BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Wednesday, December 29, 1824
Ludwig writes a short undated note to Brother Johann, probably this morning or possibly one of the last few days. “Dear brother! Please send everything, including the manuscript of the Bagatelles [op.126], as otherwise I cannot correct them. As soon as I have everything, you can decide where I should give the bill of exchange, and it will be handed over to the person you appoint, and he can collect the money and hand over the works at the same time. Your faithful brother, Beethoven.” A postscript adds, “Hr. Karl van Beethoven is instructed to take the music with him.” This suggests Karl carried the letter directly to Johann and waited for the scores.
Brandenburg Letter 1916; Anderson Letter 1089. The letter as of the compilation of Brandenburg’s edition was in a private collection in Braunschweig.
Johann comes, possibly back with Karl, and makes a list in the conversation book of the works being sold to Schott:
1 Bagatelles
2 Overture
3 Piano arrangement, 2-hands [of the Overture]
4 Piano arrangement, 4-hands [of the Overture]
5,6,7 3 Songs
Total of 7 works.
The three Beethovens discuss who should get the dedication for the Ninth Symphony. Karl notes that while the King of France has more money, the Russians must distribute a great deal for the poor people. [In the end, the dedication goes to King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia.] Johann suggests sending Prince Galitzin the Ninth Symphony, so it could be used for benefit concerts for the poor.
Johann asks whether Ludwig intends to write to Schott today or tomorrow. He has already written a letter to Schott that can go along with Ludwig’s letter. Most likely Ludwig says that he will write it yet today.
Vincenz Hauschka was very satisfied with the revised libretto for the oratorio Der Sieg des Kreuzes, which was changed in accordance with Kanne’s advice. Johann thinks that the text will make a very great sensation, because of its similarity to the Greek, who set up the Cross everywhere.
Johann notes the Kärntnertor Theater is to close March 1. [It actually closes March 26.] In today’s Wiener Theater-Zeitung, it says that the Italians still delight the public, and that the house is always empty. [The Allgemeine Theater-Zeitung Nr.156 at p.623 does indicate that the Italian opera continues to delight the public, who still attend them eagerly, even if their voracious appetites seems to have been somewhat satisfied.]
Karl leaves to run errands, and Johann probably departs at the same time.
Karl returns after a while, probably around noon, with limited success. He tried to get the pastor to sign the affidavit that Karl is still alive, but he would not unless there is also a testimonial from the landlord saying that Karl lives there. So he has just sent it to the landlord. Then at 1 o’clock he can go see the pastor again, and then go collect on his father’s pension from the Imperial Treasury. Uncle Ludwig asks who made such difficulties, and Karl says it was the interim pastor.
Frau Lamatsch’s son will come tomorrow to ask Ludwig’s opinion of his compositions. His mother would probably be the best prospect for housekeeper in the areas where one could be the most assured. But Karl thinks her too fat. She said yesterday that even if they decide not to take her, she would still ask that her son occasionally be allowed to bring something of his work to Beethoven.
Karl thinks it would be good, even if only once in two weeks, to allow Julius Lamatsch to play something of his own for Uncle Ludwig; for the most part, he plays only Beethoven’s pieces. It could only be beneficial for his progress in music, if he were able to say Beethoven himself has given advice. Ludwig asks whom he studies under. Karl responds that he is going to the church of St. Anna to learn general bass [probably from Joseph Drechsler, now Kapellmeister. Drechsler had this month published his textbook of general bass exercises.]
Karl thinks that the maid can be trusted to get meat, herbs, etc. But she cannot be trusted for roasts or game meat. Ludwig wonders whether they really need two servants. Karl reminds him that they always need to have someone at home. “One cannot know whether something might happen, or whether someone would come.”
Conversation Book 79, 11v-14r.
Beethoven writes to the Schott publishing house in Mainz, probably today, to inform them that the works will now be handed over next week; all of the parts had to be gone through carefully because of the uncertain copying, the quality of which has declined greatly.
But the overture that they are purchasing from Brother Johann was performed here in Vienna in recent days to great praise. The quartet will be received at the same time as the other works. Beethoven offers them flattery, saying they are so open and unpretentious, a quality he has never before seen in publishers. “I like that. I shake your hands for that reason, and who knows whether soon in person?”
He asks that the fee for the quartet also be forwarded to the Fries firm, since he needs funds. Beethoven is also enclosing a letter from Johann.
Beethoven observes from their Cäcilia journal that Junker is still alive; “he was one of the first to notice me, ‘innocently and nothing more.’ Send him my greetings.” [Brandenburg suggests Beethoven has confused Franz Wilhelm Jung (1757-1853), a writer in Mainz who appears several times in the first issues of the Schott musical journal, with Karl Ludwig Junker (1740-1797), who met Beethoven in 1791 and published an enthusiastic report about him.]
Brandenburg Letter 1917; Anderson Letter 1357. The original of this letter is in the Mainz City Library (Hs III 71, Nr.3). The letter bears the postmark “WIEN.”
The enclosure that Beethoven references is probably the letter dated December 29, 1824, from Johann to Schott. “Since my dear brother has now given you the works that he had previously given me, for 130 Viennese ducats, I now inform you that I am happy with everything my brother does, even though I have had very good offers for the works from 2 sides [meaning Probst and Leidesdorf]. But out of respect for my brother and your house, I am giving you these works for the agreed price of 130 ducats, but on condition that you send me 3 copies of each.”
“These works have now been copied out and I am ready to hand them to the house of Fries & Co. as soon as I receive the bill of exchange from 3 months and it has been accepted by Fries.”
Brandenburg Letter 1918; Albrecht Letter 389. The original is also in the Mainz City Library (Hs III 71, Nr.7). Johann’s letter can be seen here:
https://www.dilibri.de/dilibri_kalliope/content/titleinfo/2115321
The New Year is only two days away, so the T. Weigl Art and Music Shop again advertises the Musical Gift for the New Year in today’s Wiener Zeitung (Nr.298) at 1273. This compendium includes as the first selection Beethoven’s Waltz with Trio in E-flat, WoO 84.
The C.F. Peters firm in Leipzig and the S.A. Steiner & Co. music dealers in Vienna, announce the new receipt of the Farewell from England Concerto for piano and orchestra by Beethoven’s former pupil, Ferdinand Ries, his Concerto #7 op.132, on the next page (1274) of today’s Wiener Zeitung. Ries had recently left England and was now living back in the Rhineland.