BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Monday, April 14, 1823

There are no conversation book entries today other than a single brief notation by Beethoven that Johann needs to extract a promise from whomever he sells the Diabelli Variations op.120 to in Paris will keep the distribution limited to France. [He needs to be able to sell the German and English rights separately to maximize his income from the work.] Conversation Book 29, 27v.Since this entry is in ink, he appears to be working at home all day today, most likely feverishly trying to finish proofreading the Variations that Diabelli is hounding him over.

Beethoven writes an undated letter, probably this afternoon, to Schindler, who does not make an appearance in today’s conversation book. He asks that Schindler at once forward a parcel [possibly the manuscript of the variations for Diabelli; if so, Beethoven may have had Holzmann give Schindler both the score and this letter.] He also asks Schindler to check out the housekeeper who advertised in the newspaper for wanting to serve for nothing more than room and board. [As was discussed yesterday with Johann and Karl.] Holzmann is becoming intolerable. But he can’t really offer her a room, unless it were to be with conditions, though. Beethoven apologizes that he isn’t able to invite Schindler, but he offers his thanks. Brandenburg Letter 1630

In Esztergorm (Gran), Archbishop Sándor Rudnay dictates a letter to Beethoven through a clerk. Although he has no doubt that the Missa Solemnis will be among the great musical masterpieces, he unfortunately is not able to come up with the sizable sum that is requested for the subscription. Brandenburg Letter 1627. A draft of the original survives in the Esztergom archives.

In Frankfurt today, Franz Brentano writes to Beethoven confirming the receipt of repayment of the 300 gulden that Beethoven had borrowed from him as an advance on Nikolaus Simrock’s purchase of the Missa Solemnis. Since that purchase is now probably not happening, Beethoven needed to make good the loan from his friend made back in 1821. Brandenburg Letter 1628. The letter is lost today, but its existence, contents and date are known from the notation that Brentano made on Beethoven’s letter to him of March 10th.