BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Tuesday, November 11, 1823

Nephew Karl comes by Beethoven’s apartment very early this morning, about 5:30, probably to get something he needs, and then heads to his morning classes. Since Uncle Ludwig usually gets up at dawn (which is not until about 7 AM this time of year in Vienna), he may well still be asleep. In any event, Karl does not disturb him, whether asleep or working.

In the early afternoon, Beethoven reads today’s Intelligenzblatt, Nr. 260 and notes an advertisement for a dinner service of stoneware crockery for six persons, with matching serving dishes and a coffee service available. They are available in plain white, or with a blue rim (which is more expensive).

The same page of advertisements, p.995, includes an advertisement for cold and warm punch, and Beethoven notes that down as well.

Beethoven also writes a reminder to himself about the diploma from the Royal Swedish Academy. The Emperor had approved his acceptance of that diploma some time ago, so it is unclear exactly why he is mentioning it.

Continuing with today’s Intelligenzblatt, Beethoven writes down information about a 30-volume pocket edition of Schiller’s collected works, available by subscription in 1824 from Mayer & Co. The set is available on stock paper, or in an even nice edition on vellum for twice the price. The advertisement claims it will the be most complete of all editions, with the texts unaltered.

[Mayer & Co. was near the location that offered punch above, so he may have visited both locations before dinner. Karl had for some months been complaining that his uncle’s library did not have a nice edition of Schiller, and what he did have was missing volumes. Schiller was of course the poet who wrote the text used for the finale of the Ninth Symphony, so he was certainly on Beethoven’s mind these days.]

Beethoven also writes a comment, “Louise Brachmann, best German woman poet.” [What gave rise to this remark is unclear as she does not appear in the Vienna newspapers of the time. Editor Theodore Albrecht suggests Beethoven may have visited Mayer’s bookstore about the Schiller subscription and there seen an edition of her works. It could also have been free association, since Brachmann was a friend of Schiller, who championed her poetry in the 1790s, and she had not long ago committed suicide by jumping into the Saale River in September, 1822. A period portrait of Brachmann is attached.]

Ludwig then meets Nephew Karl for midday dinner [probably at Born and Paumgartner’s boarding house, going to Karl since Karl has not been coming to him], which includes beer and bread for a mere 33 kreuzers. Karl thinks the price of the vellum edition of the Schiller is not too high and that’s the one he would prefer.

Karl says the maid was lying in bed disheveled this morning at 5:30 when he came in. He thought she was sick, but she said she just lay in this way in general. She spoke “very arrogantly, and moreover, had bared her whole chest without covering herself; but on the contrary she displayed it even more.”

[The “old woman,” Barbara Holzmann, has apparently been fired as Beethoven’s housekeeper once again.] Karl interviews a prospective housekeeper. She says that at the beginning of the month a new housekeeper must be given a sum by the gentleman wishing to employ her, with which she would maintain the housekeeping for the entire month. Karl is pleased with himself when he says he told her “that the arrangement is different at this gentleman’s.”

Karl talks about his classes at the university. He’s doing introductory classes, such as Preparation for Philosophy. “In the whole first year, there is still absolutely no Philosophy. Psychology in the first semester; Logic in the second.” Karl refers to a textbook by one of his professors that he will probably have to read. [Professors plainly have not changed all that much in 200 years. This may be the Johann Feder text that Karl will speak about on November 20th, which he finds in a used bookstore.]

Conversation Book 45, 12v-14r. Leaves 14 and 15 are again on light blue paper, with different binding for leaf 14.