Beethoven's Letters 1790-1826, Volume 2 - Ludwig van Beethoven (reading strategies book TXT) 📗
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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."
II. For pianoforte with obbligato instruments.
For pianoforte and violin:--Sonatas.
Sonatas with violoncello.
Twelve Variations in F on the Theme from "Figaro," "Se vuol ballare."
Rondo.
Variations with violoncello and violin.
for hautboys and horn.
Trios.
Concertos.
Fantasia with chorus.
III. Quartets.
IV. Instrumental pieces.
Septet.
Quintets.
Violin Romance.
V. Orchestral music.
Symphonies.
The Ninth.
Minuet and Interlude.
Music for the ballet of "Prometheus."
"Egmont."
"King Stephen."
"The Ruins of Athens."
"Wellington's Victory at Vittoria."
March to "Tarpeia."
Gratulation Minuet.
Marches.
Overtures.
VI. Vocal music.
"Adelaide."
"Ah! Perfido."
"Heart, my Heart," and "Knowest Thou the Land?"
"To Hope."
Aria for bass voice with chorus.
Terzet on Count Lichnowsky.
Canon for Spohr.
"The Glorious Moment."
On Mdlle. Milder-Hauptmann.
Scotch songs.
Canon for Schlesinger;
for the Archduke Rudolph;
on Tobias Haslinger.
Various songs;
two grand songs with chorus from Goethe and Matthisson.
Choruses.
"Empitremate."
Elegy.
"Meeresstille und glückliche Fahrt."
Opferlied.
Canons;
for Rellstab;
for Braunhofer;
for Kuhlau;
for Schlesinger.
Terzet.
VII. Operas.
Grillparzer's "Melusina."
"Fidelio" in Dresden.
VIII. Church music and Oratorios.
"Missa solennis."
Benedict, Julius, in London, a composer, the pupil of C.M. von Weber.
Berlin.
Bernard, Carl, an author, editor of the "Wiener Zeitschrift."
Bihler, J.N., a special admirer of Beethoven, one of the subscribers to, and the bearer of, the address presented to Beethoven in the year 1824, in which the master was requested again to present himself and his works to the Viennese public.
Birchall, music publisher in London.
"Birne, zur goldnen," an eating-house in the Landstrasse, Vienna.
Blöchlinger, proprietor of an educational institution at Vienna.
Bocklet, Carl Maria, of Prague, pianist in Vienna.
Böhm, Joseph, a distinguished concerto violinist, professor at the Vienna Conservatory, and the teacher of Joachim.
Bolderini.
Bonn, residence of the Elector of Cologne, and Beethoven's birthplace, which he left in the year 1792, never again to visit.
Braunhofer, Dr., for some time Beethoven's surgeon at Vienna.
Breitkopf & Härtel, the well-known book and music publishers in Leipzig.
Brentano, Bettina, became Frau von Arnim in 1811.
Brentano, Clemens, the poet.
Brentano, F.A., merchant at Frankfort, an admirer of Beethoven's music. See also Tonie.
Breuning, Christoph von.
Breuning, Dr. Gerhard von, Court physician at Vienna, son of Stephan von Breuning.
Breuning, Eleonore von, daughter of Councillor von Breuning, in Bonn, the friend and pupil of Beethoven; in 1802 became the wife of Dr. Wegeler, afterwards consulting physician at Coblenz.
Breuning, Frau von, widow of Councillor von Breuning, into whose house Beethoven was received as one of the family, and where he received his first musical impressions.
Breuning, Lenz (Lorenz), youngest son of the "Frau Hofrath."
Breuning, Stephan von, of Bonn; came to Vienna in the spring of 1800, where he became councillor, and died in 1827.
Browne, Count, of Vienna, an admirer of Beethoven's music.
Brühl, the, a village and favorite pleasure resort near Vienna.
Brunswick, Count Franz von, of Pesth, one of Beethoven's greatest admirers and friends in Vienna.
Bonaparte, Ludwig, King of Holland.
"Cäcilia, a Journal for the Musical World," &c.
Carl, Archduke. See Archduke Carl.
Carlsbad.
Cassel.
Castlereagh, the well-known English minister.
Cherubini. Visited Vienna in 1805.
Clement, Franz, born 1784, died 1842, orchestral director at the "Theater an der Wien."
Clementi.
Collin, the famous Austrian poet.
Cornega, a singer in Vienna commended to Beethoven by Schindler.
Court Theatre, Beethoven's letter to the directors of the.
Cramer, John, the celebrated London pianist, also a music publisher.
Czerny, Carl, in Vienna, the well known writer of pianoforte studies.
Czerny, Joseph, in Vienna.
Deafness of Beethoven.
De la Motte-Fouqué, the poet of "Undine," which he had arranged as an Opera libretto for T.A. Hoffmann.
Del Rio, Giannatasio, proprietor of an academy at Vienna, under whose care Beethoven placed his nephew Carl from the year 1816 to 1818.
Diabelli, Anton, composer and music publisher in Vienna.
Döbling, Ober- and Unter-Döbling, near Vienna, Beethoven's occasional summer residence.
Dresden.
Drossdick, Baroness Thérèse, to whom Beethoven was greatly attached.
Duport, director of the Kärnthnerthor Theatre in the year 1823.
Eisenstadt, in Hungary, the residence of Prince Esterhazy, where Beethoven remained on a visit in the years 1794 and 1808.
English language, Beethoven's correspondence in the.
Erdödy Countess, in Vienna, one of Beethoven's best friends.
Ertmann, Baroness Dorothea (née Graumann), a friend of Beethoven, and one of the most accomplished pianists in Vienna; she especially excelled in the performance of Beethoven's compositions.
Esterhazy, Prince Paul, son of the protector of Haydn, and himself, at a later period, an ardent admirer of that master.
France.
Frank, Dr.
Frank, Frau, in Vienna.
"Frau Schnaps," Beethoven's housekeeper during the latter years
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