BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Saturday, March 11, 1826
According to a diary entry made by Beethoven, he writes to Prince Nikolai Galitzin in St. Petersburg today. The contents and the whereabouts of the letter are unknown. Another followup note on the same page says, “on the 16th the courier to Petersburg with my letter to Galitzin!” Bonn Beethovenhaus, NE 354, pages 1-2; see also Theodor von Frimmel, Beethoven-Studien, vol.2, Munich-Leipzig 1906, p.138.
Unpaid assistant Karl Holz comes to see Beethoven after his music lessons are finished. He tells Beethoven that the spoon that he found is not the right one that was missing.
Beethoven asks whether he can go to court to force the issue of the payment dates of his annuity with the Kinsky heirs. Holz tells him that he could have done so back at the time that the estate was being sorted out, but since there was a judicial settlement, and Beethoven accepted payments under those terms, there is nothing to be done about it now, except try to get them to voluntarily adjust the payments.
Beethoven suggests that it would be good for him to go to Prince Hatzfeld along with poet Ignaz Castelli, to urge him to write to the King of Prussia about the dedication of the Ninth Symphony. Holz would prefer to contact the Prince’s secretary first and see whether he has already written the King, or otherwise made it known. That way Castelli doesn’t have to be involved, and Beethoven avoids the walk.
Holz is annoyed to find that the housekeeper did not buy any sausages. Beethoven is also down to his last bottle of wine. She should not buy finely ground pepper; that is harmful. Coarsely ground is what she should get because fine-ground is almost like dust and too hot; it settles in the small intestines, causing an irritation. Christoph Hufeland, the physician who has written about macrobiotics, has recommended one take 3 or 4 white peppercorns a day to improve digestion.
Yesterday Mylord [Schuppanzigh] played so vigorously that he gave himself a skin burn. There also turned out to be new errors in the quartet parts that they found. They have been marked so the score of the quartet can be corrected accordingly. Beethoven asks what the errors are. “Mostly forgotten natural signs,” answers Holz.
There are continuing problems with the bell to summon the servants. Holz shows Beethoven that a hole needs to be made so the cord can only go straight downwards. [The bell only working properly if the cord is pulled straight down has been the topic of discussion for weeks now.] Holz has Beethoven try it out. The building superintendent can’t come today, though, to make the hole.
The discussion returns to the op.130 quartet. The first five movements could be performed immediately. It will amaze people. “We only need to sort things out with the beginning of the Fugue to the part in G flat major. Though I understand it completely, and we rehearsed it perhaps 10 times, it is still not clear enough for me.” Holz asks whether in the Fugue all four parts need to be played equally strong. “Mylord played the part of the Cavatine in C-flat major superbly.” Holz also inquires whether the expression “Ouvertura” at the beginning of the Grosse Fuge must remain there. Beethoven tells him it should stay [and it remains there to this day.] Beethoven asks how long they rehearsed. Four hours, from 6 till 10 o’clock last night. Beethoven asks where the rehearsal was. Holz says at Mylord’s. Beethoven wants to know whether anyone heard it. No, Holz tells him that Schuppanzigh’s wife Barbara was not allowed to listen. “We were like the Freemasons in their lodge.” Sunday [March 12] is the last Schuppanzigh Quartet performance of the current series. Talented dilettante Albin Pfaller will play the piano for the quintet op.16. Beethoven asks when the Quartet op.130 is to be premiered. Holz tells him at a special Akademie concert on the evening of March 21. Anton Halm will play the piano part for the B-flat major Trio [op.97, the “Archduke.”]
Holz mentions that in the Hamburg newspapers, Gaspare Spontini (1774-1851) was called the greatest composer of all time; other magazines are making protest against this claim. [Beethoven’s reaction is unfortunately not recorded.]
Unpaid assistant Karl Holz has brought Beethoven some fine wine this morning. “It is too good for drinking as table wine. It is a gift from an administrator whose tax deduction I take care of; at certain times I get 6 or 12 bottles.”
Holz asks whether Brother Johann has left for his estate in Gneixendorf yet. [It’s unclear whether he has, though the next mention of him is not until March 30, so he may well have gone and returned by then.]
Beethoven complains that the new housekeeper doesn’t start until tomorrow. Holz asks what he is supposed to do about that; he can’t bring her here today. She’s coming tomorrow morning. She might not come until 9 o’clock. In the meantime, Beethoven shouldn’t eat the meat that Frau Lindner has prepared. “I trust no-one.” The only thing Holz knows for certain about the new housekeeper is she is a soldier’s wife. At any rate, Beethoven should let Frau Lindner go tomorrow, and arrange for her to return on Tuesday morning [March 14.] By then Holz will know how much the missing spoons are worth, and that can be withheld from her earnings. Beethoven wants to be done with her now, but Holz thinks it better to bring her back later since who knows what more might turn up about Frau Lindner in the meantime. But don’t give her any money tomorrow. The new housekeeper’s sister is coming Friday, March 17th.
Conversation Book 106, 12v-19v.