BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Thursday, February 3, 1825

Young Julius Lamatsch comes to visit Beethoven today. He has just come from his lesson with Carl Czerny. Beethoven’s former pupil had told him that Beethoven had received an invitation to go to England, and knew he would be looking for someone to accompany him. Czerny said he thought immediately of the enthusiastic Lamatsch. “I’m ready to go with you now.”

Beethoven is taken aback by this sudden offer. Lamatsch asks, isn’t Beethoven going to take someone with him. Beethoven says he’s not sure he’s going at all. Lamatsch asks, “But aren’t you well?” Beethoven thinks for a moment, and asks Lamatsch whether he speaks English. No, but he learns quickly, he says. “What languages do you know?” “Some French and Italian.” A stunned Beethoven has even forgotten his visitor’s name, and asks him to repeat it.

Lamatsch continues to try to convince Beethoven. “I would certainly do and take care of everything according to your wishes and your comfort.” Beethoven, wanting to get rid of the young man, says he will keep him in mind. “I commend myself to your favor and kindness, and ask then that you not forget me!” He once again gives Beethoven his address at the Bürgerspital. He then departs.

While Beethoven is busy with Lamatsch, someone comes to the door. Karl answers it, and finds the emissaries from the Jewish temple have come back, wanting to know Beethoven’s opinion about the oratorio libretto that they left with him. “He said that the Jews are opening their Temple here, and it would be good for that.” Beethoven doesn’t recall the visitor, and Karl says it’s the same person who was at their apartment the other day, a fat old man with white hair. He’s someone Uncle Ludwig knows. [Theodore Albrecht suggests banker Bernhard Eskeles, whom Beethoven had worked with, and was old and fat with white hair.]

Brother Johann comes to visit not long after, and Ludwig fills him in about Lamatsch’s offer. Johann thinks it quite curious that Ludwig should go to London under such a proposal, when Lamatsch doesn’t even know the language. Johann asks whether Ludwig wants to take him; he says he will learn English if he is taken along.

Johann and Karl had looked at a piano which a friend of Johann’s in Krems wants to buy.

Johann reminds Ludwig that the next time they write to Schott, they need to confirm the proprietary rights for the smaller works being sold. He thought that Probst would be a problem that they would not get out of so easily. But it’s better this way, and they would have always been annoyed with him about the Overture. They know all the facts already. Johann suggests writing no more to Probst; “he is a Jew who will pay nothing.”

The maid complains about having to carry water up four flights of stairs. Johann says that she shouldn’t be sent as often as twice an hour, because she won’t stand for that.

Johann estimates the earnings coming in:

From London, 200 pounds for the 3 Quartets.
Further from Galitzin 150 ducats for the 3 Quartets.
Then from the publisher, 150 ducats.
Grand total from the 3 Quartets, 500 ducats (or 5,000 florins W.W.) [Johann is not taking into account only one of the three quartets is finished, one is partly done, and the third is little more than some sketches.]

Johann reminds Ludwig that Neate had expressly asked for the quartets, and the English could be given exclusivity for a certain time, and then that would expire.

Talk returns to the proposed oratorio for the new Jewish Temple. Johann notes that the Jews have been given permission to build it by the Emperor, and it will be finished soon. “Now they want to have a new musical work with choruses for it from you. They will pay an enormous amount, because Rothschild is involved.” Ludwig is dubious. “In many respects, it would be good if you did it,” emphasizes Johann. [Editor Theodore Albrecht notes that this incident put Jewish music on Beethoven’s mind, and he includes an adaptation of the Kol Nidrei in the quartet op.131.] Johann asks to read the libretto that they left with Ludwig. From that, Ludwig should be able to tell how long he would need to work on it, and then demand a fee in accordance with that. Karl jokes that Johann is treating composition like piece work: “Like a wood chopper.”

Someone named Porges [possibly Joseph Porges, a violinist in several orchestras.] comes up to Beethoven, possibly in a coffee house. He writes, “I am your sincerest admirer.”

The maid is lighting the oven at 6 o’clock, and Johann thinks that is too much. 5:30 would also do. She is working till midnight to support herself.

Johann takes his leave of Ludwig with a touching brotherly sentiment, “I wish that we were together, then we would have Heaven on Earth.”

Conversation Book 83, 40r-45r.

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