BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Tuesday, March 9, 1824

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Beethoven, anticipating quite a few copyists quickly, and needing to complete the autograph rating of the Ninth Symphony, makes a word to purchase extra ink.

Someday round in the present day, or probably just a few days earlier, Beethoven receives a letter from both the Schott publishing home or Gottfried Weber, the editor of the brand new Schott journal of the humanities, Cäcilia. They’re on the lookout for a Viennese correspondent, and despatched Beethoven a pattern copy of their journal, apparently suggesting that he may be . [The letter does not survive, and is known only from Beethoven’s response, which he will write tomorrow, March 10.]

Within the afternoon, violinist Ignaz Schuppanzigh comes with a copyist named Paul Maschek, who shall be supervising the work. He confirms with Beethoven that the solo elements for the Missa Solemnis will embody the bass line beneath, for rehearsal functions. Schuppanzigh asks whether or not an organ shall be required for the Mass, and Beethoven tells him that sure, there may be an organ continuo. A further two copyists are anticipated to return in the present day. The copyist brags that after he copied 80 sheets in a single night time.

[The copyists set to work first on writing out the choral parts of the three movements of the Missa Solemnis to be performed at the concert, the Kyrie, Credo and Agnus Dei, which will also still need to be lithographed. After that will come the solo vocal parts with a bass line so the vocalists can start rehearsing, and lastly the orchestral parts, beginning with the strings. Each of the copyists takes one of the three movements of the Mass, and Maschek, as the fastest, probably takes on the lengthy Credo. Once that work is under way, Maschek will start on a fair copy of the Ninth Symphony from Beethoven’s autograph score, from which parts can be extracted. Beethoven does not as of yet let him take the symphony score, and Maschek may well not even get to see it until next week, and thus probably has little idea what he is in for. The Consecration of the House Overture, op.124, already exists in a set of parts at the Theater at the Josephstadt. Since Schindler is concertmaster there, it seems the plan is to borrow that set of parts for use at the Akademie concert, rather than make a new set. As it turns out, there are problems with that plan, since no one can find it.]

Beethoven tells Schuppanzigh that he would favor Henriette Sontag to sing the soprano half over Therese Grünbaum. Schuppanzigh appreciates that Beethoven is lastly being decisive, and agrees that Sontag is mostly extra beloved by audiences than Grünbaum.

After Schuppanzigh leaves, Karl quotes poet Johann Heinrich Voss (1751-1825), “Spring is already starting to sprout.” The housekeeper is afraid the schnitzel has spoiled as a result of she needed to wait and it was already prepared at 9 o’clock. [Barbara Holzmann, who was acting in a temporary capacity as housekeeper, has departed sometime between March 5 and today; this is a new housekeeper.]

Karl notes there are two new operas opening subsequent week: Das Schloss Lowinsky with music by Harmann Stunz, coming to the Theater an der Wien [opening March 18th]; and and Der Schnee on the Kärntnertor. Karl notes the music to Schnee [Snow] is by a Frenchman. [François Auber, adapted by Ignaz Castelli, which opens March 19th.] Beneath this, Karl makes calligraphic doodles of Schneemann (snowman) and Schneeball (snowball.)

Dialog E book 57, 41v (courtesy Berlin Staatsbibliothek)

The housekeeper presents quite a few decisions for mid-day dinner: Veal, vegetable soup, inexperienced cabbage, rice, or veal with salad.

This concludes Dialog E book 57. E book 58 has already been mentioned in reference to the planning assembly for the Akademie, so we resume with Dialog E book 59, later this similar afternoon. E book 59 consists of 15 leaves, and covers roughly the following week.

Schuppanzigh returns to Beethoven’s house and asks whether or not the date of the live performance has been set. Ludwig tells him no, it has not. Schuppanzigh wonders what Brother Johann thinks. Schuppanzigh suggests one of the best day can be April eighth. [April 8 was the Thursday before Palm Sunday, which would avoid conflicts with the Lenten charitable benefit concerts being held on April 11 and 12.] Schuppanzigh asks when Ludwig will see his brother subsequent.

The subject of Joseph Blahetka providing to print the tickets for the live performance comes up. Schuppanzigh thinks it will be higher if Beethoven had been to have Kärntnertor Theater supervisor Louis Antoine Duport deal with the theater tickets for the live performance, as a result of ticketing causes “hellacious confusion.” Having knowledgeable deal with it can keep away from these issues. That manner nobody could make a large number of it. Beethoven seems to ask who would mechanically get complimentary tickets; Schuppanzigh responds, “Aside from the Imperial Courtroom, nobody.”

Schuppanzigh has to go earn his bread once more, however he asks Ludwig to ship his brother over to see him.

Karl is unimpressed with the brand new servants, and means that they talk about them confidentially, since servants do a substantial amount of hurt with their gossip. Up so far, they’ve been capable of inform within the first three days whether or not a housekeeper was appropriate, trustworthy, and so on. Within the case of the present one, it received’t take lengthy for them to be fully sure, however till then, he thinks it greatest that they are saying little or no.

Unpaid assistant Anton Schindler involves Beethoven’s house later within the afternoon. He bears phrase from alto Caroline Unger that she now has so many rehearsals within the mornings and afternoons she can’t come to go to Beethoven. However “to take part within the live performance can be the best honor that she may ever hope for.” She confirms that her vary is from an F to an A or B pure. [Schindler had suggested yesterday that her range was only from G to F.] She means that Joseph Preisinger can be higher for the bass half than Anton Forti.

Schindler as typical is stuffed with theater gossip. Cherubini’s opera Der Wasserträger “has been shamefully mistreated, and folks basically are dissatisfied.” The conductor, Joseph Drechsler, doesn’t perceive both the spirit of the work, or the skills of the orchestra personnel. He took all of the tempi completely incorrect, which resulted within the finale of Act I going to the satan. “I can’t forgive it.” [Beethoven had to be disappointed by this, considering the high esteem that he held for Cherubini and especially this opera. Schindler’s displeasure is echoed by contemporary reviews.]

Unger can be joyful to ask Sontag and Preisinger to take part within the live performance in Beethoven’s title, and they might likely agree. Who would Beethoven like as a tenor, Herr Anton Haitzinger, or another person? Beethoven suggests Franz Jäger (1796-1852), and Schindler agrees he’s higher for such a big work. Schindler socializes with Jäger, so if Beethoven will allow it, he’ll let Jäger know Beethoven would really like him to participate.

Beethoven asks Schindler to ask Sontag and Unger to dinner on Sunday. Schindler dutifully agrees.

Schindler asks whether or not Beethoven shall be writing one thing particular for the two women on this event. Beethoven clearly says no [the planned concert is already quite lengthy] as Schindler proceeds to ask whether or not it is going to be a night live performance, since he thinks that will be higher.

If the live performance shall be on the Kärntnertor Theater, then it’s only a matter of reaching an settlement with the supervisor, Duport. If he provides a ballet, then the live performance received’t damage him. Beethoven expresses his issues in regards to the Kärntnertor Theater orchestra, and the way most of the good performers have departed. Schindler thinks it’s extra necessary how the departing musicians are changed. However Beethoven ought to simply clarify what he desires and must Duport, and he’ll maintain it. [This conversation supports the idea that Beethoven wrote the Ninth Symphony with the particular talents of the members of the Kärntnertor Theater in mind.]

Beethoven could point out he doesn’t need to be seen on stage and have a repeat of the disastrous Fidelio rehearsal within the fall of 1822, and wish to be hidden behind a folding display screen. Schindler says he simply wants to seem on stage; it’s time and it’s essential. What’s the level of a folding display screen? Beethoven appears to have second ideas about whether or not the symphony is absolutely prepared for this live performance, as he’s seemingly nonetheless transforming the Finale. Beethoven’s mates and admirers can’t be detached as to what’s prepared, and what, due to his unpardonable reticence, can’t be heard. That might be simply as disagreeable as having Beethoven’s works being premiered in international international locations. “Sufficient.”

It appears that evidently Beethoven reacts poorly to Schindler’s scolding, as a result of Schindler abruptly leaves. Karl turns to home issues. “A kitchen candle burns 2 to 2 1/2 hours.” Uncle Ludwig asks how lengthy they want the candles, and Karl says they should be lit till 11:30 p.m. [Ludwig typically would be in bed well before that time, since he gets up around 5 a.m.] Why do they want candles so late, he asks. Karl says it’s due to the washing; the laundry must be finished within the evenings. Karl then does some monetary computations for his uncle, demonstrating two other ways of coming to the sum 1 florin and 35 kreutzers W.W.

Dialog E book 57, 40v-41v; Dialog E book 59, 1r-4v.

In the meantime, Brother Johann speaks to each Schuppanzigh and Duport in the present day. The substance of those discussions shall be relayed to Ludwig in tomorrow’s installment.



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