BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Saturday, July 26, 1823

Beethoven writes an undated note to Schindler, sometime during the last part of July, 1823, since it refers to the testimonials that the Archduke wrote out for Beethoven, and which need to have certified copies made. All three certified copies of the Archduke’s testimonial need to be on official stamped paper.

Schindler apparently has been ineffective in dealing with the landlord, who wants to use one of the rooms in Beethoven’s apartment for repairing the well, even with the power of the Vienna police behind him. Beethoven scolds him harshly, asking how he can let himself be pushed around by threats from the boorish landlord. “Where is your judgment? Where is it?”

In any event, Beethoven will send for the three certified copies tomorrow. He may send the old woman, housekeeper Barbara Holzmann, but she will be around until about the 8th of August. Calmed down, he invites Schindler to come to dinner, but absolutely no later than 2:30 in the afternoon. He must keep the documents safe.

Beethoven is interested in some apartments in the Landstrasse and the Biberbastey, and it’s high time that something was arranged for the fall. He wants Schindler to get word as to what terms the landlord is offering. [Beethoven will in fact move into an apartment in the Landstrasse in mid-October, 1823.]

Brandenburg Letter 1706, Anderson Letter 1235. The original is held by the Berlin Staatsbibliothek. As is common with these notes, Beethoven wrote in pencil and Schindler traced over it with ink, making it somewhat uncertain whether the words we see are in fact what Beethoven wrote.