BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Tuesday, August 16, 1825

Karl mentioned yesterday that a delivery of flour was expected soon to Baden. Beethoven apparently tells Housekeeper Barbara Holzmann to go pick up some. She lets Beethoven know that the flour has already been brought home.

Beethoven makes a note, possibly today or tomorrow morning, “Es ist uns ein Knabe geboren.” [It is a boy born to us. This is a German translation of Isaiah 9:6, used in the Christmas Day Mass; it may also be a reference to the chorus from Handel’s Messiah, “For unto us a Child is born.” Prof. Albrecht suggests it may have something to do with the recent baptism on August 12 of Ferdinand Piringer’s son.

Conversation Book 92, 39r-39v.

The balance of page 39v, and the next three pages of Conversation Book 92 are crossed out with red pencil, presumably by Beethoven.

Beethoven writes an undated letter to Nephew Karl, probably today, but sometime between August 16 and August 20. “Dear Son! Don’t forget to give Tobias the receipt and the money [for the pension for Karl’s mother Johanna]–the instructor [Karl’s tutor, who was supposed to be paid for his services after a month, on August 14th] should have come earlier—since things are as they are now, you must continue with him. I don’t want you to come to me on September 14th [the due date for the next payment] either. It’s better that you finish these studies. God has never abandoned me, and I am sure someone will be there to close my eyes [when I die.] It seems that everything that has happened has been a conspiracy with the Brother (Pseudo) playing a role. I know that later you won’t want to be with me either.”

“Of course, things are a bit hectic with me. You also once again borrowed 1 florin 15 [kreutzers] from the housekeeper last Sunday [i.e., August 7, since Karl came on Monday August 15, not Sunday the 14th], from this mean old kitchen person — I already had forbidden it—that’s how it is everywhere. I could have gotten by for two years with a frock coat, admittedly, I have the bad habit of wearing a worn-out coat at home. But Herr Karl, shame on you and on that score the moneybag Herr l. v. B—n is only there for that. You don’t need to come this Sunday either, because true harmony and agreement will never arise with your behavior–what’s the point of the hypocrisy, you’ll only become a better person then, you don’t need to pretend or lie, which is ultimately better for your moral character—you see, that’s how you reflect yourself in me, because what good is the most loving reprimand!! You’ll be angry on top of that—by the way, don’t worry, I’ll always look after you, as I do now, you bring out such scenes in me—when I found the 1 fl. 15 on the bill again.”

“Don’t send such thin sheets [of letter paper] any more, as the housekeeper can read them by holding them up to the light.—I just received this letter from Leipzig, but I don’t think it’s time to send the quartet there yet. This can be discussed on Sunday—Three years ago I only asked 40 ducats for a quartet. So it must be investigated what you actually wrote [to Peters].”

“Farewell, from the one who did not give you life, but who certainly maintained it, and who has cared more than anything else for the formation of your spirit, fatherly and more than that, who asks you most earnestly to walk only on the true path of all that is good and right—Farewell, your faithful good father.”

As a postscript, Beethoven adds, “Bring the letter back on Sunday.” [So, Karl is expected back on Sunday after all, a demonstration of how quickly Beethoven’s moods changed.]

Brandenburg Letter 2035; Anderson Letter 1430. The original is in the Biblioteka Jagiellonska in Krakow (Mus. ep. autogr. Beethoven 41). The dating of this letter is based on the reference to the letter from publisher C.F. Peters in Leipzig, a now-lost reply to Beethoven’s letter (in Karl’s name, suggesting that Peters accept a quartet in cancellation of the 360 florins Beethoven owed him from an advance) dated July 19, 1825, and Beethoven tentatively responded on August 21 or 22 with a draft that ultimately was not sent. This letter has to be after August 14, the date the payment for the tutor was due, and Karl was in Baden on both Monday, August 15 and again on Sunday, August 21, making it unlikely the letter was written on those dates. Saturday, August 20 can probably be eliminated as a possibility, since Beethoven mentions “Sunday” rather than “tomorrow.” Despite his Uncle’s advice to stay away, Karl will come to visit as usual on Sunday August 21, as suggested in the postscript.

Cappi & Co. advertises some newly-published piano works by Beethoven’s former pupil Carl Czerny in today’s Wiener Zeitung (Nr.185) at 786: Toccata or Exercise, op.92, and Rondo espressivo, op.93.

A dizzying 1956 recording of the Toccata in C major op.92, played by Raymond Lewenthal, can be heard here: