BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Saturday, March 6, 1824

Count Moritz Lichnowsky briefly visits Beethoven in the late morning or early afternoon. He reports that he checked with Interior Minister Saurau about the Royal Swedish Academy’s diploma for Beethoven, and it’s not there. He’ll check with Count Dietrichstein, and also see Baron Franz von Loehr, court councilor, and will try to find out from them what’s happening with the approval of that diploma for Beethoven.

In the afternoon, violinist Ignaz Schuppanzigh visits Beethoven. Although Johann has been talking about copying the choral parts for the movements of the Missa Solemnis to be performed at the Akademie concert, Schuppanzigh believes they need to start with the Overture. He also asks whether the Symphony has been copied yet; it has not since Beethoven has only recently finished the score, and is still not satisfied with the Finale. Beethoven seems to be evasive, because the same question is asked of him by Schuppanzigh again tomorrow. Schuppanzigh says that “It’s more than high time.” Beethoven asks what is the hurry. Schuppanzigh observes that one week of Lent has already passed, and nothing may be given in the last week of Lent. Schuppanzigh thinks it would be best if the copying of the symphony were to occur in Beethoven’s apartment. [Beethoven seems to have shown him the messy autograph score, which would surely give rise to many questions on the part of the copyists.] 12 copies will be needed for each upper string part, 10 for the celli, and 8 for the contrabasses. One must mark “Solo” clearly in the parts where there are only single players in the winds to play.

Schuppanzigh asks to look at the score for the Missa Solemnis. He asks Beethoven about the fugues, and which is the most extensive. That would be the double fugue in the Credo. The Kyrie is not very long, he observes, so they could start with the Kyrie, then the Credo, and after that the Sanctus. [The Benedictus portion of the Sanctus contains a lengthy violin solo that probably would appeal greatly to Schuppanzigh.] Schuppanzigh asks whether the entire chorus sings in the Kyrie, or whether there are also solo voices in that section. Ludwig says that both are used. After looking through the score, Schuppanzigh thinks they would be best off to use the Agnus Dei and Dona nobis pacem, rather than the Sanctus. Ludwig agrees.

Schuppanzigh tells Beethoven to be sure to come to the Stern [Star] tomorrow, Sunday, March 7, at 1 o’clock, for a planning meeting about the Akademie concert. Beethoven appears to make a comment about needing money, and Schuppanzigh says that this is why the preparations need to be hastened, because it will certainly lead to a second Akademie.

After Schuppanzigh goes, Beethoven heads to the coffee house to read the newspapers. He makes note of the book, Die Aufgeklärte Wiener Haushälterin [The Enlightened Viennese Housekeeper.] The same bookshop also has a Linz cookbook by Franziska Probst.

[Finding blank pages, Schindler inserts at 37r-37v a number of fraudulent entries after Beethoven’s death regarding rhythm. Starting tomorrow, Conversation Book 58 will be used for two days, then this book will be finished off.]

Conversation Book 57, 34v-37r.