BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Monday, May 9, 1825

Beethoven makes a note to himself to write to Franz Michael Reisser, the director of the Polytechnic Institute [actually the vice-director], who is also to act as Karl’s co-guardian while he attends classes there.

Beethoven then makes a list of errands and shopping to do.

+Pencil.
+Pens.
+25 kr. C.M. to Brother.
+Burning oil.
+Foot slippers.
+Clock to take along.
+Collar on the overcoat.
+Umbrella.

[in a second parallel column to the right]
+Stones.
+Wine.
+Bell. [Beethoven had been unable to remove his doorbell from the apartment in the Johannesgasse since doing so required the services of a locksmith. Next week he will send Frau Holzmann to try to obtain it, and will also write to Brother Johann to ask him to retrieve the bell and cords]
+Nails.
+Metronome.

The administrator of Schloss Gutenbrunn stops by to see how Beethoven is settling in. He offers to send a maid with a pot of coffee to him every morning, and asks that it be sent back to the coffee house in the Schloss in a half hour. Beethoven asks whether he might have coffee in the afternoons, as he prefers. Unfortunately, they can’t arrange that, because he has her only at 8 o’clock in the morning, but not later in the day.

The administrator asks Beethoven if he would like to join him for a walk. Beethoven begs off, saying that because of his health he has to stop and sit regularly. The administrator, not getting the clue, says “That isn’t a problem — Herr v. Beethoven can sit every 5 minutes if he pleases.” Beethoven is more clear that he prefers to walk by himself. “You would prefer walking alone than with a stranger?” Beethoven insists he is still weak. “Beef must give you strength.”

The administrator asks what newspapers Beethoven likes to read, apparently offering to procure them for him. The Wiener Zeitung is a must, and he likes the Augsburg newspaper when he can get it.

He has another request for the composer: the 16-year-old daughter of the Schimmer family that owns the Schloss would like to walk and sit with Beethoven. She used to often go for walks with her now-deceased father, and would ask that Beethoven sometimes take her along on his walks. “She would consider it a special honor and you both could sit and read, etc., if you wanted, if she could only be in your company. I am convinced that her companionship would not displease you.” Beethoven seems to be noncommittal, and once again the administrator does not take the hint.

Conversation Book 89, 2r-3v.

The London Philharmonic Society gives its sixth concert of the season this evening. The second act includes Beethoven’s Septet, op.20. “The septetto of Beethoven, one of the most ingenious and delightful of his works, was performed in a manner that almost reached perfection. The new horn, M. Schuncke, is a man of high talent, which he exhibited in this piece most distinctly.” The concert closes with the Overture to Fidelio. “The overture to Fidelio is one of those very original works that invite troops of composers to attempt similar flights. We need not say how unequal to the adventurous task are the vast majority of those who soar so high.” The Harmonicon, Nr. XXX, June, 1825, at 112.

S.A. Steiner & Co. repeats its advertisement for the Name-Day Overture, op.115, and the Kakadu Variations, op.121a, in today’s edition of the Wiener Zeitung (Nr.105) at 456.

On the same page, Cappi & Co. advertises the latest published lieder from Franz Schubert, Der Liedler [The Songwriter], op.38. This song is today catalogued as D.209. It had actually been written over ten years earlier, when Schubert was only 17, on a text by his friend from the seminary Joseph Kenner. Kenner also painted a cycle of martyr illustrations under the same title.

Der Liedler is performed here by Graham Johnson and Philip Langridge: