BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Wednesday, July 12, 1826 (approximately)

Beethoven begins using Conversation Book 115 today, even though he has not yet completely filled Book 114. Conversation Book 115 is a book of 36 leaves, all of which contain writing. Beethoven writes “July, 1826” in ink on the first page of the book. Leaf 19 appears to be out of place and should have been bound at the beginning of the book.

This page that is out of place is probably used today. Beethoven makes a note to himself regarding a letter to Schott’s:

“+ sometimes eat and spend the night at an inn in Dornbach in Schönbrunn, or rent a room in this area.
Karl bring the pension sheet
Schott both Mass and Symphony [Missa Solemnis and Ninth Symphony] need to have metronome markings. I would like to send the Symphony [Beethoven first writes “Mass” and crosses it out] to the king soon —
I must use distant baths, therefore I need more money.”

Nephew Karl comes to see Uncle Ludwig, who has a draft of a letter to Schott’s, his publisher for op.127, the Missa Solemnis and the Ninth Symphony, to whom he has also offered the quartet op.131. Karl makes some suggestions; the tone of the draft is too accusatory, Karl thinks. “I do not think we need to write that it was forgotten, because that looks as if one is mistrustful. Rather, something like this: In reply to your esteemed letter of … I inform you that the quartet is finished and ready to be delivered; therefore, I only need for you to kindly send me a bill of exchange for the second half of the fee, which can be charged in two months. As soon as I receive this, I shall deliver the quartet to Herr Franc.” [Johann Jacob von Franck was the banker who replaced the now bankrupt Fries & Co. as go-between for Schott’s and Beethoven.]

Conversation Book 115, 19r-19v.

The final version of the letter, dated today, is in Karl’s hand, with signature by Ludwig. “In reference to your esteemed last letter, in which you informed me you would pay the first half of the honorarium to my latest quartet to Herr Frank [sic] here, due immediately, I report that the aforementioned work is completed and ready for delivery. It therefore requires nothing more than that you be so kind as to send me a bill of exchange for the second half, due in two months (forty ducats). As soon as I receive it, I will not delay in delivering the work to Herr Frank.

“I would not mind this circumstance, which I attribute merely to a slight oversight on your part, were it not that I intend to undertake a short journey for my health soon, for which I shall require a sum of money, which I will easily obtain upon such a bill of exchange.”

“I conclude by requesting that this bill of exchange be sent to me by post immediately, as my stay here will be of very short duration, and I remain with highest respect,”

“You most devoted Beethoven.”

Brandenburg Letter 2168; Anderson Letter 1491. The letter bears a “VIENNA” postmark. According to Schott’s registration mark, it is received on July 19. The original is held by the Mainz City Library, and it can be seen here:

https://www.dilibri.de/dilibri_kalliope/content/titleinfo/2115367

Today’s Berliner allgemeine musikalische Zeitung (Nr.28) at 225 continues the account of the concerts heard in Leipzig this spring. The prior two issues had contained a blistering review by the same correspondent, Christian Gottlob Rebs, of the Ninth Symphony as first performed there on March 6. The symphonies performed in the last subscription concerts of the year included Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony. “Can the easy, happy life in Nature be described in tones that are purer and with a lighter flow of feeling than in the first Allegro, to those who know how to feel and see it? And is there a more heartfelt expression of grateful feelings in the return of peace in Nature than in the so-called Shepherd’s Song?

Also performed was Beethoven’s A major symphony (Nr.7) and F major symphony (Nr.8), “of which the former, although it marks the transition to the later period, is nevertheless much higher than the latter and has much more significant basic themes, but the Adagio has no equal.”

Among the notable overtures performed at the Gewandhaus during this season was a “New Overture by Beethoven in C (No.115, Vienna by Steiner) [Name Day Overture], introduced by a Maestoso C and then with an Allegro vivace flying by lightly and fleetingly, but not without power. It was probably written earlier, and has only now been published.” [The correspondent’s surmise is correct; Beethoven completed it in 1815, and Steiner for reasons unknown did not get around to publishing it for ten years.]

Today’s Wiener Zeitung (Nr.157) contains an advertisement at 664 from Anton Diabelli & Co. a Solo for violin, accompanied by string quartet, composed by Beethoven’s friend Ignaz Schuppanzigh.

In Paris, the music section of the Institute of Paris, including Luigi Cherubini and Adrien Boieldieu, decides that two of the six Prix de Rome candidates should not advance past the preliminary stage, which was composition of a fugue yesterday. One of these two eliminated is Hector Berlioz, who decides to enroll in the Paris Conservatoire instead.