BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Sunday, July 23, 1820

Beethoven is in Vienna, but there are no conversation book entries for this trip at all. This omission points to a few possibilities: 1) Beethoven’s hearing could have been particularly good this date, and there was no need for using the conversation book. Since Stein had wanted to examine the ear trumpet that had been made for Beethoven by Mälzel, perhaps he had brought it along with him on this occasion and was using it to good effect. 2) There may be another now-lost conversation book that overlaps with the use of this one, which continues to be used into mid-August. But such an overlap would be contrary to Beethoven’s general practice of filling one book before starting another, so this seems unlikely. 3) It’s also possible, and perhaps the most probable explanation, that Beethoven simply forgot or misplaced conversation book 15 in Mödling and was forced to use whatever scraps of paper were at hand, and those were not preserved.

In any event, we know Beethoven was in Vienna on this date because it is then and there that he dictates a letter for Franz Oliva to write to the publisher Nikolaus Simrock in Bonn. Beethoven acknowledges receipt of Simrock’s letter of July 10, and agrees with Simrock’s plans for the publication of the variations op.107 outlined in that letter. Beethoven acknowledges that he has received Simrock’s payment for these variations through longtime friend Franz Brentano in Frankfurt. Beethoven corrects Simrock’s understanding of the exchange rates for various currencies in use (in particular, louis d’or are not equivalent to friedrichs d’or as Simrock had suggested), and comments approvingly that Brentano may be relied upon in these matters.

Once again, Beethoven [who had already promised Simrock he would send the Missa Solemnis by the end of May or early June] promises that Simrock shall have the Mass in August, and asks that his fee of 100 louis d’or for it be paid in advance, again through Brentano. Beethoven notes that he has reduced his fee substantially for Simrock, and that he would not do this for anyone else. “Hasten, therefore, to remit the fee.” Perhaps encouraged by his breakthrough on the Credo fugue earlier this week, Beethoven then steps beyond exaggeration/wishful thinking and flat out lies to Simrock, telling the publisher that he is sending the Mass by one of his friends who is going to Frankfurt. [It is not even half finished, and will not be completed for at least another year, so it can hardly now be in a state to be sent to a publisher. Indeed, as we have seen, Beethoven has largely stopped work on the Mass altogether while he composes the remainder of piano sonata op.109 for Schlesinger. This is not one of Beethoven’s prouder moments.]

Beethoven adds as an incentive that he is interested in working with Simrock on publication of his collected works, and promises that he will write more in very great detail on that subject. He believes that it demands careful consideration, but is confident that they can reach an agreement. He hopes it will cement their friendship.

The original of the letter (Anderson 1026; Brandenburg 1400) is held by the Beethovenhaus in Bonn, as part of the H.C. Bodmer Collection, Br 230. This letter, in Oliva’s hand and signed by Beethoven,
may be seen here in the Beethovenhaus’ digital archives.

Most likely on this trip to Vienna, or possibly the next, Beethoven delivers the scores and manuscripts of the 25 Scottish Songs op.108 to several copyists to make a clean version for the engraver. An unidentified copyist copies the first 12 songs in Thomson’s edition, and the balance are copied by Wenzel Rampl. In addition, the English and Scottish poems that form the text of these songs will need to be translated into German to increase sales in Germany, and Samuel Heinrich Spiker is engaged by Schlesinger to do so in Berlin. Spiker unfortunately does a poor job, putting long syllables on short notes and vice versa, and Beethoven will suggest (unsuccessfully) in 1822 that a new translation be made into German.

Presumably Beethoven does his usual round of errands, shopping and visits as well on this trip to the City.