BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Sunday, April 15, 1821

Today is the due date for the first installment of the settlement of Beethoven’s debt to publisher S.A. Steiner, at less than 50%, with Steiner foregoing interest. Six hundred florins are due to be paid today. Beethoven had already borrowed from Artaria & Co. against his spring payment on his annuity from Archduke Rudolph, so that money is gone. Since Beethoven has been ill so much of the year, precious little other money is coming in. Beethoven is thus unable to make this first payment on a timely basis. In fact, he will not make that first payment for several years, until Steiner threatens a lawsuit.