BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Wednesday, October 5, 1825

Uncle Ludwig is in Baden, and writes to Nephew Karl in Vienna today. “Dearest son! I have just received your letter, already full of anxiety and I had already decided to hurry to Vienna today. Thank God, it will not be necessary. Just obey me and love, as the happiness of the soul, paired with human happiness, will be our part, and you will achieve an intense spirituality over the external, but it is better that the former takes precedence over the latter.”

“It is very cold—so I will see you on Saturday. Write whether you are coming in the morning or in the evening, and I will hurry to meet you.”

“A thousand times I embrace you and kiss you, not my lost but my newborn son. I wrote to Schlemmer, don’t take it amiss. I’m still too full of fear. Here it is—my deepest love and my worries for you, who have been found again, will always show you your loving father.”

As a postscript, Beethoven adds in French, “I ask that you send me an inflammable bottle with matches from Rospini, or bring it with you, because I cannot use the one from the Kärtnertor.”

Brandenburg Letter 2067; Anderson Letter 1439. The original is held by the Biblioteka Jagiellonska in Krakow (Mus. ep. autogr. Beethoven 14). Karl Joseph Rospini (1768-1860), referenced in the postscript, was a wood turner and optician. Beethoven had mentioned Rospini in a September 13, 1825 errand list, in connection with a knife sheath.

Beethoven writes a short undated note, possibly today, to his friend Tobias Haslinger about now. “Pater noster Gäßel! [One of Beethoven’s many jokes about the street where the Steiner art and music shop was located in Vienna, as well as the people associated with it, especially Haslinger.] Be so kind as to give this letter to Karl when he comes for it. If the Prague money arrives, give that to him as well. Beethoven”

Brandenburg Letter 2063; Anderson Letter 1434. As Sieghard Brandenburg reasons, this note appears to have been written while Beethoven was in the countryside, not sharing a residence with his nephew, who is old enough to be trusted with sums of money, which means it is likely written between May and October 1825. The reference to the “Prague money” narrows it down further. This would refer to the semiannual annuity payments from Prince Kinsky’s estate, which were due for the period April to September at the end of September. The money likely would not be expected in Vienna until around the end of September or the beginning of October. The autograph was at the time of Brandenburg’s edition in a private collection in Japan. It is unclear what the letter to Karl was, though it may well be the letter above, Brandenburg Letter 2067. Given the association with the Prague money, it may well have contained the money for Karl to pay his tutor, which Karl had indicated was due on October 8th.

The fifth Derby Triennial Festival, for the benefit of the local County Hospital, is held in England from the 4th through the 7th of October, 1825. The concert performed this morning, the second day, includes a wide variety of vocal works and excerpts from oratorios. The third part of this lengthy production concluded with “the two fine and contrasted choruses of ‘Glory to God,’ by Beethoven, and ‘See the proud chief,’ from Handel’s Deborah.” The Harmonicon Nr.XXXVI, December 1825 at 226. [“Glory to God” was the English language version of the Gloria from the Mass in C, op.86, which had been given English lyrics as part of William Gardiner’s pastiche oratorio Judah, other selections from which were performed on this day.]

Today’s Wiener Zeitung (Nr.227) at 959 includes an advertisement from Beethoven’s old friend Nikolaus Simrock in Bonn, promoting the new publication of Beethoven’s 1st Symphony in C major, op.21, arranged by J.N. Hummel for the piano with accompaniment of flute, violin and violoncello. The same is also available for piano solo. Copies can be had at S.A. Steiner & Co. in Vienna.