BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Thursday, December 8, 1825

Today is a holiday, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Beethoven starts another shopping list, but only gets so far as “Candles,” which was one of the two items on yesterday’s list. Rather than blotting sand as was the case yesterday, the second item is a coverlet for a mattress.

Ludwig joins up with Nephew Karl on a walk through the City, apparently stopping by a tailor.

Someone, probably the tailor, lets Beethoven know that there will be a charge of 5 florins 30 kreutzers.

Karl mentions that in this street he visited the young man who usually comes to see him; he just came to visit Karl. [Karl may mean his tutor.] Karl has some implements from the fellow who previously lived there, but he hasn’t used them at all.

Beethoven returns to his apartment. Later this afternoon, violinist Ignaz Schuppanzigh visits him. As usual, Schuppanzigh addresses Beethoven in the third person, which is ignored here for clarity. Schuppanzigh asks Beethoven if he could see the first violin part for the new quartet, op.130. Beethoven apparently does not give it to him, since Schuppanzigh makes no comments about it. [This refusal suggests that Beethoven is not done writing out the full autograph of the quartet yet.]

Schuppanzigh asks how plans are going for the benefit concerts. Beethoven says he was finally able to retrieve the score of the Missa Solemnis for use in the concert. “If you are serious about it, now is the best time to make arrangements for it. You need not compose anything new for it. Nothing is needed for the first concert except the new Symphony [the Ninth] and a couple of movements from the Mass [Missa Solemnis]. In the second concert, you can add in something that is new.” Beethoven asks him what should be in the second concert, then. Schuppanzigh says, “In the second, the new Symphony again, and other pieces. People want to hear it often; they will not be satisfied hearing it just once; this work is too large-scaled.” Beethoven asks when they should schedule it. Perhaps around the New Years? Schuppanzigh replies, “Only it would be good if the first concert could still be given in Advent.” [Advent is already half over, making Schuppanzigh’s proposal rather unrealistic.]

“In the meantime, I have already spoken with the men and women singers, who would gladly do it with the greatest pleasure, but they must have time to rehearse these pieces.” Beethoven asks him who he plans to use as soloists for the necessary quartet. “Mamselle [Maria Mathilde] Weiss and [Amalie] Haennel are altos, very fine. [Ludwig] Tietze, tenor. [Johann Michael] Weinkopf, bass. The choral singers from the [Musik-]Verein are very fine if they can rehearse it.”

Schuppanzigh must depart. Beethoven asks him to return this week for more discussions about the concerts. He declines. “I cannot come out here again this week, because the new subscription series with the Quartet begins on Sunday [December 11]. Beginning on Monday, however, you can have me at any time.” He gives Beethoven his current address, in the Schultergasse. Beethoven is unhappy he has to wait until next Monday; Schuppanzigh reminds him that it is already Thursday, and departs.

Conversation Book 99, 8v-11v.

Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy, op.80, is apparently performed in Vienna at an unidentified venue today, with a pianist named Pudler [This may be the same person identified as a pianist named Putler at an 1828 concert at the Musik-Verein]. Karl Holz will later report that the performance was abysmal.