BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Tuesday, January 25, 1825

A new maid starts working for Beethoven today on a 14-day trial period.

Brother Johann comes to visit Ludwig in the mid to late afternoon. He spoke with Ignaz Schuppanzigh about the possibility of holding more Akademie benefit concerts. Schuppanzigh is prepared to handle everything: the ticket subscriptions, arranging the musicians, the soloists, the choruses, and the Landständischer Saal [which could be had for free]. He would want one-third of the income, after expenses. Schuppanizgh would also arrange all the rehearsals and so forth.

Ludwig finds that to be rather steep. Johann doesn’t think it is unreasonable. But Schuppanzigh would want a written agreement with Ludwig, and then he could immediately begin making the subscriptions. Karl can draft the agreement, and Ludwig can sign it.

Johann will arrange for copyist Ferdinand Wolanek to come tomorrow morning, and he can immediately start copying the first part of the Missa Solemnis. Then he can come to Ludwig after mid-day dinner, say about 2 p.m. Ludwig suspects Wolanek of stealing the music and selling it. Johann asks how he can think something like that?

Nephew Karl makes a note that they need butter.

Johann wants to know what time Ludwig would like Wolanek to come tomorrow, so Johann can tell him when to arrive. Tomorrow [Wednesday] is the main postal day.

It [possibly the stove] smokes so heavily it almost made him [probably Wolanek] sick.

Johann says he saw Schuppanzigh at the coffee house, after 2 p.m., completely exhausted from giving lessons. They met for about an hour. Johann also ran into cellist Joseph Linke, who wanted to know whether he can count for certain on getting the premiere of the second quartet [op.132 in A minor], since he was disappointed in being able to use the premiere of op.127 for his benefit Akademie concert. Linke thinks it was sad and not very becoming of Schuppanzigh to snatch that quartet away from him for his own use.

Johann makes fun of Schuppanzigh’s obesity, remarking that soon his stomach will be so large he won’t be able to control the violin any longer. Linke mentioned that Schuppanzigh doesn’t play the most difficult quartets anymore.

Johann discusses the issues with getting Prince Galitzin’s payment for the first quartet changed into florins at the Henikstein banking house. Johann will recalculate what their commission should be, since Galitzin did not write anything about ducats. He only writes they did not calculate 150 rubles to him. The bankers should not make any objection, since the Prince was quite clear that they were to give the remaining amount (le surplus) from the 50 ducats to Beethoven. The 150 florins will certainly do them good, but Heniksten was trying to cheat them out of 100 florins. They should be collecting a 12 percent commission on the 150 florins. Johann will go to the Court Chancellery to see when a courier will be going to Russia, and perhaps they can get Galitzin to straighten this out.

Ludwig, not understanding how the bills of exchange work [probably in reference to the bills from Schott through the Fries banking firm], suggests that they should collect on them. Johann tells them they can’t be redeemed until they are payable, which is out one, two or three months. Ludwig asks whether they could not be sold then. Yes they could, Johann answers, but at a loss.

Johann was under the impression Ludwig intended to dedicate the Consecration of the House Overture to Prince Galitzin. Ludwig says yes, that is his plan. [The Overture when published is in fact dedicated to the Prince.] Johann notes that the Prince’s one brother is Minister of Culture in St. Petersburg, while the other is governor of Moscow. [While these three men were all named Galitzin, they were not brothers.] Galitzin gets 200,000 rubles per year. Ludwig asks how much that is in florins, and Johann thinks that a ruble is equivalent to a paper florin W.W., so 200,000 florins. Johann suggests that the copies being made of the Ninth Symphony and Consecration of the House for Galitzin should have a tin plaque with the dedication. Ludwig laughs, thinking that might pry some more money out of the Prince. Johan agrees, this is the Spirit of Speculation. But it would in fact give Galitzin endless joy to receive the dedication.

Johann suggests they go to see the banker Henikstein on Thursday. Ludwig, who has lost track of what day it is, asks when that is, and Johann clarifies, the day after tomorrow.

After Johann leaves, Wilhelm Wildfeyer (b.1783) comes to visit Beethoven. He serves as family tutor to Count Franz Xaver Kollowrath. Wildfeyer mentions that Beethoven’s former pupil Carl Czerny gives lessons to the children. “We hear nothing but his pieces.” Wildfeyer asks for forgiveness, but he needs piano strings and wonders whether Beethoven can tell him where one can get them. Beethoven makes a negative remark towards education in Vienna, and Wildfeyer agrees, “They don’t want the young people to study; they want Darkness, Pietism.” [Assuming Wildfeyer is talking about the government, this was a highly dangerous sentiment to commit to writing in Metternich’s Vienna.]

After Wildfeyer leaves, Beethoven writes “Strings (piano). Wildfeger [sic. Theodore Albrecht suggests this is a pun by Beethoven, since a Wildfeger would be a silly, flighty person, which may have reflected Beethoven’s opinion of him.]

Karl mentions that the people admired his new overshoes today. “The novelty!”

Someone [possibly copyist Ferdinand Wolanek] is referred to by Karl as “already quite decrepit.”

A new maid is starting the day after tomorrow, and Karl reminds his uncle to make note of the day that her 14-day trial period is up. [These trial periods are an endless source of confusion, especially when the maid wants to leave early, leaving them in the lurch.]

Karl suggests his uncle should go for a walk in the Landstrasse. For what, his uncle asks? “Coffee,” replies Karl. Does Karl want to come along? “Of course.”

Conversation Book 82, 8r-9v; Conversation Book 83, 3r-6r, 28v.

The Schott publishing firm in Mainz today advises the organizers of the Lower Rhenish Music Festival that unfortunately the Ninth Symphony of Beethoven will not be in print in time for their proposed performance in late May, and they will need to make other arrangements. Thayer/Forbes at 932.