BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Sunday December 5, 1824

Ludwig writes his letter to B. Schott’s Son’s in Mainz. “This week the works [the Missa Solemnis and Ninth Symphony and String Quartet op.127] will definitely be delivered to Friess [sic] & Co. [They will not in fact be delivered to Fries for over another month.] By the way, don’t worry, as you may have heard of a piano excerpt that I was asked to do. [The piano reduction of the Missa Solemnis.] Nothing like that has happened and will not happen. It was only talked about as long as I was not sure about them, [“they” may be Heinrich Albert Probst’s publishing house] because I was advised against them by someone here who you would hardly suspect (a publisher). [Probably Tobias Haslinger.] However, as soon as one of my friends asked Friess & Co and everything was found to be in order, they immediately agreed to the whole thing, and I give you my word of honor that nothing happened and nothing will happen.” [Beethoven’s friend Johann Andreas Streicher had also offered such a piano reduction to five different singing societies, but found no takers at the high price of 50 ducats.]

“I was also asked by Leipzig to do these works or performance for a fee, but I immediately dismissed it. I wanted to tell you this, because I notice that there are people here who are keen to disrupt my understanding with you, perhaps from both sides.”

“I will provide you with articles for your journal [Cäcilia]. Don’t let anything be said in your journal about the lessons with Archduke Rudolph Cardinal. In the meantime I have tried to free myself from this yoke. Of course, one would like to exercise authority again, which one would not have considered before, but these new times seem to bring these thoughts with them. Let us thank God for the steam cannons that are to be expected, and for the already existing steam ships. What kinds of future vehicles will there be that provide us with air and freedom?”

“You must have received my letters by now, if they have not been lost in the floods. You can be sure that both works will be sent correctly this week. May Heaven be with you, most devoted Beethoven.”

Brandenburg Letter 1908; Anderson Letter 1322. The original is in the Mainz City Library (Hs III 71, Nr.8). The letter does not get sent today, but goes out tomorrow.

Today is St. Nicholas’ Eve. Nephew Karl is with his uncle and asks what kind of roast Ludwig had made.

There is a knock at the door. Karl goes to answer it, and finds an applicant for the housekeeper position. Karl turns her away. Uncle Ludwig asks who was at the door, and he says it was a housekeeper who heard that Uncle Ludwig was looking for one. Ludwig asks why Karl did not have her come in, and he says she was far more decrepit than the one they have now. Uncle Ludwig asks what was wrong with her. Karl, perhaps exaggerating, says she had one eye and a humped back.

Karl would like his Uncle and someone else to go see a play. “Good fellow! You must go to the Theater with me today. Today is Die Jungfrau von Orleans [by Friedrich von Schiller] at the Burgtheater.”

Karl mentions that in the Archive for History periodical, several back issues of which he has at his place, he read many noteworthy things by and about Napoleon.

Ludwig, Karl and an unidentified third party go to the theater about 6 p.m. to walk the 6 blocks north to the Burgtheater, in time for a 6:30 performance.

Afterwards, back at the apartment, Karl mentions that he read in a review there are many theaters in Germany that have superior individual actors, but only in Vienna are there superior ensembles. “It was certainly that way today.” [On the bottom of this page, Anton Schindler forged an entry after Beethoven’s death, suggesting that he was still Beethoven’s confidant.]

Karl mentions Marshall Viellville (1510-1581), who took part in many battles, but died after being poisoned at his palace. “Intriguers – the best.” He notes that Heinrich Gerstenberg (1737-1823) wrote a tragedy about it.

Conversation Book 78, 16r-17r.

Prince Nikolai Galitzin writes to Beethoven today from St. Petersburg. “I received your last letter on my return from a long journey that I made into the interior of the country. Since my return I have witnessed a flood that nearly submerged all of Petersburg. [The Neva River had overflowed November 19, 1824.] All this has caused me to delay a long time in answering you, and I am all the more upset because my answer should bring you the help that I am delighted to be able to transmit to you, but which I was not able to send you sooner. I am handing over to Count Lebzeltern, Minister of Austria, the sum of 50 ducats to be delivered to you, and I hope you will receive it soon.” [Count Ludwig von Lebzeltern (1774-1854) was the Austrian minister plenipotentiary in Russia from 1816 through 1825.]

“I am truly sorry that your health is suffering so much, but suffering is the indispensable lot of the human condition. It seems that geniuses such as yourself should reflect nature, and ask it to respect those who distinguish themselves, like you, from the rest of humanity. I cannot express to you how impatiently I await the first of the quartets. [Galitzin had commissioned three quartets from Beethoven over a year ago.] I had also asked you for a copy of your latest Symphony and Overture, the costs of which I will pay with great pleasure.”

“I have plans to have your beautiful Mass [the Missa Solemnis, which Galitzin had arranged to be premiered earlier this year] performed once again for the benefit of the flood victims of St. Petersburg. I would like the Symphony and the Overture to arrive in time to be performed as well. All I ask is that you do not forget me. You ask me if the number of subscribers would be considerable in Petersburg for your Mass. I think that we could gather about forty, especially if there is a piano reduction attached to the score.”

“Please accept the expression of my sincere affection, P. Nikolas Galitzin.’

In an added postscript, Galitzin mentions that he never received the two pieces for clavecin that Beethoven forwarded to him last year. [Likely the sonata op.111 and the Diabelli Variations, op.120.] As per Beethoven’s instructions, no address is provided beyond “Monsieur Louis van Beethoven, Vienna, Austria.”

Brandenburg Letter 1907; Albrecht Letter 385. The original was formerly held by the Vienna Beethoven Society, but it appears not to have survived World War II. This letter bears a St. Petersburg postmark, with the date in Old Style. The Vienna Post Office writes in red “City 969/4” [Beethoven’s address, 969 Johannesgasse, fourth floor.]