Conversation Book 62 begins being used this afternoon. It is comprised of 31 leaves (62 pages), with writing on all pages (though some of that writing is fraudulently entered by Schindler after Beethoven’s death). The book covers about six days of time. The books are getting filled more quickly now. Part of the reason is that there is plenty to talk about with the plans for the Akademie concert, but it also reflects Beethoven’s increasingly bad hearing. Where two years ago he could often hear Karl speak, he seems unable to hear him at all now. Karl writes nearly everything out for his uncle. T ..read more

While Beethoven continues to proofread parts for the Akademie concert, violinist Ignaz Schuppanzigh checks in as to how things are going. Beethoven is still upset about the movements from the Missa Solemnis; they will need to be called Hymns instead of their proper names, and even then the Censor may not approve. Schuppanzigh tries to reassure him that the names are not important. The whole city knows what these pieces are and what they are about. Schuppanzigh asks whether all of the parts have now been copied. Peter Gläser assured Beethoven that they would all be finished by next Monday, Apri ..read more

Ignaz Schuppanzigh visits Beethoven this morning regarding the plans for the Akademie benefit concert. Schuppanzigh asks whether Beethoven has not heard anything from Clement. The word is that when he got Beethoven’s letter saying Schuppanzigh was to be concertmaster, he was furious. Franz Jäger, who had been invited to sing the tenor part in the concert, wrote to Schindler declining. He said the part was too low for his voice. Schuppanzigh and Schindler knew about this for three days, but did not want to tell Beethoven because he didn’t want to upset him. Now Beethoven has to be aware so othe ..read more

This is another very long day for Beethoven, as he deals with preparations for his Akademie benefit concert. Beethoven writes a letter to Joseph Bernard, editor of the Wiener Zeitung, about the medal sent by the King of France. Schindler has the medal with him to show to Bernard, and Beethoven asks that Bernard do what he can to publicize it, since that will be advantageous for the upcoming Akademie. They still need to talk about Bernard’s oratorio libretto, Der Sieg des Kreuzes. Bernard seems to have misunderstood Beethoven’s intent, but Beethoven has been so busy he has not been able to take ..read more

Today is Palm Sunday. Schindler comes before 9 a.m., and is irritated to find Beethoven is still proofreading the Finale of the Ninth Symphony, which he had hoped to take to copyist Peter Gläser this morning to start working on the needed parts. [Copyist Paul Maschek had already done the solo voices and choral parts, as well as some of the instrumental parts.] Looking at the fair copy of the Finale, Schindler remarks that unless a supplement of some kind is used, given the format it would be badly crowded together. [This comment reflects the difference between 16- and 23-stave paper. The final ..read more

Beethoven makes a note of Schindler and Schiller. [The latter may be a reminder to get the vellum Complete Works of Friedrich Schiller for Nephew Karl.] He also makes a note to write a “Letter concerning the monstrous mother.” [Johanna van Beethoven, Karl’s mother. Beethoven has been paying the interest on her debts, grudgingly, and he disapproves of her morals.] The to-do list continues: +Wax candles +Blotting sand Withdraw Overture in C Parts [probably a reminder to write to Hensler and ask where the parts are to the Consecration of the House Overture, so the additional parts needed for the ..read more

Beethoven, enamored of the gold medal awarded to him by King Louis XVIII of France, thinks he would like to wear it to the Akademie benefit concert. Karl says he “absolutely cannot wear the medal; its weight would pull your collar down.” Karl looks through either the soprano part, or the fair copy of the score to the Ninth Symphony. In the phrase “Úber sternen” at bars 749-752, in declamation the accent needs to fall on Sternen [stars.] Ludwig demonstrates to him three different settings of the phrase, placing the emphasis slightly differently each time. Two settings of “Über sternen,” Convers ..read more

Conversation Book 61 picks up again today, with a book probably missing between 60 and 61, which would have covered April 2 through April 7, 1824. Given that the Akademie benefit concert was as of April 1 probably back on again, there would have been much communication in that missing book regarding the copying and proofreading of parts, arrangements for participants, deciding on the location and date of the concert, and how many there should be in all. The loss of that book is thus most unfortunate for our story. Conversation Book 61 consists of 36 leaves, all of which contain writing. It cov ..read more

In Saint Petersburg, Prince Nikolai Galitzin has organized the premiere today (March 26, 1824 O.S.) of the full Missa Solemnis, to be performed at a benefit concert for musicians’ widows. Prince Anton Radziwill, who yesterday paid for his subscription copy of the Missa Solemnis, was in attendance at the premiere, which according to Galitzin goes very well indeed. Prince Galitzin will write Beethoven tomorrow about it, and more details will be covered there. The account of the performance in the Leipzig Allgemeine musikalische Zeitung Nr. 22 of May 27, 1824 is as follows: “Petersburg. The most ..read more

Beethoven continues proofreading parts as preparations for the Akademie are ongoing. The work is slow, but Peter Gläser’s team of copyists appears to work efficiently and produces the needed parts fairly quickly once Beethoven has finished proofreading a particular part. Ludewig Krause today sends from Berlin 50 ducats to Beethoven in payment of the subscription for the Missa Solemnis by Prince Anton Heinrich Radzwill, governor of the Grand Duchy of Posen. He requests a receipt and asks that the copy of the score be sent with it. Brandenburg Letter 1806. The original is lost; its existence and ..read more