BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Monday, September 11, 1826

The chronology of the next week is somewhat confused. We have a few anchors, including unpaid assistant Karl Holz’s registration in Baden today, a step that is usually taken when one intends to stay five days or more. However, Holz also appears to be in Vienna on a daily basis for much of the week, if the order of the conversation book pages is correct. It’s also possible that Beethoven goes to Baden for a day or two to check out the apartment that Holz found for him there, though there is no sign of that in the surviving conversation books. For purposes of this column, we have assumed that Holz spends much of the week sleeping in Baden but traveling back and forth to Vienna in order to assist Beethoven but also to spend time with his new fiancée, Elisabeth Bogner in Baden. While awkward, such conduct is not without precedent; Holz had been traveling back and forth between Vienna and Döbling to visit the Bogners regularly on a daily basis, though Baden is a bit farther from Vienna. The alternative assumes that either the Baden register is in error, or that the pages of the conversation book are out of order, and there is no obvious indication of either of these problems. We recognize that this timeline is somewhat awkward, but given his devotion to Beethoven and competing affection for Elisabeth, as exemplified by Holz telling her that Beethoven is his first wife, it seems plausible to us. But we acknowledge the uncertainty.

Under our proposed chronology, Holz goes back to Baden today, but he will likely make a quick return to Vienna tomorrow. Since he intends to stay in Baden for a longer time, he now appears in the register of visitors to Baden as of today. Baden Cur- und Fremdenliste for September 11, 1826, Nr.86, at 2367. Visitors to Baden were required to register if they were staying for 5 days or more.

Beethoven visits Nephew Karl in the hospital, either yesterday or today. Karl believes that in a couple of weeks he will be completely recovered. “The doctor cannot say anything more definite than that. Then the arrangements can be made.” Uncle Ludwig asks whether he has read all the books that he brought for him. Yes, he has already read it all but is well supplied now from the library. Karl asks when his uncle will talk to Ertmann about securing him a spot in the army. Uncle Ludwig is unsure as to how much assistance Ertmann can be. Karl is convinced that he can certainly do a lot, whether directly or indirectly. The owner of each regiment has the right to choose officers according to his own judgment, up through majors. “There will be no obstacles to my entering as a cadet, I know that for sure.” Uncle Ludwig continues to have misgivings about Karl’s career choice.

Conversation Book 120, 33v-34r.