BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Sunday, January 22, 1826
Karl Holz comes to Beethoven’s apartment this morning and reports that Mylord [Ignaz Schuppanzigh] is ill today with a sore throat, thus there will be no quartet concert at all this afternoon.
New housekeeper Frau Lindner arrives and complains about the mess in the kitchen. Holz tells her that if the maid doesn’t follow her orders and get used to cleanliness, then Lindner should take on another one. Lindner also needs more cooking utensils; the old ones they have are mostly broken. Holz assures her that she will have whatever she needs, and she only has to say what is needed. [According to Otto Jahn’s notes, Lindner began working for Beethoven today through the middle of March, when she was dismissed. Longtime housekeeper Barbara Holzmann will also return during part of that time period, which tracks with another protracted illness on Beethoven’s part.]
Holz expects that the roast for mid-day dinner today will be good. Nephew Karl arrives shortly, and warns that it is not advisable to spread the mats out near the hearth like Adelmann or the maid has done. Fire can easily break out there, so they should be further away. Lindner again gives assurances that she will satisfy Beethoven once she knows his tastes.
Holz confides that Schuppanzigh’s doctor has told him that if he doesn’t do well right away, another stroke will be unavoidable. [Schuppanzigh will eventually die of a stroke in 1830.]
Holzs also reports on a young man who is a musical phenomenon. He is 18 years old and has a singing range from a low bass C to the high violin C. [Holz writes a note five ledger lines above a staff; no clef is noted.]
Brother Johann has again suggested that Ludwig live with him; Ludwig asks whether Karl opposes such a move. Karl says he doesn’t need to be against it; Ludwig doesn’t want to move out to Gneixendorf anyway.
Holz asks if Beethoven can do without the libretto to Grillparzer’s Melusine for a while; Karl can take it with him today to make a copy.
Karl mentions again that Uncle Ludwig is the same age as the Emperor. [Emperor Franz I was actually born in 1768, as opposed to 1770 for Ludwig, which is probably close enough for a youth of 18.] Karl does some arithmetic to show that Uncle Ludwig is 55 years old, and will be 56 later this year. But Brother Johann must also be above age 50 himself by now. [Johann was born in 1776, making him only 49.]
Holz mentions that Conrad Graf has invented a four-string pianoforte, which increases the sound. He would like to bring one to Beethoven. [Graf will give Beethoven one as a loaner while he repairs the Broadwood piano.]
Speak of the devil, Brother Johann arrives about now. He asks whether Ludwig would like to go driving for an hour. Holz lets Ludwig know they are telling Johann about with the banquets that they attended put on by Maurice Schlesinger last fall, where he could have drunk champagne gratuitously.
Karl says Johann would happily go along, if he were invited; it can’t hurt. Uncle Ludwig begs off. Karl would still like to go out for a drive. Johann says he’ll take Karl out for half an hour, if that’s all right with Ludwig. Karl argues that it would not be bad for the digestion if they were to take a walk. They’ll be back right away. In the meantime, Uncle Ludwig should shave himself so as to be presentable.
Frau Lindner goes to get some white wine, but the bottle must have been cracked; Holz knocked on the top and the bottom broke off, probably making a significant mess.
There is some discussion, likely raised by Johann the apothecary, about a hearing instrument that may be of use. If laid on the ear, one can hear a person speaking 3 steps away, who is speaking no louder than usual.
After Karl returns, Ludwig invites him to stay overnight. Karl doesn’t want to. “It is also very unpleasant to go home first thing in the morning. I also had to leave a few things unfinished. Therefore, if we were to reserve a fiacre to come at 11 o’clock, it would be the best.” There is some back and forth about the maid reserving the fiacre. Karl gets annoyed and says that he will go and do it right now, reserving it for 11 o’clock. Karl adds, “That’s how all the people do it who drive to the theater or other places. One gives the driver something down, looks at a number, and reserves him for the hour. He must come when reserved, because he would be very severely punished if one claimed he had done anything wrong. Therefore, nobody fails to appear.” Ludwig doesn’t want Karl to take the time. Karl insists that they aren’t 5 minutes away.
Conversation Book 102, 40v-45v.
Afterwards, Karl goes to the ball being held tonight at the home of Court Councilor Stephan von Breuning, with his Uncle’s permission. Holz may go along to observe.