BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Thursday, July 13, 1820

Conversation Book 15, leaves 4v through 6r

Beethoven reads yesterday’s Vienna newspapers in a coffeehouse or restaurant in Mödling. Beethoven makes note of an ad for an official’s widow who will work as housekeeper merely for board. Is the Jewish housekeeper not working out? Is her cooking really that bad, or is Beethoven just being thrifty?

Beethoven contemplates a trip to Vienna tomorrow, and notes he should get Bernard’s recommendations about a portable writing desk. He needs cut pens, and some Louis d’or coins. A visit to Karl is also in order.

A few musical comments are included as well. Beethoven references “country music,” which editor Ted Albrecht suggests may be a reference to another set of the doubtful so-called “Mödlinger Dances,” WoO 17, that reportedly dated from the previous summer. Recall that he sketched what may be another such dance in A on May 4 (Biamonti 726). Beethoven also writes about composing something for Prince Liechtenstein’s Harmoniemusik, or wind band. This group comprised of oboes, clarinets, bassoons and horns had arranged eleven numbers from Fidelio in 1815 for their own purposes. Here is their setting of the Overture to Fidelio, performed by Nachtmusique:

One possibility Beethoven comes up with for this group is a chorus accompanied by two such wind bands. Editor Ted Albrecht observes that Beethoven wrote no such thing, but suggests this might have been an early idea for the Bundeslied, op.122, which is set for solo voices, chorus and a wind sextet, dating from 1822-1823.

Someone otherwise unidentified named Sophie wants to visit Beethoven very much, according to an unknown writer in the book. “Sophie is staying here another 2 months and certainly asks to visit you.”