BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Tuesday, August 3, 1824
Hans Georg Nägeli writes to Beethoven from Zurich today. He has recently given a series of six lectures in southern German cities, presenting Beethoven as the art hero of the new century. Beethoven has had many admirers there, as well as in the rest of art-educated Europe. Nägeli credits himself with having elevated the appreciation of Beethoven’s uniquely high art. His lectures are to be published by Cotta in the new year. “What you may have read about them in the newspapers is largely nonsense, including a lot of misunderstanding, and little of the true content.”
Nägeli asks Beethoven to promote a subscription of his poems, and asks how he can get Beethoven further recognition. He would very much like to get Archduke Rudolph on his subscriber list through Beethoven’s kind mediation. He includes with the letter a sample of his poetry, seven stanzas about Ludwig van Beethoven. A sample:
“Here a spring, there a stream, now a sunny mirror,
Soon a terrible brew.
Now the storm of the waves, now the light zephyr wing
And splendor of the pearly dew.”
Brandenburg Letter 1856; Albrecht Letter 376. The original letter is held by the City and National Library of Vienna (I.N. 150006). The letter bears a ZURICH postmark. A postal worker has crossed out “Vienna” and written in “at Baron Wetzler’s house in Guten Brun in Baaden [sic],” indicating the letter was forwarded to Beethoven’s summer dwelling. Nägeli’s lectures were published by Cotta in 1826 under the title Vorlesungen über Musik mit Berücksichtigung der Dilettanten (Lectures on Music, with Consideration of Dilettantes.) Nägeli’s poetry was published as Liederkränze in 1825 in Zurich. Beethoven will do what he can to help Nägeli out with the Archduke.
Ludewig Krause also writes to Beethoven today from Berlin. He reminds Beethoven that he wrote on April 6th and June 28th asking for the copy of the Missa Solemnis for Prince Anton Radziwill. He asks whether Beethoven has received the 50 ducats that were sent in the Prince’s name. The Prince arrived in Berlin yesterday, and when Krause waited upon him today, the Prince immediately asked about the Mass. He therefore asks as urgently as possible to advise with a few words about the receipt of the money, and if possible, to send the Mass or at least advise when it will be available.
Brandenburg Letter 1857; Albrecht Letter 375. The letter is in the hand of a clerk, and signed by Krause. It is held by the Berlin Staatsbibliothek (aut.35,49). Next to the address, Beethoven has written “Krauis,” which is apparently how Beethoven read Krause’s name.
Today’s Wiener Zeitung, Nr.176, at 740, includes an advertisement by Anton Diabelli & Co. for new music just published by H.A. Probst in Leipzig. Among these are two arrangements of Beethoven works by F. Schneider. The first of these is Piano Trio op.1/1, and the second is the Clarinet Trio op.11, both arranged for piano four hands. These are available for 5 fl. 45 kr. W.W., and 3 fl. 45 kr. W.W., respectively. This advertisement is repeated in the August 7, 1824 Wiener Zeitung, at 756.