BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Tuesday, September 12, 1826 (approximately)

Beethoven writes an undated letter to Tobias Haslinger, probably this morning. “According to my exclusive privilege, the bearer of this has first to pluck, shake, etc. your right ear, cres: ——– then in your left ear ffmo —after this fruitful operation, he has to explain to you that I wish to take back for myself, for the same shameful fee, all those works that you have not yet engraved and released. Question? Answer!”

“From the post of the steward, which was assigned to you for some time, you have now been raised again to the position of manufacturer of bills of exchange. — farewell, former Tobias juvenis and 2dus, henceforth primus caput Tobias primus —” [the “bi” of the last “Tobias” is underlined three times both here and in the addressee.]

“l. v. Beethoven“

Brandenburg Letter 2198; Anderson Letter 1522. The referenced works include Fidelio, op.72, the cantata Der glorreiche Augenblick, op.136, and a number of English songs. The original of the letter is held in the Berlin Staatsbibliothek (Grasnick 35,12). The registration mark on the letter states “Beethoven 1826. Vienna recd. 12 Sept. answd.” It seems likely that Beethoven’s messenger is Holz, back from Baden for the day to take care of things for Beethoven, since from his comments in the conversation book it’s clear that he visited Haslinger’s music shop today.

After delivering the letter, Holz tells Beethoven that Haslinger sends his greetings; Tobias was delighted that Beethoven honored him with a letter again. But Haslinger is unwilling to comply with Beethoven’s request. “He says it would cast a strange light on him, if he were to give away your works.” If Beethoven wants something to be changed, just to change it, Haslinger will gladly pay Beethoven whatever the Jew [Adolph Schlesinger] is paying. “If you want it, he can publish it straight away.” Haslinger will also bring the revised title leaf for the Terzet, Tremate, empi Tremate op.116. “He said that he only now can no longer withhold the fact that the incorrect title leaves did not originate from him.” But Haslinger insists that no publisher will give up their works by Beethoven for a complete edition. Haslinger would gladly help Beethoven so that he does not end up at a disadvantage, since that is also for his own benefit.

Beethoven brings up the marches that are intended as a gift to the King of Prussia, and asks whether Berlin publisher Adolph Schlesinger will pay him for them. Holz clarifies that it is the King who will remunerate for them, not the publisher, because the entire march collection is only for the royal military music.

Concerning the complete edition, Schlesinger had various suggestions; “when it came to the money, he said that for the mere revision and correction of proofs for all known works up till now, 10,000 florins C.M.” What about Haslinger’s pieces that have not been published, including Fidelio? “He thought 1600 ducats; this is about 7,000 florins C.M.” But it seemed as if he might eventually engage himself in it, especially when Holz told him about other offers, and he said that also to the old man [Sigmund A. Steiner, Haslinger’s retired partner, who nevertheless still seems to be active in the business]. Holz did manage to squeeze one concession out of Schlesinger: if Tendler charges a banking fee for the 80 ducats deposited for the quartet op.135, that should be reported to him at once, and he will reimburse it from Berlin. Holz told him that for this sum, Beethoven would rather write 2 operas. “I was very glad that you were not present; I felt ashamed on his behalf. He did disclose to me how it should be initiated. We can make good use of that with someone else.” They will need to talk to Haslinger about it. “For now, Tobias will give us good advice, I am convinced of that.”

“Apart from that, he [Haslinger] also has a personal interest in you. He was extremely delighted with your letter. At least Tobias will advise in such a way that your benefit and your honor will not be jeopardized, which one cannot take too much care of, with the Jewish foul play.”

Beethoven asks what needs to be done to draw up the contracts. Holz tells him they have to have two witnesses sign, and a lawyer must confirm Beethoven’s signature. Schlesinger told Holz to make the arrangements with the attorney. He will need to be paid what he demands. Holz suggests going to Walcha, the notary for the Kinsky estate.

“Schlesinger complained bitterly that Artaria did not cede the quartet [op.130] that was meant for France to him. I told him not to expect these quartets [that are being published in Paris by Schlesinger’s son Maurice] ever to be corrected, except the A minor quartet [op.132]. Beethoven wants to make sure that he is not charged for the banking fee, and that Schlesinger covers it. Holz assures him that will also happen. “He just asks you to accept the 360 florins C.M. [the equivalent of 80 ducats, the price for the op.135 quartet] for now, and to let him know about the rest, which will then be sent by express post.”

Now, as to Nephew Karl. Beethoven asks when he can see pianist Dorothea von Ertmann’s husband, Stephan, about getting Karl into a military position. The Ertmanns intend to leave on Friday, September 15. [Their departure ends up being put off one day, to September 16.] Dorothea expressed an interest in hearing some of Beethoven’s quartets, so Holz could arrange a concert here one of the coming evenings [Wednesday the 13th or Thursday the 14th], when it will be most convenient for Ludwig to speak to him about Karl. Beethoven asks when Schlesinger is leaving; and Holz tells him next Tuesday morning [September 19]. He wants to see Beethoven again. He also wants those canons for the Berliner allgemeine musikalische Zeitung. Holz told him that Beethoven had not yet had a chance to get to them. Schlesinger served Holz wine and veal schnitzel. Steiner said that people at the inns during fairs always stand up when Schlesinger joins a company, or they throw him out without ceremony. [The proposed quartet concert does not seem to have occurred.]

There is still a lot of proofreading to be done, Beethoven cautions. Holz agrees, “Proofreading is not a joke.”

Schlesinger likes the idea of an order being granted by the King to Beethoven; he wants a privilege from every court, both for his earlier and later works. However, Holz answered him straight away that no publisher would be willing to pay Beethoven a reasonable fee, if he knows that the work will be copied in the Oevres complets. This would of course only be a disadvantage for his later works.

“At first he said that a privilege had to be applied for, which would provide that Beethoven’s works may not be bought separately, but as a collection, without harming the previous publishers. Later he trapped himself when he said the complete edition must be arranged in batches, so that one does not have to buy what he does not need. If he goes on about this again, I’ll say 3000 ducats [presumably for the additional works], no question about that. For the whole, more than 12,000 florins C.M., and every argument will cost him another 1,000 florins.”

Beethoven says Schlesinger will try to satisfy him by saying he deserves honors. Holz agrees, Schlesinger said that, but Holz says he told him, “Beethoven does not need that anymore; he has disdained money for a long time, and only writes for the honor of it; now the time has come for his honor to earn some money.”

Holz has to leave. Beethoven wants Holz to speak to Stephan von Breuning as well about taking on Karl’s guardianship, and getting Karl a military appointment. Holz assures him that he will come back to Vienna tomorrow morning on the 6 o’clock coach and talk to him then. Holz then returns to Baden to spend the rest of the day with his new fiancée Elisabeth Bogner and her family.

Conversation Book 120, 34r-41r.