BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Wednesday, May 11, 1825 (approximately)

Probably today or tomorrow, Beethoven talks to the administrator of Schloss Gutenbrunn where he is staying in Baden about using their carriage to go into Vienna in the coming days. They discuss what date he would like it; the administrator suggests that he drive in early on Saturday [May 14], and then Karl can come back with him. Or should the carriage come back empty? He suggests that using it with Karl would be the most economical way to approach it. “A seat costs 1 fl. per person and in all cases with a 24 kr. tip. He drives very well.” Beethoven will think about it. “Would you just tell me when, because he must always be gone by 6 o’clock in the morning, and then drive back out by 5 o’clock at the latest, so that he is here no later than 8 o’clock.”

“The carriage alone, if one leaves at whatever time he chooses, and then returns at whatever time he chooses, costs 6 fl. for the whole day, plus the toll and in all cases 1 fl. 30 kr. for the tip. It is almost the wisest thing to take the whole carriage.” Beethoven is still uncertain. “If possible, I would like to know this today yet.” Beethoven says, all right, he will take the carriage. “The whole carriage or only seats?” Beethoven thinks that a seat for himself into Vienna and then return with Karl is probably the best plan, but he’s still noncommittal. The administrator tells him, “Let’s wait until tomorrow mid-day with it.” Beethoven thinks that’s the best approach. [He may still not be up to the three hour journey after his lengthy illness.] The administrator believes so too.

“When, then, will Karl drive back?” Beethoven expects Sunday, but he may take the regular coach. The administrator tells him that if Karl wants to, he can leave earlier [Monday morning] and be back in Vienna by 8 o’clock in the morning.

Beethoven asks the administrator how long he has been working there. He has been there 14 years; he has lived in the area nearly 20 years, though. Beethoven asks where the deceased owner of the Schloss lived. The administrator tells him, here, in this apartment, for the most part. [A page may be torn out here since a partial sentence ends at the bottom of leaf 6v.]

Beethoven complains about the state of his health over the last month or so. He will need to go back to Vienna to consult with Dr. Braunhofer. The administrator suggests that it would be better to consult with Dr. Anton Rollett (1778-1842), who has been a well-regarded physician here in Baden since 1802. Beethoven declines. “But Rollett is extraordinarily skilled and generally loved.” Beethoven persists and the administrator changes the subject.

He asks what Brother Johann is doing in Vienna now. Living the life of a gentleman, appears to be Beethoven’s response. “But his wife is at his estate.” [She actually appears to be in Linz at this time.] The less she is around, the better off his life is, Beethoven suggests. “Idle and comfortable,” responds the administrator. Unlike him, Ludwig has to work every day to live poorly. “The contrast between the brothers!” So it goes with nearly every family.

Conversation Book 89, 4v-7r.

Beethoven goes for a walk in the Helenenthal today. While he is out in nature, according to the inscription, he writes down the canon Doktor sperrt das Thor dem Todt, WoO 189, for Dr. Braunhofer. This canon will be further discussed when Beethoven mails it to Braunhofer on May 13.

The canon WoO 189 is here performed by Accentus: