BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Saturday, March 22, 1823

Beethoven makes a note to visit Diabelli again tomorrow, and he needs pens. He also makes a note that brother Johann, who at some point has been given the Overture to Consecration of the House, op.124, in satisfaction of money borrowed, should wait to publish the work for at least 18 months, which will fit with the exclusive 18-month rights that Ludwig has granted to the Philharmonic Society of London on February 25. [It seems likely that in recent days or possibly even this morning a now-lost letter from Ferdinand Ries was received from London, confirming the acceptance by the Society of the terms set out in Beethoven’s letter of February 25. That would make it important for Johann to wait the necessary 18 months before having the Overture published.]

Beethoven writes to Ries in London today, letting him know that Bauer has departed with the score to the Overture to Consecration of the House. He is also taking along some smaller piano pieces. [Most likely the bagatelles op.119/1-6 that Peters rejected. Bauer had left Vienna on February 27, but did not arrive in London until March 13.] However, the Ninth Symphony is not completed yet, and Beethoven asks for another 14 days more, and then he will deliver it to Herrn v. Kirchhoffer. Beethoven also asks whether the piano sonatas op.110 and 111 have been received yet. [He had sent them to Ries about the end of 1822.]

Brandenburg Letter 1617; Anderson Letter 1159. The original is held in a private collection, but the text is known from the photographic facsimile in the catalogue of the auction by Sotheby’s held July 15, 1957.

Although Louis Schlösser was invited to dinner today when he met Beethoven two days ago, no conversation books with him survive for this date. However, according to Schlösser’s memoirs, Beethoven surprises him by showing up at Schlösser’s apartment this morning. Beethoven climbs four flights of stairs to pay him a return call. Following is Schlösser’s account of this second visit, from Thayer/Forbes 850:

“What I did and said in my first confusion, I do not know; he on the other hand, well aware of my embarrassment, at once began to speak: he had called, in order, since it was such a pleasant day, to take me along for a little walk before dinner, and to improve the occasion by making the acquaintance of my lodgings, instruments, music and pictures of my parents, which I had mentioned to him. And he actually began to turn the pages of my copy-books of contrapuntal exercises, to look over my little hand-library, in which he found his favorites, Homer and Goethe, and I even had to submit to him a drawing of mine, and all of these things he examined attentively and praised.” They return to Beethoven’s apartment, where Beethoven makes him coffee with a newly-discovered machine, the construction of which he explains. Afterwards, there is discussion of a possible trip to England, his difficulties with his pension payments, Fidelio and the problems in finding a suitable new opera libretto, and his newest compositions [which probably included the Diabelli Variations, which Beethoven now considers finished.] As Schlösser left, Beethoven called out, “To our next meeting!”

Schindler arrives after Schlösser’s departure. According to the Esterházy Secretary, Bauer can get a letter from London in about a week, at most, so something should be heard from him any day now. Beethoven gets agitated about whether his plans are miscarrying, and Schindler tries to calm him, saying everything will be very easy.

They discuss Diabelli’s offer to publish the Missa Solemnis. In order not to interfere with the subscriptions, he would have to hold off general sales of the Mass for a year. In the meantime, the copies can be sent to the Courts, because if they are paying 50 ducats they don’t want to have to wait a long time. Diabelli could print it now, but hold it back so that neither he nor Beethoven is compromised. But the King of Prussia needs to get his copy right away. [Schindler had brought news of his acceptance of the subscription on March 2, and nearly three weeks later the Prussian King’s copy seems to still not have been started, or at least be very far along.]

So far as any new sacred pieces are concerned [the Graduale, Offertorio and Tantum ergo Diabelli discussed with Beethoven yesterday], Schindler believes Beethoven tends to give them away too cheaply. He thinks Beethoven should never give away works. Beethoven believes Schindler is being too rigid. [As we have seen, Beethoven likes to give away little pieces to visitors, especially canons, which realistically would not have much of a market anyway.]

Wilhelm Ehlers, who visited Beethoven some weeks ago, has left the Graz Theater. He suffered a foot injury and was unable to continue so he has now become a singing teacher. Copyist Wenzel Rampl comes to visit Beethoven but is sent away and told to come back tomorrow. Schindler notes that tomorrow is a holiday (Palm Sunday).

Schindler reads the above letter to Ries, and asks Beethoven who Kirchhoffer is. [This is another indication that Schindler had only recently become part of Beethoven’s intimate circle, otherwise he would have known Kirchhoffer had been used as an intermediary with Ries before.] Schindler understands that Ries gives piano lessons for 2 guineas at his home. [In Vienna, the teachers typically went to the student’s home, especially if they were wealthy.] Schindler heard Ries’ first Symphony in D, op.23, and thought it was nice but really for older tastes. But his wife Harriet is apparently a very rich woman.

Beethoven says again that he plans to go to England, but Schindler dismisses this as a reality; Beethoven is far too indecisive and such travel requires firm resolution and slow preparation because England and France are very far away. But such a trip would certainly be profitable; Beethoven would likely cover the cost of the trip by earnings before he even got to Dover. If Beethoven does go, Schindler suggests that he should stay for at least a year, for the sake of his health.

According to Count Franz Joseph von Saurau (1760-1832), minister of the interior, there are more delays about the Emperor approving Beethoven’s acceptance of membership in the Swedish Royal Academy of Music. The diploma first must be verified by the Swedish embassy. Complaints about bureaucracy follow.

The pair head to a coffeehouse in the late afternoon. Beethoven goes out without an overcoat. [This is consistent with Schlösser’s recollection of Beethoven commenting this morning that it was “such a pleasant day.”] Beethoven insists he is fine, but Schindler responds that he needs to wear a coat, especially in the evenings, which are still very cold. Schindler says he is free for a week to help out as needed. [As it turns out, he will be in rehearsals almost all day on Monday, March 24.]

Beethoven believes he has the Diabelli Variations in sufficiently final shape to take them to Diabelli tomorrow. Schindler again reminds him that tomorrow is a holiday, Palm Sunday, and Diabelli is not likely to be willing to do business then. He sarcastically asks, Why not show up on Good Friday instead?

Schindler relates an anecdote about three drunken Englishmen visiting Vienna. They stole a carriage from in front of the restaurant Zum weissen Schwan (The White Swan) and took it on a joyride. One drove, one rode inside the carriage, and the third stood in the back. The streets were blocked off, so they were finally captured and taken to the police station. They had the privilege of paying 400 florins for their little joke.

Conversation Book 27, 11r-18r.