on activity. In my last letter, something hovered before me, which however, did not quite correctly create a dark mood, which is certainly easily possible after everything that has happened. But who will not be happy when the erring one steps back in the right footsteps? Indeed, I hope to experience this.”

“I was especially sorry that you came so late on Sunday and left so early again—I’m coming tomorrow with the carpenter [probably Edler van Wangenheim]; the pack of witches [housekeeper Barbara Holzmann and the kitchen maid] must go. It’s too bad, before the other housekeeper comes in. I can use the carpenter—More about this will be said verbally, and I’m sure you’ll agree with me—so expect me for certain tomorrow despite the rain, etc.”

“Yours lovingly, father.”

The address bears the additional note, “You are requested to deliver this letter as soon as possible.”

Brandenburg Letter 2072; Anderson Letter 1443. This letter is held by the Biblioteka Jagiellonska (Mus. ep. autogr. Beethoven 12). Holzmann is not, despite Beethoven’s statement that she must go, replaced just yet; that process will take another month.