BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Tuesday, September 26, 1826

Nephew Karl is still being held by the police after his release from the hospital yesterday morning. Beethoven writes a short undated note to unpaid assistant Karl Holz, probably this morning: “Please leave the name of the police officer who we spoke to. It’s a fine story. Yesterday, Karl was picked up by the police and how — they can’t be found. I’m running around trying to find someone.”

Brandenburg Letter 2210; Anderson Letter 1461. Sieghard Brandenburg notes that this letter might also date from August 8, the day after Karl was removed from Johanna’s house to the general hospital. However, based on the contents, it appears to be a much better fit with today, since in August Beethoven learned from Holz himself that Karl had been taken to the hospital by the police. The original is held by the Ira F. Brilliant Beethoven Center, San Jose State University, and can be seen here:

https://archives.calstate.edu/concern/archives/mk61rs160

Brother Johann goes to see the court councilor Ignaz Czapka about how matters stand, and reports back to Ludwig. “The court councilor told me that he will be enlisted right away and will go to the regiment in Iglau.” Ludwig suggests that Karl come stay with him. No, says Johann, “He won’t come here; he will go directly to the military barracks.” That’s how anyone who has been enlisted is treated. He cannot stay with his mother Johanna because of her bad reputation.

Johann is anxious to return to Gneixendorf. “Right away, you must pack up anything which you need for the short time with me, because I have to leave tomorrow at 5 o’clock. I still have a lot to do in the field.” What about Karl’s laundry, Ludwig asks. “You can send the laundry to his mother.”

Violinist Ignaz Schuppanzigh briefly meets with Beethoven. Frau Maria Halm (1782-1843) wrote an impertinent letter to Holz; he let Schuppanzigh read it. [Frau Halm was no doubt chewing Holz out for his practical joke of giving her goat hair after she asked for a lock of Beethoven’s hair. Beethoven, when he heard of this, sent her a lock of his own hair.]

Schuppanzigh would like to perform the new quartet outside of his subscription concert series. The Landständischer Saal would be the best, since the nobility would attend, and as a result people would not leave early. Schuppanzigh asks who will publish the 4th quartet [op.131]. Beethoven tells him that Schott’s has purchased it.

Conversation Book 121, 20v-21v. The day’s conversations continue without a break in Conversation Book 122, which is a volume of 29 leaves, all but one of which have writing. The first page should be after the 17th leaf. There are also two leaves separated from this conversation book in the Beethovenhaus, BH 53, pp.13-16. This volume covers the next week of time, through October 2.

Stephan von Breuning also goes to meet with the Magistrate and Court Councilor Ignaz Czapka this morning. Beethoven goes to see him. “At the Magistrate, I took over the guardianship, and thereafter he [Karl] was placed at my disposal. Consequently, I had to go to the police station to Councilor Czapka. He told me that he [Karl] had only been taken away because the hospital reported that he was cured, and had expressed concern that he might escape. Therefore, he cannot send him back, but wants to hand him over to me at once. So, where is he to go until he is sent away?”

Ludwig probably suggests again that Karl stay with him. Breuning thinks it would be best if the hospital were to be willing to take Karl back until he is sent away. “I have once again talked with Stutterheim, who came to me himself, and when he can be presented to him. Everything can be arranged in 6 days.”

Beethoven asks whether there would be an additional cost if Karl were to stay at the hospital till then. Breuning understands that everything is paid through the 6th of October. Breuning can’t take him to Stutterheim until Thursday [September 28]. “However, his hair has to be suitable for going out.”

Beethoven again suggests that Karl be allowed to stay with him. “I am afraid that if here, you would talk to him too much, which would cause new irritation. For he testified at the police court that you harassed him too much, which led him to take this step. So, have Holz pick him up and bring him here. Friday [September 29] I will take him to Lieutenant Field Marshall Stutterheim. In 6 days he will be equipped and in 8 days he will leave. [Karl’s departure was thus planned by Breuning to be on October 4.]

Will the hospital take Karl back? Beethoven asks. “In the hospital, there are many reservations about whether they shall take him back. If he runs away from here, then he will also run away during the journey to his regiment.”

Ludwig wants to make sure Karl has no contact with his mother Johanna. Breuning assures him that Czapka said specifically that he was not to speak with the mother. Ludwig suggests that maybe Karl should stay where he is for security. Breuning doesn’t like that idea either. “They have no room at all; only debtors are there.”

Brother Johann comes to see Ludwig. He says that by half past three this afternoon, he will go to Holz’s office, and then together they will pick up Karl and bring him back. [Despite Breuning’s cautions to the contrary, Karl will be brought back to Ludwig.]

Beethoven writes an undated letter, probably today, to Councilor Ignaz Czapka [Beethoven spells his name Zpapka]: “Your Excellency! Herr Court Councilor von Breuning and I have carefully considered what should be done, and yet we have always found that at this moment nothing else can happen but that Karl must spend a few days with me, due to his removal from here for military service. His speech still reflects the impression that my rebukes made on him, as he was already on the verge of ending his life. However, even after this period, he showed himself to be affectionate towards me. Be assured that humanity will always remain sacred to me, even in their fallen state. An admonition from you would have a good effect, and it would also not hurt to let him know that he is being watched unseen while he is with me.”

“Please accept my high regard for you, and consider me a loving philanthropist who only wants good where possible.”

“Yours most sincerely, Beethoven.”

Brandenburg Letter 2211; Anderson Letter 1533. This letter also might date from tomorrow, but it seems likely that once Beethoven had set his mind to bringing Karl to Johann’s estate, he would want to get the clearance from Czapka to do so as soon as possible. The original of the letter is in a private collection. A facsimile was printed in the Sotheby’s auction catalogue of November 18, 1988, Lot 323 (Music, Continental Manuscripts and Printed Books, Science and Medicine, London). Breuning has approved Karl being taken to Gneixendorf for a period of 14 days to continue his recovery. [Brandenburg Letter 2232 from Johann mentions this grant of a 14-day period.]

Johann has dinner with Ludwig. He notes that the wine is strong. Ludwig worries that Karl will again attempt to harm himself. Johann tells him, “No one is able to prevent someone else from doing something stupid, if they don’t want to do it themselves.” Johann observes that Ludwig is not hungry anymore; that is good.

Johann hears that the libretto to the oratorio Saul by Kuffner is very beautifully written.

Johann tells Ludwig that as soon as he gets back from the country, he’ll come to visit every day. Ludwig should let him have the small room so he can sleep there in case of bad weather.

Berlin also wants an opera. Johann believes they would certainly pay well for an opera, and he could sell it in London and Vienna as well.

Beethoven’s desire for the Order of the Red Eagle from the Prussian King seems to be coming along well, as planned.

Johann says “the 4th quartet [he means the 3rd, op.130] produced the greatest enthusiasm, and only the grave Fugue made the applause lesser at the end.” [Johann’s remark may be a response to Ludwig telling him he now plans to write a new finale for that quartet, and publish the Grosse Fuge separately.]

Johann thinks it probably would have been better to send Karl to Paris to work with Maurice Schlesinger for the future. “There are many who were like that, and afterwards they ended up being competent men after all.”

Ludwig asks Johann whether he has veal on his estate, Schloss Wasserhof, but Johann tells him that it is not the season for veal. “The air up there will also do you good, for it is quite different from the air here.” Johann cautions Ludwig that they need to leave at 5 o’clock in the morning on the day after tomorrow [September 28] “Otherwise my whole business will collapse.” He mentions that 4 days ago [Friday, September 22] he walked in the mountains for 14 hours. “With me it will be easy for you to go for a walk. With 10 steps, you will be in the fields and in the most beautiful surroundings.” They can set up a bath in the house for Ludwig.

Johann goes to retrieve Karl, and brings him back to Ludwig’s apartment. Ludwig says he has a lot to do to prepare for Karl’s enlistment; Johann again tells him, “Consider that we certainly have to leave at 5 o’clock in the morning the day after tomorrow. You will do that in 8 days when you are back again, because Karl cannot stay longer.”

Ludwig appears to make some remark about Karl inheriting from Johann, rather than the estate going to his wife Therese. Johann replies, “I think I’ll live longer than my wife, because she is always sickly.” [Johann’s prophecy is correct; Therese dies in 1828, while Johann survives her by another twenty years.]

Karl reminds his uncle that Anton Diabelli wants to have the quintet soon. Possibly in response, Ludwig writes a letter to Diabelli regarding the proposed string quintet in C, WoO 62: “Herr v. Diabelli et Comp. I could not reply sooner, as I have not yet been able to determine a time. In the meantime, I promise you that I will be able to complete the quintet in a little over 6 weeks. I will take your wishes into account without, however, compromising my a r t i s t i c freedom. I am satisfied with the fee of 100 ducats in gold.”

“With respect, your most devoted Beethoven.”

Brandenburg Letter 2209; Anderson Letter 1310. The whereabouts of the letter are unknown; the text is from Beethoveniana. Mittheilungen von Gustav Nottebohm XVII, in AMZ 8 (1870) p.59. At that time the autograph was in the possession of Carl Anton Spina. The exaggerated spacing of the letters in the word “artistic” is from Nottebohm. As usual, Beethoven’s estimate of how long it will take him to finish a work is wildly optimistic. Although he has sketches prepared for all four movements, only the introduction to the first movement is completed by December, 1826.

Karl notes that Tobias Haslinger was very arrogant towards Johann. “He sees him as a miserable fellow who only lives off the fat of others.”

Ludwig asks for details as to what happened yesterday. Karl tells him, “The priest came to me yesterday around 3 o’clock (at the police station) and after half an hour’s conference he issued a certificate to me, which is required in such cases. My mother came towards the evening and gave me some money so that I could have some food picked up. However, I only sent for a portion of roast at midday today, which I had to consume without knife and fork. Otherwise, I did not eat anything since midday yesterday.”

Johann extols the virtues of his estate: “In the country, I drink an ordinary wine and feel very strengthened from the good air. You and I are not hungry. At home I eat very little in the evening, otherwise I cannot sleep. On my estate, I am also a bailiff. However, I only lock up for 5 or 6 hours.”

Karl continues, “One could not look out, but in the evening there was no light, therefore the situation was very unpleasant. I could not close my eyes because of the vermin.” Ludwig asks whether the cell held bad people. “The most wretched rabble,” Karl replies.

Beethoven makes an errand note:

• new razors 2
• professor Spick [Dr. Spiker, who is to take the dedication copy of the Ninth Symphony to Prussia once it is bound.]
• razor
• receipt lobkovitz [the next pension installment is due from the Lobkowitz heirs on September 29, 1826 covering the period July through September]
• Pouley [Paul Pulay]
• soap powder lighter
• for the lamp
• inflammable matter for candles.
• about the dedication
• mirror
• Dr. Spiker the king’s court librarian
• tooth powder

Uncle Ludwig remembers that he needs to get the metronome markings for the Ninth Symphony put into the dedication copy of the Ninth Symphony, plus run all these other errands before they leave. Karl tells his uncle he needs to keep Johann there tomorrow, presumably to help out. As long as Karl’s wounds are visible, he cannot be presented to the general, so they will need to wait for his hair to grow out. He thinks this will take about 14 days.

Conversation Book 122, 2r-11v.