BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Saturday, April 1, 1826
Beethoven makes a few cryptic notes in the Conversation Book 107:
“About the ceremonial with M” [The German editors suggest this could mean Mutter (Mother), i.e., Karl’s mother Johanna.]
“About the hand towel?”
Beethoven writes a short undated note to unpaid assistant Karl Holz inviting him to mid-day dinner sometime after Beethoven’s return to Vienna from Baden and his first letter to Holz after his return on October 17 1825, and before Beethoven’s departure to Gneixendorf on September 28, 1826. But it appears to relate to Holz procuring Beethoven fish, and thus it may be from about now, since Holz had provided Beethoven with several different kinds of fish yesterday. “Good fellow, and Lucullian Kitchen Procurator! As long as a cleaner pike is not too expensive, it would be preferred over anything else. At the same time, one could ask about the price of butter down on the farm.”
“vale et Fave. Until today at noon. Beethoven.”
Brandenburg Letter 2081. The original is held in London, at the University College Library. The Roman general Lucullus (c.110-57 BC) was notorious for his lavish and extravagant banquets.
Unpaid assistant Karl Holz and Nephew Karl join Ludwig for mid-day dinner today. The housekeeper asks (through Holz) whether he wants eggs in the soup. Nephew Karl tells his uncle that, “It is known everywhere that you are looking for a housekeeper.” He asked Frau Schlemmer, the wife of his landlord about eggs; she says Ludwig can get 60 on the Seilerstatt. “It is good to ask a woman about such things now and then.” Uncle Ludwig says he should visit her again soon; Karl assures him he will see her.
Holz adds that the woman he’s asked for help with the household matters will send someone on Tuesday [April 4]. “She knows several honest women; she will send you the one who is the best cook; I already told her the terms.” Holz mentions again that pike is really expensive now; they are having catfish today instead.
Beethoven asks Holz what bassoonist August Mittag wants to see him about. Holz reminds Beethoven that he has wanted to talk to him for a long time about the improved bassoon that has been invented and its capabilities; they already spoke about it 6 months ago.
Karl’s razor is quite dull, so he can’t shave himself with it, and his beard is already getting rather long. He asks to borrow one from Uncle Ludwig. He’ll return the razor tomorrow. Holz recommends the razors by Michael Beinder, from Baden; his are better than the English ones. They cost at least 10 florins each.
Holz departs, and Karl appears to leave for a while, possibly to drop off the razors to be sharpened and do some errands for Ludwig.
Beethoven makes a note that he still owes Holz 1 florin 30 kreutzers. He makes a short shopping list:
61 eggs on April 2nd
- ink this afternoon—
- a housekeeper who has something is better than one who has nothing—
- small candle to light.
Karl returns without Holz. He tells his uncle that one of the women who came to see him, Antonia Kraus, wants to be taken on as a housekeeper. She was a cook previously. An applicant is interviewed by Karl (possibly Kraus). She writes promising that she will use all her diligence.
After she leaves, Karl says that the other one who came to see him was also only a cook; however she is a little older. The applicant who is an administrator’s widow is probably the best one. Karl reminds his uncle that Holz mentioned that the woman at whose place the administrator’s widow lives is a very close acquaintance of his, and that she would vouch for her honesty. However, she didn’t know much about her cooking, but more details have been requested, and she will inform Holz. Karl says that he will talk to her, if Uncle Ludwig thinks he can keep her. Karl won’t promise her anything.
[Throughout the entries for today, Anton Schindler has written in numerous fraudulent comments to make it appear that he was in Beethoven’s circle and giving him advice. He also reveals his antipathy for Holz, calling him a chatterbox and rather common, which probably accurately reflects Schindler’s viewpoint, even if he did not express that to Beethoven at this time.]
Karl mentions that the Jubilee celebrations begin tomorrow, April 2. All of the students have to join in the procession. Karl must take part, since names will be read out and those who are not present will be reported to the Director. They go from one church to another; “God only knows when it will be over.”
Uncle Ludwig tells Karl that he needs ink; Karl asks whether that can’t wait until next week. He wants to be home soon because the days are short and it’s difficult to write in the evening. Uncle Ludwig can just send him the containers for the ink, and he’ll have them filled. Or he can send the maid with the containers this evening, and Karl will get them filled later today. “It’s just that I can only write during the day; as I shall also be prevented tomorrow morning because of the procession, there is not much time.” Uncle Ludwig asks when Karl will do that; he says about six o’clock. Ludwig sends the maid along with Karl with the bottles to be filled.
Later today, Brother Johann comes to visit Ludwig. He has a new hearing machine for Ludwig to try. “2 great men here use it with much success.” He adds that, “The whole city is full of talk about your latest quartet [op.130]. Everyone is delighted; those who approve say that one has to listen to the last movement [the Grosse Fuge] many times in order to understand it. The others would prefer it to be omitted because it is too difficult to understand.
Johann also mentions the big Jubilee that begins tomorrow. While the procession is going on, all the gates into the City will be closed. It is expected to last until noon tomorrow, but the processions will continue through October. Because of the Jubilee celebrations, there are no theater performances and no musical concerts tomorrow. Ludwig asks what the purpose of the processions is. Johann tells him that there will be indulgences, “forgiveness of all sins that people have committed until now—tonight everyone can steal and murder. Tomorrow everything will be forgiven.”
Johann complains that the weather is as cold as if it were December. [According to the April 5 Wiener Zeitung, the temperatures today reached a high of 6.25 C or 44.25 F.]
Nothing has been heard from Prince Galitzin yet.
Copyist Wenzel Rampl comes to the door. He wants Ludwig to give him a few lines for Steiner & Co., to loan him the score of Fidelio, which had been made by tenor Christoph Grünbaum (1785-1870) so Rampl can make the requested copy. [Ludwig does not have a copy himself.] Rampl is afraid they won’t believe him when he says the copy is for Beethoven. Johann asked Rampl what the charge would be to have the opera copied and corrected, and he said 56 florins W.W.
Beethoven complies with Rampl’s request, writing a short letter to Steiner, “If you want to give up Grünbaum’s Fidelio for copying, do it, or don’t—at the [Kärntertor] theater it would take too long until it can be obtained from the actual, newly appointed management there.”
“Beethoven.”
Brandenburg Letter 2140; Anderson Letter 1475. The letter is in a private collection. The Kärntnertor Theater also had a score of Fidelio, but since Domenico Barbaja is now again the lessee after the theater has been closed for nearly a year, it is expected that they would be too busy to comply with this request. The theater will reopen on April 29, 1826. Back in 1823, Beethoven had similar difficulty in borrowing that score from the Kärntnertor Theater in order to make a copy for the use of Carl Maria von Weber. Beethoven’s rather dismissive tone in the letter suggests he is still angry about the proof sheets he has not yet been able to examine.
Johann suggests that if any running around needs to be done, Ludwig should let Karl do it and save his own strength. That will be good for Karl. Ludwig asks Johann whether he has seen their nephew, but he has not; he only sees Karl at Ludwig’s apartment.
The dedication of the Ninth Symphony to the King of Prussia has been authorized and Schott’s has been notified. Johann suggests that if, when Ludwig sends the dedication to the king, he were to send a letter also to Prince Radziwill, it would assure Ludwig of a big honorarium.
Ludwig expresses an interest in reading more Friedrich Schiller; Johann says he has all Schiller’s works at his estate in Gneixendorf, hinting that Ludwig should come visit for the summer.
Ludwig again mentions the success of the op.130 quartet, and that people are talking about. Johann believes Schuppanzigh will want to perform it again; many people have demanded it.
Possibly after Johann leaves, Karl Holz returns for a brief visit. He stopped by to notify Ludwig that he just visited piano maker Conrad Graf; Graf accepts Beethoven’s invitation and will come by tomorrow [April 2. Holz calls him “Graf Mondschein” (Count Moonshine) because his house is named Mondscheinhaus.]
Ludwig mentions Karl’s claim that he is required to take part in the Jubilee procession tomorrow and would be in trouble if he missed it. Holz confirms his story. “In all the high schools, the students have been threatened with a second class in manners if they do not join the procession tomorrow.”
Holz takes his leave. Conversation Book 107, 26r-34v. Both Holz and Nephew Karl attends a musical soiree at Joseph Blahetka’s home this evening. Carl von Bocklet plays the piano part for Beethoven’s Archduke Trio, op.97 at this event, which Karl will report on to his uncle tomorrow, as will Holz.
This evening, the fifth subscription concert of the Bliesener Brothers [Jean Emanuel (c.1765-1842), Ernst (c.1770-1842), and Friedrich August (c.1780-1841)] at the Berlin Jagorschen Hall is held. Due to “certain circumstances,” the announced Beethoven symphony (the Eroica) could not be performed, and the concert organizers substituted a symphony by Joseph Küffner (1776-1856). Berliner allgemeine musikalische Zeitung of April 5, 1826, Nr.14 at 111.