Jacob Mayer & Co., Booksellers, advertises in today’s Wiener Zeitung (Nr.278) at 1182 that the subscription period for the Complete Works of Friedrich Schiller, in 36 volumes, will close on December 7. Beethoven has made a note several times in the conversation books that he needs to subscribe to this …
In the early morning, Beethoven works on the quartet in E-flat, op.127. Later in the day, Beethoven continues his proofreading work on the scores and parts for the Ninth Symphony and Missa Solemnis for the B. Schott’s Sons publishing firm, which has been asking for these manuscripts for months. Much …
Beethoven writes a short undated letter to Archduke Rudolph sometime at the beginning of December, regarding his work proofreading the long-overdue engraver’s copies of the Ninth Symphony and Missa Solemnis for the Schott firm in Mainz, as well as the piano reductions of the works that had been done by …
Nephew Karl is at his Uncle’s apartment after classes, probably this afternoon or tomorrow afternoon. He tells his uncle that Professor Ludwig Rembold (c.1785-1844), a popular professor of Philosophy at the University, has been forcibly removed because of his freely expressed viewpoints, which did not always coincide with the approved …
Unfortunately, Beethoven, never a model tenant, gets in trouble with his new landlady at 969 Johannesgasse, Frau Kletschka, almost immediately. According to family traditions related by her great-grandson, a well-known Viennese doctor, Julié v. Lavandal, “Beethoven came forward as the tenant for the apartment on the fourth floor, which had …
The surviving conversation books resume at last with Book 78. The book contains 36 leaves. Page 10v is crossed out with Beethoven’s red crayon that he used for editing. The pages have been stapled together out of order; leaves 11 through 36 should come before leaves 1 through 10. This …
Fries & Co., the Vienna financial agent for B. Schott’s Sons based in Mainz, acknowledges the receipt of their letter of August 12 with an altered bill of exchange for 500 florins, in favor of “v.Bethoven.” The firm continues, “This composer has still not given us anything for you, and …
Beethoven writes an undated note sometime about now to his patron and pupil Archduke Rudolph regarding a score that has been copied by the continued operations of Josepha Schlemmer, widow of Beethoven’s favorite copyist, Wenzel Schlemmer, who died in 1823. “Your Imperial Highness! The Widow Schlemmer is bringing to you …
Today’s Wiener Theater-Zeitung (Nr.142) at 567, reports that Ignaz Schuppanzigh (Beethoven’s longtime friend and supporter) is now a member of the Imperial Court Orchestra. He has completed his first cycle of Sunday quartet concerts for the season, and has embarked on his second cycle. “The high level of perfection with …
According to the anonymous anecdote in the Neues Wiener Musik-Zeitung of July 15, 1858 at 110, as you may recall, Carl Friedrich Müller’s mother came to Beethoven’s apartment a few days ago to collect the manuscript of the Waltz in E-flat WoO 84, and was roughly shoved into a dark …
About today, Beethoven writes to music publisher B. Schott’s Sons in Mainz regarding the delay in getting the promised compositions to them. “I regret to inform you that it will take a little longer to send you the works. There was not that much left to review in the copies, …
You may recall from our October 24th entry that according to the anonymous anecdote in the Neues Wiener Musik-Zeitung of July 15, 1858 at 110, Carl Friedrich Müller was after four weeks supposed to pick up the completed Waltz for piano WoO 84, for inclusion in his set of 40 …
Today, Beethoven completes his little Waltz in E-flat, WoO 84. He had been asked to contribute to Carl Friedrich Müller’s Musikalisches Angebinde zum neuen Jahre [Musical Gift for the New Year], a collection of forty waltzes by forty different composers. Müller was a disabled Viennese actor who published several of …
Sometime about now, Beethoven writes an undated letter to his patron and pupil, Archduke Rudolph, begging off of today’s lesson. “Your Imperial Highness, I sincerely regret not being able to attend upon you today, both because of the adverse weather conditions affecting my catarrh condition, and because I am also …
Beethoven presumably goes to Archduke Rudolph today as promised, and gives a composition lesson. To Beethoven’s consternation, the Archduke, who has been without Beethoven’s lessons for many months, wants to take advantage of his presence and have lessons every single day. Moreover, he wants these lessons to be two hours …
Beethoven writes today to his patron Archduke Rudolph from Vienna. “Your Imperial Highness! When I came here from Baden, ill, I was prevented from going to Y.I.H. as I had wished, for I was forbidden to go out. Only yesterday was the first day when I was allowed to go …
Carl Schwenke returns to visit Beethoven, to collect the manuscript that was promised last week. Beethoven has written out for him a four-part canon, punning on his name, “Schwenke dich ohne Schwänke,” [Swing without Wavering] WoO 187. The whereabouts of the original manuscript given to Schwenke are unknown, but several …
Beethoven today writes from Vienna to the music publishing firm B. Schott’s Sons in Mainz. “My answer to your last letter was delayed for a long time, as I fell ill in the country, but am now fairly well again – I will therefore only inform you that the two …
A grand musical Akademie for the benefit of public charity institutions is held at the Kärntnertor Theater this evening, Leopold Day, to a crowded house, despite increased prices. Opening the very lengthy concert bill of fourteen pieces, which featured the entire Italian opera company, is Beethoven’s Overture to Fidelio, op.72. …
Today the Emperor holds a benefit for the Widows’ Institute of the local medical faculty in the Redoutensaal, with Archduke Franz, Archduchess Sophie and Archduke Anton all in attendance, as well as many members of the educated classes and high officials. Generous gifts are given by the Emperor and the …