Beethoven’s Mainz publisher, B. Schott’s Sons, writes to Beethoven today. They request a more precise description of the correction to the Ninth Symphony, op.125, which was set out in Beethoven’s last letter to them on September 29. In that letter, he noted that the sign for the dal segno was …
Today’s Berliner allgemeine musikalische Zeitung (Nr.40) contains a front page (317) article on the relationship of form to content in modern music; Beethoven is used as an example: “The point in time from which later researchers will date the more recent transformation of musical art cannot be determined in advance. …
Conversation Book 123 begins to be used sometime in the first half of October. This is a thin volume with only 15 leaves, but all of them contain writing. Schindler has correctly identified it as belonging to “+ Fall 1826 in Gneixendorf on Johann van Beethoven’s estate.” A note by …
Ludwig and Nephew Karl are in Gneixendorf, staying at Brother Johann’s estate, Schloss Wasserhof. Early in the morning, while Ludwig is working on the quartet op.135, Karl notes that Johann has become a satirist; he is correcting his servants using wordplay. Wanting to write some letters, Ludwig asks Karl what …
Ludwig and Karl are at Brother Johann’s estate in Gneixendorf. There is some confusion about breakfast and when it is available. [Beethoven appears to have forgotten to wind his watch, which may be related.] Karl reminds Ludwig to wind up his watch. Ludwig asks where the servant is. Karl tells …
Beethoven and Nephew Karl are staying with Brother Johann at his estate in Gneixendorf, Schloss Wasserhof. The plan is to stay between 8 and 14 days, to give time for Karl’s hair to grow back so he can enlist in the army. Ludwig asks where Johann is. Karl tells him …
Ludwig, Brother Johann, and Nephew Karl are staying at an inn in Stockerau, about 15 miles from Vienna, partway between the City and Johann’s estate near Gneixendorf. They rise early and settle the bill with the female attendant. Yesterday, it was too late. They take Johann’s carriage for a couple …
Things are as usual in a tizzy at the Beethoven household as Beethoven prepares to move to his brother’s estate in Gneixendorf, planning to be there for about 8 days. Several letters need to be written first. Brother Johann had wanted to leave by 5 in the morning, but the …
Beethoven is making preparations to go with Nephew Karl to stay with Brother Johann at his estate in Gneixendorf for a few days, before Karl enlists in the army. Ludwig and Karl work on the metronome markings for the Ninth Symphony this morning. These are seen in the attached details …
Nephew Karl is still being held by the police after his release from the hospital yesterday morning. Beethoven writes a short undated note to unpaid assistant Karl Holz, probably this morning: “Please leave the name of the police officer who we spoke to. It’s a fine story. Yesterday, Karl was …
Nephew Karl’s mother Johanna sends a messenger, possibly a servant, to let Ludwig know that Karl has unexpectedly been removed from the hospital and taken to jail. The messenger writes, “He is on the Salzgries in the police station, so she told me.” Beethoven goes with the messenger to the …
Stephan von Breuning stops by Beethoven’s apartment this morning and invites him to dinner at 1 o’clock, since it is son Gerhard’s name day. Beethoven agrees to attend. After that, they can go for a long walk. Uncle Ludwig goes to visit Nephew Karl at the hospital. Ludwig is still …
Tobias Haslinger and Prussian Royal Librarian Samuel Heinrich Spiker (1786-1858) visit Beethoven this morning regarding the dedication copy of the Ninth Symphony, which Haslinger is having bound. There are no conversation book entries for this conversation. However, Spiker published his recollections of the visit, in the obituary of Beethoven contained …
This morning, or possibly last evening, Stephan von Breuning visits Beethoven. He reports that Lieutenant Field Marshal Joseph Freiherr von Stutterheim (1764-1831) will take Karl into his Archduke Ludwig regiment. “If Karl can go out, he must come with me to see him Tuesday morning [September 26] at 8 o’clock, …
Beethoven writes a short note to his friend Stephan von Breuning about today, forwarding the Muzio Clementi piano method sent by Haslinger for Breuning’s son Gerhard: “Dear worthy! Finally, I can get the wind out of my windbaggery, here follows the promised Clement. Piano School for gerard. [sic.] If he …
Beethoven is in a good humor and writes an undated note, probably this morning, to publisher Tobias Haslinger. “Dearest Herr North American Music Dealer and Small Trader!” [A small pun between ‘Notenhändler” and “Klein Handelnder,” one who is acting in a petty manner.] “I am only here for half a …
Beethoven writes a quick letter to unpaid assistant Karl Holz, but is interrupted by the arrival of copyist Wenzel Rampl. “Did you come home today from the realm of love, since I wrote to you and Breuning? If not, you could still go with the letter to Breun. after your …
A fragment survives of a letter, most likely to unpaid assistant Karl Holz, written roughly about now since it makes reference to the negotiations for a collected edition with Adolph Martin Schlesinger. “I find this best. In a matter of discretion, I will not entrust myself to a person who …
Beethoven goes to see his friend Stephan von Breuning briefly before going to visit Nephew Karl at the hospital. Breuning assures him that he will take care of everything related to Karl’s military career. However, he wishes to speak to Karl himself. Unpaid assistant Karl Holz [probably still in Baden …
Beethoven writes a letter to his publisher B. Schott’s Sons in Mainz; the letter bears the date August 16, 1826, but based on its contents it must date from September. “Very worthy ones! Yesterday I finally received copies of the [Ninth] Symphony, Quartet [op.127], et[c]., for which I thank you …