BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Wednesday, November 8, 1820

Franz Brentano receives Beethoven’s letter of a few days ago stating that he will accept Nikolaus Simrock’s payment terms for the Missa Solemnis. Brentano immediately writes to Simrock in Bonn telling him the good news.

That’s not such good news for Simrock, who now no longer has on hand the 100 gold Friedrichs d’or, having given up in late October when he heard nothing back from Beethoven in response to Simrock’s letter of September 23, 1820 setting forth his terms.

Brentano’s letter to Simrock is lost, but its contents are known from later correspondence outlining the chain of events.