BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Tuesday, August 2, 1825
Beethoven writes from Baden to B. Schott’s Sons in Mainz with some items to check in the score of the Missa Solemnis. In the Kyrie, 39th bar, and after the Christe, half a bar is missing in measure 87 in the clarinet part. The second flute part of the Gloria, measure 10, is notated incorrectly, as is the organ part in measure 87. In the Credo at the Incarnatus, right at the beginning the upper four voices must be set to Solo, and the lower four voices to Chorus. In general, this is to be observed throughout.
Beethoven continues, “Only 14 days ago, I received the issues of the Leipzig Music Newspaper [the Allgemeine musikalische Zeitung], where I found your subscription notice [for the Missa Solemnis, Ninth Symphony, and Consecration of the House Overture.] I don’t know why you withheld this from me. Incidentally, I think it would be better to have that kind of thing inserted in the newspapers for the general public, since music gets too little publicity. But I should especially have been informed about the publication [of these works] since I have not yet sent you the title of the Mass. This will happen in a few days. [Beethoven does not get around to that until November 25, 1825.]”
“Therefore, please hold back a little with sending it out, because if time permits, you will also receive the metronome tempos. The Symphony will be dedicated to a great lord. The same is true of the Mass, although here everything is already certain [the Mass will be dedicated to Archduke Rudolph], but with the symphony that is not yet the case. Not a single note of what belongs to you will be given away by me. You know everything, the Overture was in danger of being stolen for the second time. Fortunately, I discovered everything 12 days ago, and thank heaven, everything was completely thwarted. So, just calm down. I wouldn’t write this if I didn’t think you might hear something and thus wrongly suspect me. No, never have I done such a thing, and people will never know me for not always being honest.”
“I received your letter of July 19 the day before yesterday from Frau von Streicher–I have received no other–and as far as the main points are concerned, I will never write to you again about it, as it was only your constant requests to me that were to blame. I am not good with compliments.” [Since that July 19 letter is lost, Beethoven’s meaning here is unclear.]
“Incidentally, I will soon instruct my brother in Apollo, Herr Appellation Councilor Weber to announce a court date for Herr B. Schott, as I usually do here with the paternostergäßlern, etc. [the Steiner music shop. Because the paper is torn, part of the text is missing here, so the above is Sieghard Brandenburg’s reconstruction.]
“I have already shown you the title and dedication to the Overture, as well as the quartet. Farewell, I am eager to know who will intercept the letter from me. Yours sincerely, Beethoven.”
Brandenburg Letter 2022; Anderson Letter 1407. The original is held in the Donaueschingen, Prince Furstenberg Court Library (Letters, Folder IV, 26237). Of the corrections Beethoven indicated, all of them were made or were already present, except for the correction to the 2nd flutes in the Gloria, which remained uncorrected in the engraver’s copy and in the first edition as published.
Beethoven also writes to Nephew Karl today. “Dear Son! Please have the envelope sent by post tomorrow, Wednesday. It’s still absolutely necessary to hurry as much as possible because of the corrections.”
“We must put an end to this old evil Nature–barely anything here to eat, and besides, the immodesty and imprudence of this truly evil old witch — with this payment.” [He is referring to longtime housekeeper Barbara Holzmann. Beethoven’s letters of August 4 will indicate that she failed to keep any food in the house, leaving him embarrassingly dependent on the local innkeeper.]
“I think I have to let the Pseudo-Brother come, and I would like to take in the one [we had] from Kothgasse again from last winter, who cooked so well, after all. [This probably is the housekeeper Brother Johann had hired to replace Holzmann in mid-January of 1825.] Write me a few words tomorrow. Here is another florin. Don’t forget to bathe. [This may be a bit of wordplay, since it is similar to “Don’t forget Baden,” and he writes the last word in Latin letters rather than German script.] Take care, protect yourself from getting sick. Just use the money well. My dear son, what an unheard-of dissonance it would be if you were false to me, as people claim and desire. God be with you, Your faithful father.”
He adds as a postscript, “Nb. Hand in the letter tomorrow, Wednesday. I don’t know anything about the knives either, and as well the cut quills are starting to break.” [Beethoven had arranged for six barber’s knives to be sharpened in July, and the reference to cut quills suggests that he was using them not just for shaving, but also cutting pens.]
Brandenburg Letter 2023; Anderson Letter 1406. The original is held at the Biblioteka Jagiellonska in Krakow, (Mus. ep. autogr. Beethoven 39). The top of the page includes the draft of a letter from last month, asking about the letter to Galitzin (Brandenburg 2019).