BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Thursday, August 17, 1826 (approximately)

Most likely either yesterday or today, Beethoven has an unidentified visitor from Leipzig. Beethoven asks if he is a musician. The visitor once intended to be educated in music, but circumstances prohibited it. He offers to be of use. “If your honor perhaps has any orders to be issued in Leipzig, I would undertake these with pleasure.”

Since the visitor comes from Leipzig, Beethoven may make the connection with Bach, and his love of the Lutheran religion. The visitor says he has an acquaintance with Luther’s collected works, and offers to try to get it for Beethoven. “Also, I have here a book with the title Stunden der Andacht [Hours of Devotion]. If this is known to you and you want it, it is entirely at your service. The Bible in the real language as Luther translated it.”

The visitor went to Conrad Graf’s piano shop to buy a new piano, and he finds these are the best.

The visitor doesn’t want to disturb Beethoven unduly. “You are probably again engaged in a major work. Your excellent symphonies are performed in Leipzig mainly with great applause, and because of these great masterpieces, everything else is left behind and forgotten.” The visitor then departs.

Conversation Book 118, 17r-18r.