BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Wednesday, September 24, 1823
Nephew Karl plans on taking the evening coach to Vienna this evening, and then he can spend the day running errands for his uncle.
Beethoven reads some newspapers from yesterday, perhaps in a coffee or wine house. He notes down a new style of cooking stoves, and housing, room and board included, for students in the Riemerstrasse.
Karl orders rabbit for lunch, since it appears to be ready. It’s only 10 kr. There is confusion about what day it is, and Karl clarifies that it’s not the 26th until Friday. [Uncle Ludwig appeared to believe today was 26th.] As such, Karl won’t be able to collect his pension amounts. He will pay the final amounts due on Beethoven’s apartment in the Windmühle.
Uncle Ludwig makes some comment about Karl going to Vienna for pleasure, to which Karl bristles, “Am I going in on my behalf?”
Perhaps the rabbit doesn’t agree with Karl, since both Ludwig and Karl have diarrhea after dinner.
The pair have an argument about something unspecified that Karl did while drunk, and Karl attempts to reconcile. Tellingly, he calls Uncle Ludwig “Vater” [Father] for the first time, which was sure to appeal to the composer’s wishes for Karl to be his son. “My dearest Father! You can be convinced that the pain that is caused you hurts me more than it does you yourself. Anxiety has made me quite numb, and only now do I see what I have done. But if I have to think that you believe that I would have had any thought of doing such a thing, I would be inconsolable. It was done while intoxicated. — If you can forgive me, I will promise you that I won’t drink so much as a drop of wine again; in order never again to fall into such a trap. It hurts me very much, however, that you can conceive of such a thought. What a person would I have to be if I had even the remotest thought of hurting you. Just forgive me this time! I will certainly drink no more wine–because that’s how it happened that I didn’t bring myself to get it, and did not know where I was.–Once again, I ask you: forgive me!” (tr. Theodore Albrecht. This apology is catalogued as Brandenburg Letter 1744.)
The discussion turns to water; Karl doesn’t think his uncle should drink soda water as it is already too cold. Two glasses of Baden water daily, one hour after breakfast would be better for him. He can drink it at the source-spring in the park.
Karl notes that a boy [possibly Dr. Staudenheim’s stepson, Ferdinand Pousain, b.1809] can play his uncle’s Sonata Pathetique op.13 quite well. Karl also asked whether he could pick anything up for them while in the City, but they didn’t have anything.
Karl wonders when the young woman will put the chickens on to roast. He considers given the lateness of the hour perhaps she should just put one on to roast, though she has already skewered two. Ludwig asks why she did that, and Karl reminds him that he said he wanted two for the evening meal.
There is some gossip about music publishers in Vienna; Beethoven’s friend Tobias Haslinger is absolutely not musical at all. On the other hand, Anton Diabelli writes all of his own compositions.
Karl outlines the expenses that have recently been paid, including the reimbursement of Maria Pamer, the kitchen helper who came to Baden to try to enter into Beethoven’s service again. His arithmetic is nonsensical, however, as he adds income and expenses together into a single sum. Ludwig needs to pay his income tax, and Karl will get a receipt for it. But his first stop will be at Prince Lobowitz’s cashier to get his uncle’s stipend, which was likely due on the 29th (St. Michael’s Day).
Karl has a lot of errands in the City, and he needs to organize his plan. His stops include Rospini’s optician’s shop, and Steiner’s music shop, and he believes that Lobkowitz’s cashier is far away from them.
Karl catches the late coach this evening into Vienna in order to run errands for his uncle tomorrow. Karl will return on Friday, the 26th.
Conversation Book 43, 26a-v-32v