BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Wednesday, March 8, 1826 (approximately)

Unpaid assistant Karl Holz comes to see Beethoven again today. He visited the Steiner music shop to have it out with them about the sloppy title pages on the Beethoven works they are finally getting around to publishing after holding them more than ten years [among them, the March and Chorus op.114 and Tremate, empi Tremate, op.116]. Old Sigmund Steiner asks whether Beethoven is afraid at home; Holz says he did not answer, but if Steiner is not the one who is afraid, then why is he correcting the title pages?

Domenico Artaria (1775-1842), Matthias Artaria’s brother, has his shop (begun by his father, also named Domenico) on the Kohlmarkt. He recently published a new edition of Beethoven’s three piano trios, op.1. Holz played through them a few days ago and saw there are 5 or 6 errors on every page. Domenico Artaria is holding a quartet concert on Saturday evening, March 11, and Holz has been invited, though he suspects it is for purposes of spying on him. But he knows how to handle himself. Mylord [Schuppanzigh] will also be coming. Beethoven has some things to discuss with Schuppanzigh, and Holz suggests he should write to the violinist.

Beethoven and Holz go to a restaurant, where they meet Nephew Karl for mid-day dinner. Karl mentions, possibly in response to a question from Ludwig as to how much he is drinking, “Usually I drink beer 2-3 times a week, in order to read the newspapers here on this street.”

Holz continues his discussion about the Steiner firm. Holz saw the new version of the title page of the March and Chorus, op.114. Beethoven is impatient that he has not received anything yet. Holz tells him they will send him everything at the same time as the March has been corrected. It’s better, Holz opines, if it’s settled amicably. Old Steiner is himself going to the Leipzig Fair. Beethoven is still anxious about receiving the copies, and Holz assures him again, Tobias Haslinger will send everything for Beethoven to review; it will not be published until after Beethoven has seen it, and he just needs to be patient.

Haslinger absolutely wants something new, such as a piano quartet. He will put 100 ducats on deposit if Beethoven will promise him one. Beethoven has a number of conditions, and Holz is sure that Haslinger will comply with all of them if he can just be promised a quartet. Beethoven would agree to that then. Holz jokes, “Then a message will be sent to him from the heights of the Black Spaniards.” [A reference to the Schwarzspanierhaus apartment building where Beethoven is living.]

If Beethoven still needs candles, Holz has found a place where he can get them for 1 florin 12 kreutzers C.M. Beethoven asks how many Holz can buy for him; Holz says as many as he can take, 10 pounds of them, perhaps.

The Kinsky family’s notary, Johann Walcha, knows all about the change that Beethoven wants to make on the timing of his annuity payments, so they are on the same schedule as Archduke Rudolph’s payments. If it is at all possible, he will set everything up as Beethoven wants. “I have great hopes for the matter.” Walcha has a lot of connections in Prague so he will certainly be able to arrange something. Holz has made an appointment to meet him here on Friday, March 10. Beethoven will need to provide the usual certificate from a priest verifying that he is still alive in order to collect the April 1 installment. Holz asks whether Beethoven wants the money withdrawn now. Beethoven says no, he can wait until April 1.

Conversation Book 106, 8r-11r