BEETHOVEN.
[Footnote 1: On which account this letter is dictated, and only signed by
Beethoven, who was at that time at his brother's house in the
country--Gneixendorf, near Krems, on the Danube.]
[Footnote 2: In consequence of his application to the King of Prussia to
subscribe to his Mass, of which he had sent the MS., Beethoven received the
following intimation:--
_To the Composer Ludwig van Beethoven._
Berlin, Nov. 25, 1826.
"It gave me great pleasure to receive your new work, knowing the
acknowledged value of your compositions. I thank you for having sent it to
me, and present you with a ring of brilliants, as a token of my sincere
appreciation.
"FRIEDRICH WILHELM."
Schindler adds that the stones in the ring were false, and casts a
suspicion of fraud on the Chancery Director of that day, W----.]
[Footnote 3: It was during those weeks that he wrote the second _Finale_ to
the B. flat major Quartet, Op. 130, little anticipating that this was to be
his "Swan song."]
460.
TO TOBIAS HASLINGER.[1]
[Music: Bass clef. C major.
Bester--]
No time is left to-day for further words and vocalization. I beg you will
at once deliver the enclosed letter. Pray forgive my causing you this
trouble; but, as you are the owner of an artistic post-office, it is
scarcely possible not to take advantage of this.
You will perceive that I am now at Gneixendorf. The name sounds like the
breaking of an axletree. The air is healthy. The _memento mori_ must be
applied to all else. Most marvellous and best of all Tobiases, we salute
you in the name of the arts and poets!
I remain yours,
BEETHOVEN.
[Footnote 1: The music alone and the words "I remain" at the close, are in
Beethoven's writing. The rest is probably written by his nephew, with whom
he had been obliged to take refuge in the house of his odious brother near
Krems, because the police had intimated to the young delinquent that he
must leave Vienna. See No. 435 on the subject of Beethoven's repugnance to
live in his brother's family circle, whose ignoble wife treated the
gray-haired and suffering _maestro_ as badly as possible.]
461.
TO TOBIAS HASLINGER.
GNEIXENDORF, October 13, 1826.
BEST OF ALL TOBIASES,--
[Here follow eight bars of music.]
We are writing to you from the castle of our _Signor Fratello_. I must
again intrude on you by the polite request to post the two enclosed letters
without delay.
I will repay you for the time I kept the "School for the Pianoforte" and
all the other expenses as soon as I return to Vienna. I am staying here
longer, owing to the weather being so fine, and also not having gone to the
country at all during the summer. A quartet[1] for Schlesinger is already
finished; only I don't know which is the safest way to send it to you, that
you may give it to Tendler and Manstein and receive the money in return.
Schlesinger will probably not make the remittance in _gold_, but if you can
contrive that I should get it, you would very much oblige me, as all my
publishers pay me in gold. Besides, my worthy _Tobiasserl_, we stand in
need of money, and it is by no means the same thing whether we have money
or not. If you get a sight of Holz make sure of him, and nail him at once.
The passion of love has so violently assailed him that he has almost taken
fire, and some one jestingly wrote that Holz was a son of the deceased
Papageno.
Most astounding, most admirable, and most _unique_ of all Tobiases,
farewell! If not inconvenient, pray write me a few lines here. Is Dr.
Spiecker still in Vienna? I am, with highest consideration and fidelity,
Yours,
BEETHOVEN.
[Footnote 1: Probably the one in F, Op. 135.]
462.
TO CARL HOLZ.
Dec. 1826.
YOUR OFFICIAL MAJESTY,--
I wrote to you on my arrival here a few days ago, but the letter was
mislaid; I then became so unwell that I thought it best to stay in bed. I
shall therefore be very glad if you will pay me a visit. You will find it
less inconvenient, because every one has left Döbling to go to town. I only
add, in conclusion,[1]
[Music: Bass clef, C major, 3/4 time.
Wir ir-ren al-le Samt, Nur je-der ir-ret an-derst.]
As ever, your friend,
BEETHOVEN.
[Footnote 1: Here Beethoven's own writing begins. The slight indisposition
that he mentions, in the course of a few days became a serious illness, the
result of which was dropsy, and from this the _maestro_ was doomed never to
recover. Indeed from that time he never again left his bed.]
463.
TO DR. BACH.[1]
Vienna, Wednesday, Jan. 3, 1827.
MY RESPECTED FRIEND,--
I hereby declare, at my decease, my beloved nephew, Carl van Beethoven,
sole heir of all my property, and of seven bank shares in particular, as
well as any ready money I may be possessed of. If the law prescribes any
modifications in this matter, pray endeavor to regulate these as much as
possible to his advantage.
I appoint you his curator, and beg that, together with Hofrath Breuning,
his guardian, you will supply the place of a father to him.
God bless you! A thousand thanks for all the love and friendship you have
shown towards me.
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN.
[Footnote 1: The signature alone is in Beethoven's writing.]
464.
TO WEGELER.
Vienna, February 17, 1827.
MY OLD AND WORTHY FRIEND,--
I received your second letter safely through Breuning. I am still too
feeble to answer it, but you may be assured that its contents were most
welcome and agreeable to me.[1] My convalescence, if indeed I may call it
such, makes very slow progress, and there is reason to suspect that a
fourth operation will be necessary, although the medical men have not as
yet decided on this. I arm myself with patience, and reflect that all evil
leads to some good. I am quite surprised to find from your last letter that
you had not received mine. From this one you will see that I wrote to you
on the 10th of December last. It is the same with the portrait, as you will
perceive from the date, when you get it. "Frau Steffen spake the word:"
Michael Steffen insisted on sending them by some private hand; so they have
been lying here until this very day, and really it was a hard matter to get
them back even now. You will receive the portrait by the post, through the
Messrs. Schott, who have also sent you the music.
How much is there that I would fain say to you to-day; but I am too
weak,[2] so I can only embrace you and your Lorchen in spirit. With true
friendship and attachment to you and yours,
Your old and faithful friend,
BEETHOVEN.
[Footnote 1: Wegeler had reminded him of Blumenauer, who, after being
operated on for dropsy, lived for many years in perfect health. He at the
same time suggested to him the plan of going with him in the ensuing summer
to one of the Bohemian baths, proposing to travel by a circuitous route to
the Upper Rhine, and from thence to Coblenz.]
[Footnote 2: Beethoven's last letter to Wegeler. The signature alone is
his.]
465.
TO SIR GEORGE SMART,--LONDON.
Feb. 22, 1827.
I remember that some years ago the Philharmonic Society proposed to give a
concert for my benefit. This prompts me to request you, dear sir, to say to
the Philharmonic Society that if they be now disposed to renew their offer
it would be most welcome to me. Unhappily, since the beginning of December
I have been confined to bed by dropsy,--a most wearing malady, the result
of which cannot yet be ascertained. As you are already well aware, I live
entirely by the produce of my brains, and for a long time to come all idea
of writing is out of the question. My salary is in itself so small, that I
can scarcely contrive to defray my half-year's rent out of it. I therefore
entreat you kindly to use all your influence for the furtherance of this
project,--your generous sentiments towards me convincing me that you will
not be offended by my application. I intend also to write to Herr Moscheles
on this subject, being persuaded that he will gladly unite with you in
promoting my object. I am so weak that I can no longer write, so I only
dictate this. I hope, dear sir, that you will soon cheer me by an answer,
to say whether I may look forward to the fulfilment of my request.
In the mean time, pray receive the assurance of the high esteem with which
I always remain, &c., &c.
466.
TO HERR MOSCHELES.
Vienna, Feb. 22, 1827.
DEAR MOSCHELES,--
I feel sure that you will not take amiss my troubling you as well as Sir G.
Smart (to whom I enclose a letter) with a request. The matter is briefly
this. Some years since, the London Philharmonic Society made me the
handsome offer to give a concert in my behalf. At that time I was not, God
be praised! so situated as to render it necessary for me to take advantage
of this generous proposal. Things are, however, very different with me now,
as for fully three months past I have been entirely prostrated by that
tedious malady, dropsy. Schindler encloses a letter with further details.
You have long known my circumstances, and are aware how, and by what, I
live: a length of time must elapse before I can attempt to write again, so
that, unhappily, I might be reduced to actual want. You have not only an
extensive acquaintance in London, but also the greatest influence with the
Philharmonic; may I beg you, therefore, to exercise it, so far as you can,
in prevailing on the Society to resume their former intention, and to carry
it soon into effect.
The letter I enclose to Sir Smart is to the same effect, as well as one I
already sent to Herr Stumpff.[1] I beg you will yourself give the enclosed
letter to Sir Smart, and unite with him and all my friends in London in
furthering my object. Your sincere friend,
BEETHOVEN.
[Footnote 1: Stumpff, a Thuringian maker of harps, came to Vienna in 1824,
recommended to our _maestro_ by Andreas Streicher in a letter of Sept. 24,
in these words:--"The bearer of this is Herr Stumpff, an excellent German,
who has lived for thirty-four years in London. The sole reason of his going
to Baden is to see you, my revered Beethoven, the man of whom Germany is so
proud. Pray receive him in a kind and friendly manner, as beseems the saint
to whose shrine the pious pilgrim has made so long a journey." In 1826 he
presented Beethoven with the English edition of Handel's works in 40 folio
volumes, which the _maestro_ constantly studied during his last illness.
Gerhard v. Breuning, when a youth of fourteen, either held up the separate
volumes for him, or propped them against the wall.]
467.
TO SCHINDLER.
The end of February, 1827.
When we meet we can discuss the mischance that has befallen you. I can send
you some person without the smallest inconvenience. Do accept my offer; it
is, at least, something. Have you had no letters from Moscheles or Cramer?
There will be a fresh occasion for writing on Wednesday, and once more
urging my project. If you are still indisposed at that time, one of my
people can take the letter, and get a receipt from the post-office.
_Vale et fave._ I need not assure you of my sympathy with your misfortune.
Pray allow me to supply board for you in the mean time. I offer this from
my heart. May Heaven preserve you! Your sincere friend,
BEETHOVEN.
468.
TO BARON VON PASQUALATI.[1]
March 6, 1827.
MY MUCH-ESTEEMED OLD FRIEND,--
My warmest thanks for the kind present you have sent me for the benefit of
my health; as soon as I have found what wine is most suitable for me I will
let you know, but not abuse your kindness. I like the _compote_ much, and
shall again apply to you for some. Even this costs me an effort. _Sapienti
pauca._
Your grateful friend,
BEETHOVEN.
[Footnote 1: Traced in feeble and trembling characters. Some other hand has
written on it, "March 6, 1827."]
469.
TO BARON VON PASQUALATI.
MY ESTEEMED FRIEND,--
I beg you will send me some more of the cherry _compote_, but without
lemons, and quite simple. I should also like a light pudding, almost
liquid, my worthy cook not being very experienced in invalid diet. I am
allowed to drink _champagne_, and I wish you would send me for to-day a
champagne glass with it. Now, as to wine, Malfatti wished me to drink
moselle, but declared that no genuine moselle could be got here; so he gave
me several bottles of _Krumbholzkirchner_,[1] deeming this best for my
health, as no really good moselle is to be had. Pray forgive my troubling
you, and ascribe it chiefly to my helpless condition.
I am, with much esteem, your friend,
BEETHOVEN.
[Footnote 1: Gumpoldskirchner--a celebrated and generous Austrian wine.]
470.
TO SIR GEORGE SMART,--LONDON.
March 6, 1827.
DEAR SIR,--
I make no doubt that you have already received through Herr Moscheles my
letter of February 22, but as I found your address by chance among my
papers, I do not hesitate to write direct to yourself, to urge my request
once more on you in the strongest terms.
I do not, alas! even up to the present hour, see any prospect of the
termination of my terrible malady; on the contrary, my sufferings, and
consequently my cares, have only increased. I underwent a fourth operation
on the 27th of February, and possibly fate may compel me to submit to this
a fifth time, and perhaps oftener. If this goes on, my illness will
certainly continue one half the summer, and in that case, what is to become
of me? How am I to subsist until I can succeed in arousing my decayed
powers, and once more earn my living by my pen? But I do not wish to plague
you by fresh complaints; so I only refer you to my letter of the 22d
February, and entreat you to use all your influence with the Philharmonic
Society to carry now into execution their former proposal of a concert for
my benefit.
471.
TO BARON VON PASQUALATI.
MY WORTHY FRIEND,--
I am still confined to my room; be so good, therefore, as to tell me, or
rather, I should say, write to me, the name of the person who values this
house, and where he is to be found. If you have any Muterhall [?] medicine
I beg you will think of your poor Austrian musician and citizen of the
guild.
BEETHOVEN.
472.[1]
TO BARON VON PASQUALATI.
March 14, 1827.
MY ESTEEMED FRIEND,--
Many thanks for the dish you sent me yesterday, which will suffice for
to-day also. I am allowed to have game; and the doctor said that fieldfares
were very wholesome for me. I only tell you this for information, as I do
not want them to-day. Forgive this stupid note, but I am exhausted from a
sleepless night. I embrace you, and am, with much esteem, your attached
friend.
[Footnote 1: In a tremulous hand,--"March 14, 1827."]
473.
TO HERR MOSCHELES.
Vienna, March 14, 1827.
MY DEAR MOSCHELES,--
I recently heard, through Herr Lewisey,[1] that in a letter to him of the
10th February, you had made inquiries as to the state of my health, about
which such various rumors have been circulated. Although I cannot possibly
doubt that you have by this time received my letter of February 22d, which
explains all you wish to know, still I cannot resist thanking you for your
sympathy with my sad condition, and again imploring you to attend to the
request contained in my first letter. I feel already certain that, in
conjunction with Sir Smart and other friends, you are sure to succeed in
obtaining a favorable result for me from the Philharmonic Society. I wrote
again to Sir Smart also on the subject.
I was operated on for the fourth time on the 27th of February, and now
symptoms evidently exist which show that I must expect a fifth operation.
What is to be done? What is to become of me if this lasts much longer? Mine
has indeed been a hard doom; but I resign myself to the decrees of fate,
and only constantly pray to God that His holy will may ordain that while
thus condemned to suffer death in life, I may be shielded from want. The
Almighty will give me strength to endure my lot, however severe and
terrible, with resignation to His will.
So once more, dear Moscheles, I commend my cause to you, and shall
anxiously await your answer, with highest esteem. Hummel is here, and has
several times come to see me.
Your friend,
BEETHOVEN.
[Footnote 1: Schindler mentions, on Beethoven's authority, that this
gentleman translated Beethoven's letters to Smart into English, which his
nephew had previously done.]
474.[1]
TO SCHINDLER.--
March 17, 1827.
WONDERFUL! WONDERFUL! WONDERFUL!--
Both the learned gentlemen are defeated, and I shall be saved solely by
Malfatti's skill! You must come to me for a few minutes without fail this
forenoon.
Yours,
BEETHOVEN.
[Footnote 1: Schindler dates this note March 17, 1827, and says that these
are the last lines Beethoven ever wrote. They certainly were the last that
he wrote to Schindler. On the back of the note, in another writing
(probably Schindler's), the receipt is given in pencil for the bath with
hay steeped in it, ordered by Malfatti, which the poor invalid thought had
saved his life. The "learned gentlemen" are Dr. Wawruch and the surgeon
Seibert, who had made the punctures.]
475.
TO MOSCHELES.
Vienna, March 18, 1827.
No words can express my feelings on reading your letter of the 1st of
March. The noble liberality of the Philharmonic Society, which almost
anticipated my request, has touched me to my inmost soul.[1] I beg you,
therefore, dear Moscheles, to be my organ in conveying to the Society my
heartfelt thanks for their generous sympathy and aid.
[Say[2] to these worthy men, that if God restores me to health, I shall
endeavor to prove the reality of my gratitude by my actions. I therefore
leave it to the Society to choose what I am to write for them--a symphony
(the 10th) lies fully sketched in my desk, and likewise a new overture and
some other things. With regard to the concert the Philharmonic had resolved
to give in my behalf, I would entreat them not to abandon their intention.
In short, I will strive to fulfil every wish of the Society, and never
shall I have begun any work with so much zeal as on this occasion. May
Heaven only soon grant me the restoration of my health, and then I will
show the noble-hearted English how highly I value their sympathy with my
sad fate.] I was compelled at once to draw for the whole sum of 1000
gulden, being on the eve of borrowing money.
Your generous conduct can never be forgotten by me, and I hope shortly to
convey my thanks to Sir Smart in particular, and to Herr Stumpff. I beg you
will deliver the metronomed 9th Symphony to the Society. I enclose the
proper markings.
Your friend, with high esteem,
BEETHOVEN.
[Footnote 1: A hundred pounds had been sent at once.]
[Footnote 2: In the original the words placed within brackets are dictated
by Beethoven himself, and were indeed the last he ever dictated--but they
are crossed out.]
476.
CODICIL.[1]
Vienna, March 23, 1827.
I appoint my nephew Carl my sole heir. The capital of my bequest, however,
to devolve on his natural or testamentary heirs.
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN.[2]
[Footnote 1: See No. 463. Schindler relates:--"This testament contained no
restrictions or precautionary measures with regard to his heir-at-law, who,
after the legal forms connected with the inheritance were terminated, was
entitled to take immediate possession of the whole. The guardian and
curator, however, knowing the unexampled levity of the heir, had a valid
pretext for raising objections to these testamentary depositions. They
therefore suggested to the _maestro_, to alter his intentions in so far as
to place his property in trust; his nephew to draw the revenue, and at his
death the capital to pass to his direct heirs. Beethoven, however,
considered such restraints as too severe on the nephew whom he still so
dearly loved in his heart [since December of the previous year the young
man had been a cadet in a royal regiment at Iglau, in Moravia], so he
remonstrated against this advice; indeed he reproached Hofrath Breuning as
the person who had suggested such harsh measures. A note, still extant,
written by Breuning to Beethoven, shows the state of matters, in which he
still maintains, though in moderate language, the absolute necessity of the
above precautions. This mode of argument seemed to make an impression on
the _maestro_, who at last promised to yield his own wishes. By his desire,
Breuning laid the codicil of three lines before him, and Beethoven at once
proceeded to copy it, which was no easy matter for him. When it was
finished he exclaimed, 'There! now I write no more!' He was not a little
surprised to see on the paper the words 'heirs of his body' changed into
'natural heirs.' Breuning represented to him the disputes to which this
destination might give rise. Beethoven replied that the one term was as
good as the other, and that it should remain just as it was. _This was his
last contradiction._"]
[Footnote 2: Next day, at noon, he lost consciousness, and a frightful
death-struggle began, which continued till the evening of March 26, 1827,
when, during a violent spring storm of thunder and lightning, the sublime
_maestro_ paid his last tribute to that humanity for which he had made so
many sacrifices in this world, to enter into life everlasting, which, from
his life and actions, few could look forward to more hopefully.]
INDEX.
Academies, concerts given by Beethoven, so called.
The grand concerts of the year 1824.
Address and appeal to London artists, from Beethoven.
Adlersburg, Dr. von, Court advocate and barrister at Vienna, "a most
inconsiderate character," for some time Beethoven's lawyer.
Aesthetical observations on particular subjects.
Albrechtsberger, the popular theorist and composer, Kapellmeister at St.
Stephen's in Vienna, for some time, about the year 1795, Beethoven's
instructor in musical composition.
Amenda of Courland, afterwards rector in Talsen.
"A.M.Z." _See_ Leipzig "Allgemeine Musikalische Zeitung."
André, composer and music publisher in Offenbach on the Maine.
Archduke Carl.
Arnim, Frau von. _See_ Brentano, Bettina.
Artaria, print and music publisher in Vienna.
Attorney, power of.
Augarten, the well-known park near Vienna, in which morning concerts were
frequently given.
Augsburg.
Austria, Beethoven's sentiments respecting that country, his second
father-land.
Bach, Dr. Johann Baptist, Court advocate and barrister, from the year 1816
Beethoven's lawyer at Vienna.
Bach, Johann Sebastian.
Baden, near Vienna, a favorite watering-place, to which Beethoven often
resorted.
Bauer, chief secretary to the Austrian Embassy in London.
Baumeister, private secretary to the Archduke Rudolph.
Beethoven's brother Carl, born at Bonn in 1774, instructed in music by
Beethoven; afterwards came to Vienna, where he occupied the appointment of
cashier in the Government Revenue (died Nov. 15, 1815).
His brother Johann, born in 1776, an apothecary, first in Linz,
afterwards in Vienna, and at a later period proprietor of Gneixendorf, an
estate near Krems, on the Danube; named by Beethoven, "Braineater,"
"Pseudo-brother," "Asinanios," &c.
His brother Ludwig Maria.
His father, Johann, son of Ludwig van Beethoven, Kapellmeister to the
Elector of Cologne, Court tenor singer at the Electoral Chapel at Bonn, a
man possessing no considerable mental endowments, but an excellent
musician, and Beethoven's first instructor in music. Unhappily, he was so
addicted to habits of intemperance, that he greatly impoverished his
family, the care of which, owing to the father's recklessness, devolved
entirely upon his son Ludwig (died Dec. 1792).
His grandfather, Ludwig van Beethoven, Kapellmeister to the Elector of
Cologne (died 1774).
His mother, Maria Magdalena Kewerich, the wife, first of Leym of
Ehrenbreitstein, cook to the Elector of Treves, and afterwards of Johann
van Beethoven, in Bonn, Court tenor singer to the Elector of Cologne. She
gave birth to her illustrious son Ludwig on Dec. 17, 1770, and died July
17, 1787.
His nephew, Carl, son of his brother Carl, Beethoven's ward from the year
1815.
Entered the Blöchlinger Institute, at Vienna, June 22, 1819.
Letters to him from Beethoven.
His sister-in-law, Johanna, wife of his brother Carl and mother of his
nephew, named by Beethoven "The Queen of the Night."
Beethoven's _Works. In General._
I. _For pianoforte only._
Sonatas of the year 1783.
Op. 22.
Op. 31.
Op. 90.
Op. 106.
Op. 109.
Op. 111.
_Variations_.
_Bagatelles_.
"Allegri di Bravoura."