BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Sunday, December 12, 1824

Beethoven writes a letter today to music publisher C.F. Peters in Leipzig. He notes that Johann Andreas Streicher has already written to Peters [in September] about the sales of the Missa Solemnis for subscription by the Leipzig singing society. Nothing of that sort can be done with the Mass now, since Beethoven has just now definitely promised it to a publisher [B.Schott’s Sons in Mainz] so naturally the arrangements proposed by Streicher cannot be implemented.

Peters would have received a string quartet by now, but Beethoven had to give it to the publisher who purchased the Mass, since he expressly requested it. But he promises that Peters will certainly receive another one soon, or Beethoven will suggest a larger work, in which case the sum received would be deducted from the amount due. [Beethoven had received 360 florins C.M. in August of 1822 from Peters, who had rejected as unworthy the compositions Beethoven had sent him. Some of these now were being sold to Schott.]

“But I ask you to be patient, since I will certainly satisfy you. You have done yourself and me an injustice, and continue to do that, as far as I hear, when you criticize as bad the works that I have sent you. Did you not yourself ask for songs, marches, bagatelles, and then only afterwards it occurred to you that the fee was too much and you could have had a great work for that? You are no critic of art in this regard, for several of these works have been and will be published. Nothing like that has ever happened to me at all–as soon as possible I will get rid of my debt. My situation is not suitable for it to have happened any faster. In the meantime, I remain yours sincerely, Beethoven.”

Brandenburg Letter 1910; Anderson Letter 1324. The original is held by the Musashino Academia Musicae in Tokyo (A-E-4). The letter bears a Vienna postmark, with a registration mark of “1824 Wien 12t Dec v. Beethoven.” A few parts of words are missing where the paper was torn, perhaps in opening it, but the meaning is clear. The desk sketchbook Artaria 205/4, which was used earlier in 1824, includes a reference to a “Quartet for Peters” alongside a draft in C major, but nothing much came of that idea. Beethoven will offer the Quartet op.132 to Peters in July 1825, but it will be turned down. Peters earlier this year had warned Heinrich Albert Probst about dealing with Beethoven, which led to Probst asking to see the works before he paid for them. Beethoven was offended by this request and instead sold the pieces to Schott (for a higher price).

The servants are complaining about their pay, after gossiping with the servants of others in the apartment building. The maid is unhappy that the other kitchen maids in the building get 10 to 12 florins per month, and she gets less. Karl indicates that she gets less because part of her duties are covered by the building superintendent’s wife, and they pay her 2 florins for that.

Karl is of the opinion that they were swindled on the cream, which was very adulterated. He sampled it. He thinks that the bottles were not cleaned properly. The housekeeper agrees, and thinks they had not been washed well.

The Burgtheater is now giving good plays that are otherwise seldom given. Tonight is Schiller’s Wallenstein. Joseph Koberwein (1774-1837) is playing Wallenstein. [Karl had mentioned Koberwein as appearing in King Lear as one of the sons-in-law a few days ago.] But it is not being given as Schiller wrote it, rather in an adaptation. Uncle Ludwig scoffs at such a thing. Karl agrees; he saw their Don Carlos; Pater Dominque was changed into a Courtier, and so was the Grand Inquisitor. “The finest parts, such as the tale of the ball that flew into the Princess’ eye, if you recall (Carlos tells it to Posa) was omitted, and so many other things.” In their version of Wilhelm Tell, the monks were completely omitted.

Karl thinks Koberwein is not so good in this kind of role; he is at his best in more conversational plays. Uncle Ludwig asks about the seating in the Burgtheater for these plays. In the third floor, the seats are only at the back, opposite the stage. The loges are further forward.

They get a letter from Brother Johann in Gneixendorf. Things look bad on his estate, and he appears to have little liquid money in his possession.

Karl thinks Uncle Ludwig should write to Schott’s in Mainz and tell them frankly what the situation is with Probst in Leipzig. [Beethoven had agreed, on Johann’s behalf, to sell to them for 130 ducats works that he had already promised to Probst for 100.] “Better that they learn it through you than perhaps later through him.” [Karl did not write the letter to Peters, but these comments suggest that he read it before it was mailed.]

Karl observes that housekeeper Barbara Holzmann is already too old to do the job any more.

Conversation Book 78, 31v-33v.