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BEETHOVEN AND HIS BONN FRIEND
FRANZ GERHARD WEGELER
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Franz Gerhard Wegeler (1765-1848)
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INTRODUCTION
In
this second installment of our feature Beethoven and His Friends, we are
about to discuss the first friend of the composer's Bonn youth who was
approximately of the same age and who, in several ways, would gain importance in
his life. However, the importance that he would gain would be one that was
less to be found in the limelight but rather modestly in the background
of Beethoven's life. From our Biographical Pages, we already know
that Wegeler would widen Beethoven's circle of friends by introducing him to the
von Breuning family and also by, together with Ferdinand Ries, belonging to the
first biographers of the composer who would take their task seriously.
However, these rather familiar facts tell us little about the course of
Beethoven's and Wegeler's friendship during Beethoven's lifetime and also very
little about Wegeler's character. Why don't we explore both of these
issues and let Wegeler introduce us to this topic with his own words, as
translated by Frederick Noonan:
"When
an affectionate friendship forms between young people during seven or eight
years in their own hometown and develops and deepens as they mature, when as
grown men these friends share their lives in a foreign capital for nearly two
years and since then, though separated, have remained in close contact for
thirty years, then after the death of one -- especially one whose outstanding
achievement in the field of science or art has secured him lasting European fame
-- the surviving friend may consider him justified, even obliged, not to
withhold from the world any information which might contribute to a just
appreciation of that man and artist.
These few words above characterize my relationship to Ludwig van
Beethoven. I was born in Bonn in 1765. In 1782 I became acquainted
with the twelve-year-old youth, already a composer, and I remained in constant
and closest communication with him until September 1787 when I entered school in
Vienna to complete my medical studies. When I returned in October 1789 our
same cordial relationship continued until Beethoven later departed for Vienna
towards the end of 1792. I followed in October 1794. Here we were
reunited once more with the same undiminished warmth of feeling and hardly a day
passed when we did not meet.
In the middle of the year 1796 I returned to Bonn and we began to exchange
letters. During that period of great stress this exchange could hardly be
called very active. However, there was little necessity for a lively
correspondence on either side since we were kept otherwise informed of each
other's changing destinies -- he through Simrock's business letters and through
my letters to my brother-in-law Stephen von Breuning as well as to friends and
colleagues of mine to whom I had introduced Beethoven; and I through the same
sources and through letters from Ferdinand Ries" [Beethoven
Remembered The Biographical Notes of Franz Wegeler and Ferdinand Ries.
Translated from the German Biographische Notizen über Ludwig van Beethoven
(1838, 1845) by Frederick Noonan; Arlington, VA: 1987, Great Ocean Publishers, p.
4-5].
After
Wegeler's introductory words, in the first section of our presentation, let us
discuss early traces of this friendship.
WEGELER'S
EARLY FRIENDSHIP WITH BEETHOVEN
IN BONN DURING THE YEARS 1784 - 1787
A
quote by Thayer-Forbes from Gerhard von Breuning's book Memories of Beethoven
From the House of the Black-Robed Spaniards offers us a brief description of
Wegeler's background and of the beginning of Wegeler's friendship with the von
Breuning family:
"Stephan's
son, Gerhard von Breuning, has given us a description of how the Breuning family
circle enlarged.[12: Aus dem Schwarzspanierhause (Vienna, 1874), p. 6]
"Children
attract playmates, school children bring home friends after school. So
must have grown the little family circle in the house of my grandmother through
the years from the outside; the cultivated influence of this virtuous woman
extended not only to her children but also to other young people. . . . A poor
student of amiable and industrious character soon became daily a member of this
household. This was Franz Gerhard Wegeler, the son of an Alsatian burgher,
who sensed early a craving for knowledge, for expanding the limitations of his
poor origin in order to develop himself for the career by which he was to be
known by those around him. [Rector of the University at Bonn; later privy
councillor and a distinguished doctor.]" [TF: 84]
As
we can read in Thayer-Forbes, the question as to when this "poor student of
amiable and industrious character" would first meet the von Breuning family
and when he would introduce his new friend Beethoven to the von Breuning family
became a topic of discussion in Beethoven research,:
"After
he had already become attached to this house, he made the acquaintance in 1782
of the son of a musician of the Electoral Court Chapel who, although still more
a boy than a young man, already was burning with enthusiasm for the muse of
music, just as the other was for science and art, and already he was playing the
piano admirably.
"Eleonore
and Lenz needed a piano teacher and Wegeler's young friend needed to give
lessons for the support of himself and his parents. Thus it was that the
young Ludwig van Beethoven became introduced into the hospitable home of my
grandmother."
Riemann
[3: TDR, I, 222, n. 1] has suggested that the year of the meeting between
Beethoven and both Wegeler and Stephan von Breuning may well have been not 1782
but 1784, since at that time he would have been "already a composer,"
since Wegeler refers to the fact (Notizen, p. 14) that Stephan
"lived in the closest relation with him from his tenth year to his
death." Stephan was born in 1774. Then, too, there was the
confusion concerning the year of Ludwig's birth which may well have caused
Wegeler to retain the impression of a boy that he thought was twelve who was in
reality close to fourteen years of age. Although Wegeler later saw the
baptismal register in the Bonn parochial record before writing the Notizen,
he wouldn't necessarily have remembered to apply this discrepancy to the
long-held memory of their first meeting. In turn Gerhard von Breuning
arrived at the date 1782 by taking Wegeler's "12 year old youth"
literally without perhaps taking into account that only in the last month of
1782 did Beethoven reach the age of twelve.
Thayer
rejected this early a date for the meeting between Beethoven and the von
Breuning family and adopted the date of late 1787. This was based on the
later recollections of the widow Karth (who was not born until about 1780) and
on the fact that there is no mention that the von Breuning family gave
assistance to the composer in the tragic summer of 1787 after his mother's
death. Thayer further implies that Wegeler's own intimacy with the von
Breunings was not until after his return from Vienna in 1789. Every editor
of the Thayer biography from Deiters on has questioned this stand in view of the
general trustworthiness of Wegeler's Notizen and particularly in view of
Wegeler's family tie with the von Breunings. Surely a man of sound mind,
as Wegeler was when he wrote the Notizen in 1838, would not be mistaken
as to the time that he first met his wife's family.
Beethoven's
own words on this matter are to be found in a letter to Wegeler written in the
early Vienna years: "Ah Wegeler, my only comfort lies in this, that
you have known me almost from my childhood." We may conclude that
the association between Beethoven and the Wegeler-von Breuning circle started in
all likelihood around 1784" [TF: 85].
In
our Biographical Pages we already learned a great deal about Beethoven's
contact with the von Breuning family. However, in order to arrive at an overall
impression of the nature of Beethoven's early friendship with Wegeler, we
only have to quote Wegeler's own words from one of his last letters to
Beethoven:
"Mir wenigstens ist die Bekanntschaft und die
enge,
durch deine gute Mutter gesegnete, Jugendfreundschaft mit dir ein sehr heller Punkt meines
Lebens, auf den
ich mit Vergnügen hinblicke . . . " [Source: Ludwig van
Beethoven Briefwechsel Gesamtausgabe, Vol. 6, Letter No. 2100, p.
196-199; Original: Bonn, Beethoven-Haus; "At least to me, my
acquaintance with you and my early friendship with you that was blessed by your
good mother, is a highlight of my life that I always look back on with
pleasure"].
When
would Wegeler's enjoyment of this friendship have been interrupted in the year
1787, on the one hand by Beethoven's [first] spring journey to Vienna and, on
the other hand, by Wegeler's departure for Vienna? From the relevant
section of our Biographical Pages we know that Beethoven was absent from
Bonn from about April 20, 1787 to some time before the death of his mother on
July 17, 1787, when he travelled to Vienna to become a pupil of Mozart, and we
also know the reason for his sudden return to Bonn. In Wegeler's own
words, " . . . I remained in constant
and closest communication with him until September 1787 when I entered school in
Vienna to complete my medical studies", he might have seen Beethoven before
his departure for Vienna in September 1787, thus at a time during which
Beethoven was still mourning the loss of his mother [as we know from his letter
to Councillor von Schaden in Augsburg, from the fall of that year].
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The
St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna
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WEGELER'S
VIENNA STUDY YEARS - 1787 TO 1789
With
respect to Wegeler's Vienna study years, Gerhard von Breuning reports:
"
. . . Wegeler too had come there in 1787, armed with a very warm recommendation
and support by the Elector and, like Beethoven, had doors opened for him among
the circle of the famous professors and physicians of the era of Joseph II:
Brambilla, Gerhard von Vering, Gottfried van Swieten, Hunczovsky, Adam Schmidt
and many others;[25] . . . " [Gerhard von Breuning, Memories of Beethoven
from the House of the Black-Robed Spaniards: 33].
"F.
G. Wegeler received his doctor's degree in Vienna on September 1, 1789 and
returned to Bonn to begin his medical career as practising physician . . .
" [Gerhard von Breuning, Memories of Beethoven from the House of the
Black-Robed Spaniards: 33].
WEGELER'S
AND BEETHOVEN'S FRIENDSHIP
DURING BEETHOVEN'S LAST BONN YEARS [1789 - 1792]
Traditional
Beethoven literature does not tell us a great deal about Beethoven's personal
interaction with Wegeler during his last Bonn years. However, Beethoven's own
words tell us a great deal about Wegeler's attitude towards his friend in the
sense that actions speak louder than words. We can find Beethoven's
comment in one of his last letter to his old friend Wegeler:
"Ich erinnere mich aller
Liebe, die du mir stets bewiesen hast; z.B. wie du mein
Zimmer weißen ließest u. mich so angenehm überraschtest,[3] . . .
"
"I
remember all the love that you have always shown me as, for example, when you
had my room whitewashed and with it pleasantly surprised me[3] . . . "
[Source: Ludwig van Beethoven Briefwechsel Gesamtausgab, Vol. 6, Letter
No. 2236, p. 319 -
321; Original: Koblenz, Wegeler Collection; to [3]: refers to the fact
that, according to the GA, Wegeler had published this letter in the Biographical
Notes and had remarked at at that time, Beethoven lived in the Wenzelgasse
in Bonn; detail taken from p. 321].
With
respect to this period of Beethoven's and Wegeler's friendship, the Beethoven-Haus
in Bonn offers a curious object. Let us take a look at this via
this link:
With respect to Wegeler's own career
during these years, we can refer to Thayer-Forbes. In a report about the
University of Bonn which will be quoted in more detail below, TF [p. 76] notes
that in the Court Calendar of 1790, Wegeler's name appears for the first time;
he is described as holding the position of a Professor of Midwifery at the
University.
As we know from our Biographical Pages,
Beethoven set out for Vienna at the beginning of November, 1792. In
contrast to Eleonore von Breuning's entry in Beethoven's farewell album, we know
nothing of an entry by Wegeler.
WEGELER'S
BONN YEARS BEFORE HIS SECOND STAY IN VIENNA [1792 - 1794]
While,
from November 1792 on, Beethoven pursued the completion of his musical training
in Vienna, Wegeler stayed behind in Bonn until October 1794. From this
time, some details are know with respect to his university career:
"Upon
the suppression of the Jesuits in 1774, Max Friedrich devoted their possessions
and revenues to the cause of education. New professorships were
established in the gymnasium and in 1777, an "Academy" was
formed. This was the first step; the second was to found an independent
institution called the Lyceum; and at his death an application was before the
Emperor for a university charter. This was granted in April, and Monday,
the 20th of November, 1786 was the day appointed for the solemn inauguration of
the new institution. The Court Calendar for the next year names six
professors of theology, six of jurisprudence, civil and ecclesiastical, four of
medicine, four of philosophy and seven of philology. In later editions new names
are added; in that of 1790, Wegeler is professor of midwifery" [TF: 76].
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View
of today's Bonn University
[it is housed in the former Electoral Palace]
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In
his Biogrphical Notes, Wegeler reports that for some time before his
departure from Bonn, he served as Rector of the University:
"As Rector of the University
of Bonn I had signed the decree of the Academic Senate . . . " [Wegeler/Ries,
Biographical Notes: 5].
WEGELER'S SECOND STAY IN VIENNA [1794 - 1796]
In Wegeler's own words, he
"followed" Beethoven "in October 1794." In the
footnote to this statement, he mentions the reason for his flight:
"As Rector of the University
of Bonn I had signed the decree of the Academic Senate intending to stop the
spread of hospital fever by forbidding the students to visit those Frenchmen
captured at Quesnoi, Landrecies, Conde, etc., then being transported to
Austria. Alms intended for the prisoners were to be brought to them by
certain clergymen. The Moniteur received this decree some ten or
twelve days later and without a hearing branded me a rabid enemy of the
Republic. Those were evil times! The people's representative in Bonn
gave orders that he was to be addressed with the familiar du form.
At that time la queue de Robespierre was hardly less dangerous than his
head had been and it was advisable to save my own. [Wegeler/Ries, Biographical
Notes: 5].
Thayer-Forbes also reports about
Wegeler's move to Vienna:
"The
reminiscences of Wegeler for the period of his stay in Vienna, excepting those
which may be better introduced chronologically in other connections, may well
find place here. They are interesting and characteristic in themselves,
and indicate, also, the great change for the better in Beethoven's pecuniary
condition; for a man who keeps a servant and a horse cannot, if honest, be a
sufferer from poverty. Wegeler was another fugitive from the French
occupation of Bonn. Though only twenty-nine years of age, he had become
Rector of the University. Then he fled to Vienna, where he remained nearly
two years, and where he naturally renewed his friendship with Beethoven.--He
reached the capital in October and found Beethoven not in the "room on the
ground floor" where "it was not necessary to pay the housekeeper more
than 7 florins," but living as a guest in the family of Prince Karl
Lichnowsky . . . " [TF: 170].
TF
then relates Wegelers further report who, remaining in the background, himself,
describes the lively musical scene at Prince Lichnowsky's Vienna residence, with
the Prince himself being an active pianist who practiced Beethoven's works and
who tried to convince the young composer that he would not have to change
anything in them and who, not seldom, also pointed out the difficulties that
were hidden in them. Wegeler then recalls the musical Friday
mornings at Prince Lichnowsky's residence and the four musicians that the Prince
had in his In this circle, as Wegeler continues, Beethoven's new works
were, as far as was possible, performed for the first time in the presence of
several great musicians and connoisseurs. Wegeler, himself, tried to attend
these gatherings as often as he could. . . . After the concerts, as Wegeler
relates, the musicians were treated to a meal. The company
consisted--without consideration of social rank--of musicians and
connoisseurs. . . . However, as Wegeler reports, Beethoven would not
always appear on time at Lichnowsky's dinner table. Wegeler describes
Beethoven as a young man who had been raised under extremely limited conditions,
under some form of guardianship, so that he never learned the true value of
money. For example, the duty to appear each day at four o'clock in the
afternoon at the Prince's dinner table, irritated Beethoven very much as he did
not want to have to return home at 3.30 to change, shave, etc., but rather, many
times, went to the inn, instead. Wegeler mentions yet another
example of Beethoven's lack of a sense of financial realities. On one
occasion, he is reported as having overheard Prince Lichnowsky who instructed
his servant that, should he and Beethoven ring for him at the same time, he
should answer Beethoven's call first. Beethoven reacted to this by hiring
his own servant. He is also reported as having bought a horse when, on a
whim, he wanted to learn how to ride one and when Lichnowsky had offered him the
free use of his stables.
In our Biographical Pages we already discussed Wegeler's report that
Beethoven [very likely during Wegeler's stay in Vienna from 1794 to 1796] was
"never out of love" and that he made conquests that might even have
been difficult for "many an Adonis". In his report related by
Thayer-Forbes, Wegeler next mentions Beethoven's unwillingness to play piano
"on command" and that the young composer often complained to him about
this so that the latter frequently tried to calm him down and to distract
him. After Beethoven would finally have done so, Wegeler would often sit
down at the desk while Beethoven was left to sit down on the piano chair where
he, very naturally, would soon begin to play the piano. Wegeler then
expresses his regret that he was not more musically trained and that sometimes,
he put a sheet of paper on the desk in the hope that Beethoven would jot down
small compositions on it and leave the paper there. What did
Beethoven do? Well, he did write some small compositions this way, but
once he was finished, he would, according to Wegeler, put the paper into his
pocket!
Before we continue with Thayer-Forbes relating of Wegeler's report, it might
also be interesting for us to take a look at what Gerhard von Breuning had to
report:
"
. . . Stephan was introduced to Chief Field Physician Gerhard von Vering[37] in
Vienna by a letter of recommendation from Wegeler and (about 1800), through
Wegeler's recommendation, found Beethoven already at home there. . . . "
[Gerhard von Breuning, Memories of Beethoven from the
House of the Black-Robes Spaniards: 37].This
report indicates that Wegeler might also have introduced Beethoven to the
household of the Rhinelander Dr. Vering in Vienna. That during
this time, their friendship was not always untroubled is reflected in Wegeler's
following report:
"The
following undated letter also belongs to the years of Beethoven's intimate
association with Wegeler in Vienna (1794-96). It is significant of
Beethoven's character. Though easily offended and prone to anger, no
sooner was the first ebullition of temper past than he was so reconciliatory and
so open to explanation that usually his contrition was out of all proportion to
his fault. For this reason, and because it presents the friend in a light
which provoked a protest from his modesty, Wegeler was unwilling to publish the
entire letter, which follows" [TF: 172].
Let
us take a look at the original text of the letter and at our own translation of
it:
"Beethoven
an Franz Gerhard Wegeler:
[Wien, um 1795](2)
Lieber,
Bester!
in was für einem Abscheulichen Bilde hast du mich mir selbst dargestellt!
o ich erkenne es, ich verdiene deine Freundschaft nicht, du bist so edel,
so gutdenkend, und das ist das erstemal, daß ich mich nicht neben dir
stellen darf, weit unter dir bin ich gefallen, ach ich habe meinem Besten,
edelsten Freund 8 wochen Lang verdruß gemacht, du glaubst, ich habe an
der Güte meines Herzens verlohren, dem Himmel sey dank; nein; -- es war
keine absichtliche, ausgedachte Boßheit von mir, die mich so gegen dich
handeln ließ, es war mein unverzeihlicher Leichtsinn, der mich nicht die
Sache in dem Lichte sehen ließ, wie sie wirklich war.--o wie schäm ich
mich für dir, wie für mir selbst -- fast traue ich mich nicht mehr, dich
um deine Freundschaft wieder zu bitten -- Ach Wegeler nur mein einziger
Trost ist, daß du mich fast seit meiner Kindheit kanntest, und doch o
laß mich's selbst sagen, ich war doch immer gut, und bestrebte mich immer
der Rech[t]schaffenheit und Biederkeit in meinen Handlungen; wie hättest
du mich sonst lieben können? -- sollte ich den[n] jezt seit der kurzen
Zeit aufei[n]mal mich so schrecklich, so sehr zu meinem Nachtheil
verändert haben -- unmöglich, diese Gefühle des Großen des Guten
sollten alle aufeinmal in mir erloschen seyn? nein Wegeler lieber, Bester,
o wag es noch einmal, dich wieder ganz in <deinem> die Arme deines
B. zu werfen baue auf <das>die guten <Freunde> Eigenschaften,
die du sonst in ihm gefunden hast, ich stehe dir dafür, den neuen Tempel
der heiligen Freundschaft, den du darauf aufrichten wirst, er wird fest,
ewig stehen, kein Zufall, kein Sturm wird ihn <aus>in seinen
Grundfesten erschüttern können--fest,--Ewig--unsere
Freundschaft--verzeihung--vergessenheit wieder aufleben der sterbenden
sinkenden Freundschaft--o wegeler verstoße sie nicht diese Hand zur
aussöhnung, gib die deinige in die meine -- Ach Gott. -- ach nichts mehr
-- ich selbst komm zu dir, und werfe mich in deine Arme, und bitte um den
verlohrnen Freund, und du giebst dich mir, dem reuevollen, dich liebenden,
dich nie vergessenden
Beethoven
wieder".
"Beethoven
to Franz Gerhard Wegeler:
[Vienna, around 1795](2)
Dear,
best One!
in what a terrible light have you portrayed myself to me! Oh,
I realize it, I do not deserve your friendship, you are so noble, so
honorably-minded, and this is the first time that I am not allowed to stand
beside you, I have fallen far beneath you, oh, for 8 weeks I have caused trouble
for my best, most noble friend; you believe that I have lost the goodness of my
heart, heaven be thanked, no; it was not a deliberate, willful malice that had
me act towards you in this way, it was my unforgivable carelessness that did not
allow me to see the matter in its actual, correct light.--Oh, how ashamed I am
before you as before myself--I almost do not dare to ask you for your
friendship, again--Oh, Wegeler, my only consolation is that you have almost
known me from my childhood, and yet, oh, let me say it, myself, was I not always
good and did I not always strive for integrity and honesty in my actions: how
else should you have been able to love me?--should I now, lately, have changed
so terribly, so much to my disadvantage--impossible, these feelings of the great
and good are supposed to suddenly have died in me? No, Wegeler, dear, best
one, oh, dare once more to throw yourself into the arms of your B., trust in the
good traits that you have, otherwise, found in him, I guarantee you that
the new temple of sacred friendship that you will build upon it, it will stand
solidly, eternally, no happenstance, no storm will be able to shake its
grounds--steadfast--eternal--our friendship--forgiveness--forgetting--revival of
our dying, sinking friendship--Oh, Wegeler, do not push away this hand that is
reaching out in reconciliation, put yours into it, put yours into mine--Oh, God,
oh, nothing further--I, myself, will come to you and will throw myself into your
arms and will ask my lost friend, and you will give yourself back to me, your
remorseful friend who will always love you and never forget you.
Beethoven."
[Source
Ludwig van Beethoven Briefwechsel Gesamtausgabe, Vol. 1, Leter No. 19, p.
27-28; Original:
Koblenz, Slg. Wegeler; to (2): refers to the fact that the GA places this letter
into the years 1794 to 1796 when Wegeler was in Vienna; however, since, during
the year 1796, Beethoven was traveling extensively, the most likely time when it
was written would have been the year 1795; detail taken from p. 28].
Reference
to the year 1795 also leads us to Wegeler's report about Beethoven's first
public performances on March 29 and March 30, 1795. As TF [p. 173]
reports, the instrumental work that was performed at the benefit concert for the
Tonkünstlergesellschaft [Society of Tone Artists] was a
"Concerto for Pianoforte and Orchestra, composed and played by
Beethoven". However, let TF, quoting Wegeler,
continue:
»Not
until the afternoon of the second day before the concert did he write the
rondo, and then while suffering from a pretty severe colic, which
frequently afflicted him. I [Wegeler] relieved him with simple
remedies so far as I could. In the anteroom sat four copyists to
whom he handed sheet after sheet as soon as it was finished. . . . «
[TF:173-174].
In
this context, it is less important what Beethoven Piano Concerto Wegeler
was referring to than the fact that he, as a physician, was able to help his
friend "as far as I would" with "simple remedies", without
which Beethoven might, perhaps, not have been able to perform, at
all.
As
we know from our Biographical Pages, in 1796, Beethoven traveled
extensively. Due to this fact, the question arises when Wegeler and
Beethoven might have seen each other for the last time in this year. If we
consider that Wegeler returned to Bonn in June of this year and that Beethoven
was setting out on his first journey that led him via Prague to Dresden and
Berlin, towards the end of January or the beginning of February, we will ask
ourselves whether he might or might not have returned to Vienna on time to say
farewell to Wegeler. With respect to Beethoven's possible departure from
Berlin, TF comments:
"Early
in July, the king left Berlin for the baths of Pyrmont, the nobility
dispersed to their estates or to watering places, and the city "was
empty and slient." Beethoven, therefore, could have had no
inducement to prolong his stay; but the precise time of his departure is
unknown.
Nothwishstanding
Wegeler's statement (Notizen, p. 28) that he left Beethoven a
member of the family of Prince Lichnowsky "in the middle of
1796," it is as certain as circumstantial evidence can well make it
that the Doctor and Christoph von Breuning had returned to Bonn before
Beethoven reached Vienna again; . . . " [Thayer-Forbes: 187].
According
to TF [p. 187], Fasch, the then-director of the Berlin Singakademie,
noted:
"June
21, 1796. Hr. van Beethoven extemporized on the "Davidiana,"
taking the fugue theme from Ps. 119, No. 16. . . . Hr. Beethoven, pianist
from Vienna, was so accommodating as to permit us to hear an improvisation.
. . . June 28, Hr. van Beethoven was again so obliging as to play an
improvisation for us" [TF: 187].
This
suggests that, at least still on June 28, 1796, Beethoven was still in
Berlin. On the other hand, Gerhard von Breuning describes the time
frame of his uncle and namesake Franz Gerhard Wegeler's second stay in
Vienna, as follows: " . . . from October 1794 to June
1796, he had another period of happy association with his Ludwig in
Vienna" [Gerhard von Breuning, "Memories of Beethoven from the
House of the Black-Robed Spaniards", p. 33]. This
strengthens TF's guess that both friends did not see each other, anymore,
in June, 1796.
WEGELER
'S
BONN YEARS UP TO HIS MARRIAGE [1797 - 1802]
AND BEETHOVEN'S CORRESPONDENCE
WITH HIM
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View
of Bonn in Beethoven's Life Time
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"
. . . Nach meiner Zurückkunft von Wien 1796
gieng's mir ziemlich übel; ich mußte mehrere Jahre von der Praxis allein
leben, und das daurte in
der höchst verarmten Gegend einige Jahre, ehe ich mein Auskommen hatte. Nun ward ich aber wieder ein
bezahlter Professor . . . " [" . . . After my return from Vienna, I
had a fairly rough time; for several years, I had to live off my [medical]
practice, alone, and in this highly impoverished area, this took several
years. Then, however, I was again a paid professor . . . "]
is
what
Wegeler wrote to Beethoven in his letter of December 28, 1825 [Source: Ludwig
van Beethoven Briefwechsel Gesamtausgabe, Vol. 6, Letter No. 2100, p.
196-199; Original: Bonn, Beethoven-Haus]. This would suggest that,
in the year 1796, Wegeler was not immediately re-hired as a Professor at
the University of Bonn, but perhaps before its closing in the year 1798
[Source of Information: Die Sammlung Wegeler im
Beethoven-Haus, cited on
February 26, 2008]. According to this source, after that,
Wegeler took up a teaching post at the newly-founded Central School in
Bonn and that he also practiced medicine.
Thus,
perhaps, in the year 1797, we might imagine Wegeler having been re-hired
as Professor at the University in Bon, when he received the following
lines from Beethoven:
"Beethoven an Franz Gerhard Wegeler
[Wien,
29. Mai 1797](1)
Grüß
dich Gott, lieber!
ich bin dir einen Brief schuldig, den sollst du nächstens haben, wie auch
meine neusten Musikalien, -- mir geht's gut, und ich kann sagen immer
besser, glaubst du, daß es jemand freuen wird, so grüß von meiner seite.
--
leb
wohl und vergiß nicht deinen
L. v. Beethoven."
"Beethoven
to Franz Gerhard Wegeler
[Vienna, May 29, 1797](1)
Hello, my
dear,
I owe
you a letter, and you shall have it, soon, as also my newest musical
works.--I am well and I can say that I am better and better, if you think
that someone will be delighted, send them my greetings.--
farewell and
do not forget your
L. v. Beethoven."
[Source:
Ludwig van Beethoven Briefwechsel Gesamtausgabe, Vol. 1, Letter No. 30, p.
39-40; Original: Koblenz, Slg. Wegeler; to (1): dating according to
Wegeler's note; as the GA mentions, Beethoven added these lines to a
letter that Lenz von Breuning had written to Wegeler; details taken from
p. 39-40].
Unfortunately,
we do not know what musical works Beethoven wanted to send to Wegeler, at
this time.
As
we know, the next years, in spite of his growing hearing loss, would bring
an active life as a composer until, in the year 1791, his worsening
condition would catch up with him and lead him to confide in two of his
closest friends, in form of his famous letters of the year
1801. In addition to Carl Friedrich Amenda, it was Franz Gerhard
Wegeler in whom Beethoven confided. The following letters to Wegeler
are well-known and speak for themselves.
|
Beethoven
around 1801
|
"Beethoven
an Franz Gerhard Wegeler in Bonn
Vien, am 29ten Juni [1801](1)
Mein
guter lieber Wegeler, wie sehr danke ich dir für dein Andenken an mich,
ich habe es so wenig verdient um dich zu verdienen gesucht, und doch bist
so sehr gut, und läßt dich durch nichts, selbst durch meine
unverzeihlichen Nachläßigkeit nicht abhalten, bleibst immer der treue
gute biedere Freund; -- daß ich dich und überhaupt euch, die ihr mir
einst alle so lieb und theuer waret, vegessen könnte, nein das glaub
nicht, es giebt Augenblicke, wo ich mich selbst nach euch sehne, ja bey
euch einige Zeit zu Verweilen; -- mein Vaterland die schöne gegend, in
der ich das Licht der Welt erblickte, ist mir noch immer so schön und
deutlich vor meinen Augen, als da ich euch verließ, kurz ich werde diese
Zeit <mir> als eine der glücklichsten Begebenheiten meines Lebens
betrachten, wo ich euch wieder sehen und unsern Vater Rhein begrüßen
kann. -- wann dies seyn wird, das kann ich noch nicht bestimmen, so viel
will ich euch sagen, daß ihr mich nur recht groß wiedersehen werdet,
nicht als Künstler sollt ihr mich größer, sondern als Mensch sollt ihr
mich besser, Vollkommener finden, und ist dann der Wohlstand etwas besser
in unserm vaterlande, dann soll meine Kunst sich nur zum Besten der Armen
zeigen, o glückseliger Augenblick, wie glücklich halte ich mich, daß
ich dich herbey schaffen, dich selbst schaffen kann -- von meiner Lage
willst du was wissen, nun sie wäre eben so schlecht nicht, seit vorigem
Jahr hat mir Lichnowski(2), der, so unglaublich es dir auch ist,
wenn ich dir sage, immer mein wärmster Freund war und geblieben (kleine
Mißhelligkeiten gibt's ja auch unter unß), (und haben nicht eben diese
unsere Freundschaft mehr befestigt!) eine sichere Summe von 600 fl.
ausgeworfen, die ich, so lange ich keine für mich passende Anstellung
finde, ziehen kann, meine Komposizionen tragen mir viel ein, und ich kann
sagen, daß ich mehr Bestellungen habe, als es fast möglich ist, daß ich
machen kann, auch habe ich auf jede Sache 6, 7 Veleger und noch mehr,
wenn ich mir's angelegen sein lassen will, man accordirt nicht mehr
mit mir, ich fordere und man zahlt, du siehst, daß es eine hübsche Lage
ist, z.B. ich sehe einen Freund in Noth und mein Beutel leidet eben nicht,
ihm gleich zu helfen, so darf ich mich nur hinsezen und in kurzer Zeit ist
ihm geholfen -- auch bin ich ökonomischer als sonst, sollte ich immer
hier bleiben, so bringe ichs auch sicher dahin daß ich jährlich immer
eine[n] Tag zur Akademie erhalten, deren ich einige gegeben, <erhalten>
nur hat der neidische Dämon, meine schlimme Gesundheit, mir einen
schlechten Stein ins Brett geworfen nemlich: mein Gehör ist seit 3 Jahren
immer schwächer geworden, und das soll sich durch meinen Unterleib,
der schon damals wie Du weist elend war, hier aber sich verschlimmert hat
in dem ich beständig mit einem Durchfall behaftet war, und mit einer
dadurch außerordentlichen schwäche, ereignet haben, Frank(3) wollte
meinem leib den Ton(4) wieder geben durch stärkende Medizine und
mein Gehör durch Mandelöhl, aber prosit, daraus ward nichts, mein
gehör ward immer schlechter, und mein Unterleib blieb immer in seiner
vorigen Verfassung, das dauerte bis voriges Jahr Herbst, wo ich manchmal
in Verzweiflung war, da rieth mir ein Medizinischer asinus das
kalte Bad für meinen Zustand, ein gescheiderer das gewöhnliche Lauwarme
DonauBad, das that wunder, mein Bauch war besser mein Gehör blieb oder
ward noch schlechter, diesen Winter gieng's mir wirklich elend, da hatte
ich wirckliche schreckliche Koliken, und ich sank wieder ganz in meinen
Vorigen Zustand zurück; und so bliebs bis ohngefähr 4 Wochen, wo ich zu Wering(5)
ging indem ich dachte, daß dieser Zustand zugleich auch einen Wundarzt
erfordere, und ohnedem hatte ich immer vertrauen zu ihm, ihm gelang es nun
fast gänzlich diesen heftigen Durchfall zu hemmen, er verordnete mir das
laue Donaubad, wo ich jedesmal noch ein fläschchen stärkende sachen
hineingießen muste, gab mir gar keine Medizin, vor ohngefähr 4 Tagen
Pillen für den magen und einen Thee für's Ohr, und darauf kann ich sagen
befind ich mich stärker und besser <ich> nur meine ohren, die
sausen und Brausen tag und Nacht fort; ich kann sagen, ich bringe meine
Leben elend zu, seit 2 Jahren fast meide ich alle gesellschaften, weils
mir nun nicht möglich ist, den Leuten zu sagen, ich bin Taub, hätte ich
irgend ein anderes Fach, so giengs noch eher, aber in meinem Fach ist das
ein schrecklicher Zustand, dabey meine Feinde, deren Anzahl nicht geringe
ist, was würden diese hiezu sagen -- um dir einen Begriff von dieser
wunderbaren Taubheit zu geben, so sage ich dir, daß ich mich im
Theater ganz dicht am Orchester <oder>gar anlehnen muß, um
den schauspieler zu verstehen, die hohen Töne von Instrumenten
singstimmen, wenn ich etwas weit weg bin höre ich nicht, im sprechen ist
es zu verwundern daß es Leute giebt die es niemals merken, da ich
meistens Zerstreuungen hatte, so hält man es dafür, manchmal auch hör
ich den Redenden der leise spricht kaum, ja die Töne wohl, aber die worte
nicht, und doch sobald jemand schreit, ist es mir unausstehlich, was es
nun werden wird, das weiß der liebe Himmel, wering sagt, daß es
gewiß besser werden wird, <obwohl ich es> wenn auch nicht
ganz--ich habe schon oft den schöpfer und mein daseyn verflucht, Plutarch
hat mich zu der Resignatio geführt, ich will wenn's anders
möglich ist, meinem schicksaal trozen, obschon es Augenblicke meines
Lebens geben wird, wo ich das unglücklichste Geschöpf gottes seyn werde.
Ich bitte dich von diesem meinem Zustand niemandem auch nicht einmal der Lorchen(7)
etwas zu sagen, nur als geheymniß vertraue ich dir's an, lieb wäre mir's,
wenn du einmal mit Wering darüber Brief wechseltest, sollte mein
Zustand fortdauren, so komme ich künftiges frühjahr zu dir, du
miethe(s)t mir irgendwo in einer schönen Gegend ein Hauß auf dem Lande,
und dann will ich ein halbes Jahr ein Bauer werden, vieleicht wird's
dadurch geändert, resignation: welches elende Zufluchtsmittel, und
mir bleibt es doch das einzige übrige.--
du
verzeihst mir doch, daß ich dir in deiner ohnedem trüben Lage noch auch
diese Freundschaftliche Sorge aufbinde -- Steffen Breuning ist nun hier(8)
und wir sind fast täglich zusammen, es thur mir so wohl die alten Gefühle
wieder hervorzurufen, er ist wirklich ein guter Herrlicher Junge geworden
der was weiß, und das Herz wie wir alle mehr oder weniger auf dem Rechten
Flecke hat, ich habe eine sehr schöne Wohnung jezt, welche auf die
Bastey geht(9) und für meine gesundheit doppelten werth hat, ich glaube
wohl, daß ich es werde möglich machen können, daß B. zu mir komme.--
deinen
Antiochum(10) sollst du haben, und auch noch recht viele Musikalien von
mir,
wenn du anders nicht glaubst, daß es dich zu viel kostet, aufrichtig
deine Kunstliebe freut mich doch noch sehr, schreibe mir nur, wie es zu machen
ist, so will ich Dir alle meine Werke schicken, das nun freylich eine
hübsche Anzahl ist, und die sich täglich vermehrt.--
statt
dem Portrait meines Großvaters, welches ich dich bitte mir sobald als
möglich mit dem Postwagen zu schicken,(11) schicke ich Dir das seines
Enkels deines dir guten und herzlichen Beethoven, welches hier bey Artaria,
die mich hier darum oft ersuchten so wie viele andere, auch auswärtige
Kunsthandlungen, herauskommt,(12) -- Stoffel(13) will ich nächstens
schreiben, und ihm ein wenig den Text lesen über seine störrische
laune, ich will ihm die alte Freundschaft recht ins Ohr schreien, er soll
mir heilig versprechen, euch in euren ohnedem trüben Umständen nicht
<zu stören> noch mehr zu kränken -- auch der guten Lorchen will
ich schreiben, nie habe ich auch einen unter euch lieben guten Vergessen,
wenn ich euch auch gar nichts von mir hören ließ, aber schreiben, das
weist du, war nie meine sache, auch die besten Freunde haben Jahre lang
keine Briefe von mir erhalten, ich lebe nur in meinen Noten, und ist das
eine kaum da ist das andere schon angefangen, so wie ich jetzt
schreibe, mache ich oft 3 4 sachen zugleich--schreibe mir jetzt öfter,
ich will schon sorge tragen, daß ich Zeit finde, dir zuweilen zu
schreiben, grüße mir alle, auch die gute Frau Hofräthin(14), und sag
ihr, daß ich noch zuweilen einen raptus han, was Koch's angeht, so
wundere ich mich gar nicht über deren Veränderung,(15) das glück ist
kugelrund und fällt daher natürlich nicht immer auf das edelste,
das beste --- wegen Rieß(16), den mir herzlich grüße, was seinen sohn
anbelangt, will ich dir näher schreiben, obschon ich glaube, daß um sein
Glück zu machen Paris besser als wien sey,(17) Vien ist
überschüttet mit Leuten, und selbst dem Bessern Verdienst fällt es
dadurch hart, sich zu halten -- bis den Herbst oder bis zum Winter werde
ich sehen, was ich für ihn thun kann, weil dann alles wieder in die
Stadt eilt --
leb
wohl guter treuer Wegeler sey versichert von der liebe und Freundschaft
deines Beethowen"
"Beethoven
to Franz Gerhard Wegeler in Bonn
Vienna,
on the 29th of June [1801](1)
My
good dear Wegeler, how very much do I thank you for your remembering me, I
have deserved it as little for your sake as I have sought to deserve it,
and yet, you as so very good and will not be deterred by anything, not
even by my unforgivable neglect, you always remain the faithful, good and
true friend;--that I could forget you, at all, who once have been so dear
to me, no, I do not believe it, there are moments in which I, myself, am
longing for you, to spend some time with you;--my fatherland, the
beautiful country in which I was born, it is still as beautiful and clear
before my eyes as when I left it, in short, I will [always] consider that
time as one of the happiest moments in my life when I will see you again
and when I can see our Father Rhine, again.--When that will be, I can not
determine, yet, I will tell you this much that you will only see me as a
great man, not as an artist you will see me as greater, but you will find
me to be a better, more perfect man, and then, when matters in our
fatherland will be better, my art shall only be shown for the best of the
poor, o blissful moment, how fortunate do I call myself that I can bring
it about, myself, that I can create it, myself-- you want to know
something about my situation, well, it is not that bad, since last year, Lichnowski(2),
who, as hard as it might for you to believe it when I tell you that he has
always remained my warmest friend [small disagreements also exist between
us] [and have they not strengthened our friendship more!], has set out a
secure sum of 600 fl. that I can draw on until I will find a suitable
position; my compositions earn me a great deal, and I can say that I have
more orders than is possible for me to fulfill, and for every piece, I
have 6, 7 publishers and more if I wanted to, and one does not negotiate
with me, anymore, I demand and one pays, you see, that this is a beautiful
situation, i.e., if I see that a friend is in need and if I do not have
money in my purse, I only have to sit down, and he will be helped,
quickly--I am also more economical than before; should I remain here, I
will also bring it as far as having one day a year for an Academy
[concert], of which I have already given a few; only, the envious demon,
my bad health, has put a bad spoke in my wheel, namely: for 3 years,
my hearing has become weaker and weaker, and that is supposed to have come
about on account of my abdomen that, as you know, has already been bad
back then, but has become worse here in that I have always been inflicted
with diarrhea and with an extraordinary weakness arising from it; Frank(3)
wanted to strengthen it with medicines and my hearing with almond oil, but
prosit, nothing came of it, my hearing grew worse and worse, and my
abdomen remained in the same condition as before; this lasted until the
fall of last year, when I was sometimes in despair; then, a medical asinus
advised me to take cold baths in my condition; a smarter one recommended
the usual lukewarm bath in Danube water, which worked wonders, but my
hearing remained bad or grew even worse; this winter, I was really in bad
condition, I had truly bad colics and my state returned to its former
condition and remained so until about four weeks ago, when I went to Wering(5)
since I thought that this condition would also require a surgeon, and I
trusted him, in any case; he was able to almost stop my severe diarrhea,
he ordered me to take the baths in lukewarm Danube water to which, each
time, I was to add a little bottle of strengthening ingredients, he gave
me no medicine except, 4 days ago, pills for the stomach and a tea for my
ears, and on account of this I can say that I feel stronger and better,
only my ears, they still keep buzzing and humming day and night; I can say
that I am leading a wretched life, for 2 years, I have avoided all
company, since it is not possible for me to say to the people, I am deaf,
if I had [been working in] another field, it would still be better, but in
my field, this is a terrible situation, moreover, my enemies, whose number
is not small, what would they say to this--in order to give you an idea of
this peculiar deafness, I tell you that in the theater, I have to lean
quite close to the orchestra in order to understand the actors, I do not
hear the high notes of the instruments and voices, and if I am a bit
further away, I can not hear anything; in conversation, I wonder why
people to not notice it; however, since I have always been considered to
be somewhat distracted, they take it for that; sometimes, I can not hear
people who speak quietly, I can hear the sounds, but not the words, and
yet, if someone yells, it is unbearable to me; what shall become of this,
only heaven knows, Vering says that it will certainly get better, but
probably not entirely--often, I have cursed the creator and my existence;
Plutarch has taught me resignation; if possible, otherwise, I will defy my
fate, although there will be moments in my life in which I will consider
myself to be the most unhappy of God's creatures. I ask you not to
tell anyone of my condition, not even Lorchen(7), I am only
confiding it to you as a secret, I would like it if, at some time, you
could correspond with Vering about it; should my condition continue, I
will come to see you, next year, you will rent for me, in a beautiful
area, a house in the countryside, and then, for half a year, I want to
live as a peasant, perhaps, it will be changed by that, Resignation:
what a wretched refuge, and yet, it is the only one that is left to
me.--
you
will forgive me that, in your already dreary situation, I am still
burdening you with this burden of friendship--Steffen Breuning is her
now(8) and we are almost together, every day, and it is so good to renew
the old feelings, he has truly become a wonderful young man who knows a
thing or two and who, as we all do more or less, has his heart in the
right place; I have a very nice apartment now what looks out onto the Bastey(9)
and which is all the more valuable for my health, I believe that I will be
able to arrange it for B. to come to me.--
You
shall have your
Antiochum(10), and also many musical items from me, if you believe that it
will not cost you too much, honestly, your love of art delights me very
much, only write to me how we can arrange it, and I will send you all of
my works, which, by now, is a considerable number that is growing almost
daily.--
Instead
of the portrait of my grandfather, which I ask you to send as possible to
me by post coach,(11) I will send you that of his grandson, of your
Beethoven who is disposed sincerely and well towards you, and which will
be published by Artaria here who have asked me often for it as many
other, also out-of-town publishers,(12)--to Stoffel(13) I will write,
soon, in order to give him my piece of mind with respect to his obstinacy,
I will shout our old friendship mightily into his ears, he will have to
promise me sincerely that he will not insult you even more in your already
dreary circumstances,--I will also write to the good Lorchen, I have never
forgotten anyone of you good, dear ones, even if I did not let you have a
life sign from me, at all, but writing, as you know, has never been my
strength, even the best of friends will not receive letters from me, for
years, I only live in my notes, and hardly as one piece been completed, a
new one has been started, the way I am working now, I am often working on
3 4 things at the same time--write to me more often now, I will take care
that I will find time to write to you once in a while, send greetings to
all, also to the good Frau Hofräthin(14), and tell her that once in a
while I still have a raptus, as far as the Kochs are concerned and
their changes,(15) luck is round and does not always fall on the most
noble and best--with respect to Ries(16), whom I ask you to greet heartily
from me, as far has his son is concerned, I will write to you in more
detail, although I believe that, in order to make his fortune, Paris
would be better than Vienna,(17) Vienna is filled with people, and even
the better ones will find it hard to make a go, here--in fall or in
winter, I will see what I can do for him, here, when everyone will hurry
back to the city--
farewell,
good, faithful Wegeler, rest assured of the love and friendship
of your Beethowen"
[Source:
Ludwig van Beethoven Briefwechsel Gesamtausgabe, Vol. 1, Letter No. 65,
p.
78 - 83; Original: Koblenz, Slg. Wegeler; to (1): according to the
GA, the letter had been assigned to the year 1800 by Wegeler and other
editors, but from its content, 1801 is more likely; to (2): refers to
Prince Karl Lichnowsky; to (3): probably refers to Johann Peter Frank or
to his son Joseph; the father was a respected physician and medical
teacher in Vienna, where he had worked since 1795 and who, in 1804, went
to Vilna and after that to St. Petersburg, from where he returned to
Vienna in 1808; the son came to Vienna in 1796 and worked as a primary
physician at the General Hospital; in 1798, he married the Singer
Christine Gerhardi, who was also a friend of Beethoven; to (4):
refers to the muscle stress that is responsible for the blood flow; to (5):
refers to Gerhard von Vering, a physician from the Rhineland who lived in Vienna; in
1809, Stephan v. Breuning married his daughter
Julie; to (6): probably refers to Beethoven's retreat from public life as
he had come to know it from Plutarch's biographies of statesmen of ancient
times, in Beethoven's case probably a retreat into the countryside; to
(7): refers to Wegeler's bride, Eleonore von Breuning; to (8):
refers to Stephan von Breuning, who, from the end of May 1801 on, lived in
Vienna; to
(9): probably refers to the so-called "Hambergische Haus"
(according to Smolle, but disputed by Klein and Goldschmidt); to (10):
according to Wegeler, the picture in question was "ein bekanntes Bild von [Heinrich] Füger
. . . Direktor der Maler-Akademie in Wien" "a well-known picture
of [Heinrich] Fuger, Director of the Academy for Fine Arts in Vienna'; to (11):
refers to the portrait of Beethoven's grandfather, by Radoux; to (12):
probably refers to the etching by Johann Joseph Neidl after a drawing by
Gandolf Ernst Stainhauser von Treuberg, from 1801; to (13); refers to
Stephan von Breuning's brother Christoph von Breuning; zto(14): refers to
their mother, Mme. Maria Helene von Breuning; to (15): refers to
Babette Koch's relationship with Count Anton Belderbusch, whose children
she looked after, after his wife had left him; his marriage was annulled
by the Pope, and he was also divorced in civil law, after which he married
Babette Koch in 1802; to (16): refers to Franz Anton Ries; to (17):
refers to Ries's son Ferdinand, who, as the GA states, came to Vienna at
the end of 1801; details taken from p. 81-83).
"Beethoven
an Franz Gerhard Wegeler in Bonn
Vien am 16ten November 1801 [1].
Mein guter Wegeler! ich danke dir für den Neuen Beweiß deiner sorfgalt um mich, um so mehr,
da ich es so wenig um dich verdiene -- du willst wissen, wie es mir geht, was ich brauche, so ungerne ich
mich von dem Gegenstande überhaupt unterhalte, so thue ich es doch noch am liebsten mit dir -- Wering[2]
läßt mich nun schon seit einigen Monathen immer Fiskkaturen[3] auf beyde Armen legen, welche
aus einer gewissen Rinde, wie du wissen wirst, bestehen, das ist nun eine höchst unangenehme Kur,
indem ich immer ein paar Täge des freyen Gebrauches (ehe die Rinde genug gezogen hat) meiner Armen
beraubt bin, ohne der schmerzen zu gedenken, es ist nun wahr, ich kann es nicht laügnen, das sausen und
brausen ist etwas schwächer als sonst, besonders am Linken Ohre, mit welchem eigentlich meine
Gehörkrankheit angefangen hat, aber mein Gehör ist gewiß um nichts noch gebessert, ich wage
es nicht zu bestimmen, ob es nicht eher schwächer geworden? -- mit meinem unterleib gehts besser,
besonders wenn ich einige Täge das lauwarme Bad brauche, befinde ich mich 8 auch 10 Täge ziemlich
wohl; sehr selten einmal etwas stärkendes für den Magen, mit den Kraütern auf den Bauch
fange ich jezt auch na(c)h deinem Rath an; von sturzbäder will W.[ering] nichts wissen überhaupt aber
bin ich mit ihm sehr unzufrieden, er hat zu wenig sorge und Nachsicht für so eine Krankheit, komme ich
nicht einmal zu ihm und das geschiet auch mit viel mühe, so würde ich ihn nie sehen -- was hältst
du von schmidt[4], ich wechsle zwar nicht gern, doch scheint mir W. ist zu sehr Praktiker als daß er sich
viele neue Ideen durchs Lesen verschafte -- S.[chmidt] scheint mir hierin ein ganz anderer Mensch zu seyn und
würde vieleicht auch nicht gar so nachläßig seyn?--
man spricht
Wunder vom Galwanism[5] was sagst du dazu? -- ein Medeziner sagte mir er habe ein Taubstummes
Kind sehen sein Gehör wieder erlangen in Berlin, und einen Mann der ebenfalls sieben Jahr taub
gewesen, und sein Gehör wieder erlangt habe -- ich höre eben dein Schmidt[6] macht hiermit
versuche -- etwas angenehmer lebe ich jezt wieder, indem ich mich mehr unter Menschen gemacht, du kannst es kaum
glauben, wie öde, wie traurig ich mein Leben seit 2 Jahren zugebracht, wie ein Gespenst ist mir mein
schwaches Gehör überall erschienen, und ich flohe -- die Menschen, mußte Misantrop scheinen, und bins
doch so wenig, diese Veränderung hat ein liebes zauberisches Mädchen[7] hervorgebracht, die mich liebt,
und die ich liebe, es sind seit 2 Jahren wieder einige seelige Augenblicke, und es ist das erstemal, daß ich
fühle, daß -- heirathen glücklich machen könnte, leider ist sie nicht von meinem stande --
und jetzt -- könnte ich nun freylich nicht heirathen -- ich muß mich nun noch wacker herumtummeln,
wäre mein Gehör nicht, ich wäre nun schon lange die halbe Welt durchgereißt, and das muß
ich -- für mich gibts kein großeres Vergnügen als meine Kunst zu treiben und zu zeigen -- glaub nicht
daß ich bey euch glücklich seyn würde, was sollte mich auch glücklicher machen, selbst eure
sorgfalt würde mir wehe thun, ich würde jeden Augenblick das Mitleiden auf euren Gesichtern lesen, und
würde mich doch nur noch unglücklicher finden --
jene schöne vaterländische Gegenden, was war mir in ihnen beschieden, nichts als die hoffnung in einen
beßren Zustand, er wäre mir nun geworden -- ohne dieses übel, o die Welt wollte ich umspannen von
diesem Frey, meine Jugend -- ja ich fühle es, sie fängt erst jezt an, war ich nicht immer ein siecher
Mensch, meine körperliche Kraft -- nimmt seit einiger Zeit mehr als jemals zu, und so meine Geisteskräfte
jeden tag gelange ich mehr zu dem Ziel, was ich fühle, aber nicht beschreiben kann, nur hierin kann dein B.
leben, nichts von ruhe -- ich weiß von keiner andern als dem schlaf, und wehe genug thut mirs, daß ich
ihm jezt mehr schenken muß als sonst, nur halbe befreyung von meinem übel, und dann -- als vollendeter,
reifer Mann komme ich zu euch erneure die alten FreundschaftGefühle, so glücklich als es mir hinieden
beschieden ist, sollt ihr mich sehen, nicht unglücklich -- nein das könnte ich nicht ertragen -- ich will dem
schicksaal in den rachen greifen, ganz niederbeugen soll es mich gewiß nicht -- o es ist so schön das Leben
tausendmal leben -- für ein stilles -- Leben, nein ich fühl's, ich bin nicht mehr dafür gemacht -- du
schreibst mir doch so bald als möglich -- sorgst, daß der Steffen sich bestimmt, sich irgendwo
im Deutschen Orden anstellen zu laßen,[8] das Leben hier ist für seine Gesundheit mit zu viel
strapazzen verbunden, noch obendrein fürht er so ein isolirtes Leben, daß ich gar
nicht sehe, wie er so
weiter kommen will, du weißt wie das hier ist, ich will nicht einmal sagen, daß gesellschaft seine
Abspannung vermindern würde, man kann ihn auch nirgends hinzugehen überreden, ich habe einmal bey mir
vor einiger Zeit Musick gehabt, wo ausgesuchte Gesellschaft War,[9] unser Freund -- St. -- blieb doch aus -- emphele
ihm doch mehr Ruhe und gelassenheit, ich habe schon auch alles angewendet, ohne das kann er nie weder glücklich
noch gesund seyn -- schreib mir nun im nächsten Briefe, ob's nichts macht, wenns recht viel ist, was ich dir von
meiner Musik schicke, du kannst zwar das was du nicht brauchst wieder verkaufen, und so hast du dein Postgeld -- mein
Portrait[10] -- auch -- alles mögliche schöne und verbindliche an die L.[orchen] -- auch die Mama --
auch Kristoph[11] -- Du liebst mich doch ein wenig, sey so wohl von dieser als auch von der Freundschaft überzeugt
Deines
Bthwn"
"Beethoven
to Franz Gerhard Wegeler in Bonn
Vienna on the 16th of November 1801 [1].
My good Wegeler! I thank you for your new proof of your great care
for me, all the more since I do not deserve it for your sake--you want to
know how I am, what I need, as little as I like to discuss this topic, I
still prefer to do it with you--for several months, Wering[2] has me apply
bandages Fiskkaturen[3] on both of my arms, which, as you will
know, consist of a certain tree bark; this is a highly uncomfortable
treatment since, for a few days, I am being deprived of the free use of my
arms, not to mention the pain, it is true, I can not deny it, the buzzing
and humming is somewhat weaker than before, particularly in my left ear,
with which this illness of my ears had started; however, my hearing has
certainly not improved, I do not dare to ascertain if it has not even
become weaker?--my abdomen has become better, particularly if I, for
several days, take the lukewarm baths, I feel rather well for 8 to 10
days; very seldom, a strengthening tonic for the stomach, with herbs on my
abdomen, I am also starting on your advice; W.[ering] does not want to
hear anything of showers; in general, I am very unsatisfied with him, he
takes too little care of such an illness; if I would not visit him, which
only happens with some trouble, I would never see him--what do you think
of Schmidt[4], while I do not like to switch [doctors], it appears to me
that W. is too much of a practical physician who does not read up on new
developments to gain new insights thereby--in this, S.[chmidt] appears to
be quite a different man, to me, and perhaps he would also not be as
careless?--
they tell
miracles about galvanism[5] what do you think of it?--a physician
told me that in Berlin, he saw that a child that had been deaf and
mute for seven years, had regained its hearing--I just hear that your Schmidt[6]
is making attempts at it here--I live somewhat more pleasant, again, since
I have gone among people, again, you can not believe how lonely, how sad I
have spent my life for the last 2 years, like a ghost, my weak hearing
followed me everywhere, and I fled--people, I had to appear as a
misanthrope to them, and I am that, so little, this change has been
brought about by a dear, enchanting girl[7] who loves me and whom I love,
after 2 years, there are some blissful moments, here and there, so that I
feel that--marriage could make a person happy, unfortunately, she is not
of my class--and now, I could, of course, not get married--I still have to
strive and move about a great deal, if it was not for my hearing, I would
have traveled half of the world, by now, and I have to do so--more me,
there is no greater pleasure than to practice and perform my art--do not
believe that I would be happy when I would come to visit you, what would
make me happier, even your care would hurt me, every moment, I would read
compassion in your faces, and that would find me even unhappier--
those
beautiful areas of my fatherland, what was my lot in them, nothing but the
hope for better days, they would have arrived now--without this evil, oh,
I would want to embrace the world, freed from it, my youth--yes, I feel
it, it is only beginning, was I not always a sickly person, my
strength--for some time, it has been increasing, and so do my intellectual
faculties, each day, I am nearer to my goal which I can feel but not
describe, only in this, your B. can live, nothing of calm--I known of no
other calm than sleep, and it hurts me enough that I have to devote more
time to it than before, only half-freed from my evil, and then--as a
perfect, mature man, I will come to you and renew the old feelings of
friendship, as happy as I am destined to be you shall see me, not
unhappy--no, I could not bear it--I want to take fate by the throat, it
shall certainly not crush me, entirely--oh, it is so beautiful to live
life a thousand times--for a quiet--life, no, I feel it, I am not made for
it, any more--you will write to me as soon as possible--take care that Steffen
will decide to be employed somewhere in the German Order,[8] life here is
too strenuous for his health, moreover, he leads such an isolated life
that I can not see how he will advance, you know how that is here, I do
not want to say that company will lessen his stress; one can also not
persuade him to go anywhere, already twice, I had music at my place where
select company was present,[9] our friend--St.--stayed away--recommend to
him more calmness, I have already tried everything, without it, he can
never be happy or healthy-- in your next letter, write to me if it would
cost a lot, if it is much, if I send you some of my music, what you do not
need, you can sell, again, and then you will be reimbursed for your
postage--my portrait[10]--also--everything beautiful and good to L.[orchen]--also
to Mama--also to Kristoph[11]--you love me a little, be convinced
of it as well as of the friendship of
your
Bthwn"
[Source:
Ludwig van Beethoven Briefwechsel Gesamtausgabe, Vol. 1, Letter No. 70, p.
88 - 92; Original: Koblenz, Slg. Wegeler; to [1]: refers to
the fact that to the right, Beethoven had added the date, later; to [2]: refers
to the Military physician Gerhard von Vering; to [3]: refers
to Vesicantia which are bladder-draining; to
[4]: refers to Johann Adam Schmidt [1759-1809], military physician Professor for
General Medicine at the Josephsakademie; to
[5]: here, the GA points out that the main research area of Luigi Galvani
was the physiology of birds, particularly of their hearing organs and
that, in November 1780, a coincidence led to his discovery of galvanism
that was named after him; [6]: refer to Dr. Schmidt that was already mentioned in [4] with whom Wegeler was obviously friends; to [7]:
probably refers to Giulietta Guicciardi; to [8]: refers to the fact that,
since September 21, 1796, Stephan von Breuning had been employed with the
German Order, first at Mergentheim, later in Vienna; the GA further
mentions that he left the service of the Order in 1803 and found a
position in the k.k. Hofkriegsrat [War Ministry] as Hofkonzipist
[Secretary]; to [9]: probably refers to the musical event of August 15,
1801, of which, according to the GA, Franz Anton Hoffmeister wrote
to his partner Ambrosius Kühnel on August 19, 1801: "on
Saturday, there was music at Beethoven's, where also I, Bernard Forkel, Salieri, Preindl,
Par, etc etc including a few ladies and Cavaliers were
present"; to [10]: probably refers to the etching by Johann Joseph Neidl
after a lost drawing by Gandolf Stainhauser von Treuberg, which was
published by Giovanni Cappi in the fall of 1801; to [11]: refers to
greetings to Wegeler's later wife, Eleonore von Breuning and her mother, Helene
and her brother, Christoph von Breuning; details taken from p. 91 - 92].
These
letters reached Wegeler when he was still a bachelor.
WEGELER
'S
LAST
BONN YEARS
[1802 - 1807]
As Thayer-Forbes [p. 83]
reports, on March 28, 1802, Wegeler married Freundin Eleonore von
Breuning. This would allow us to conclude that his financial situation
might have improved, to some degree. They
way in which Wegeler was kept abreast of Beethoven's situation in Vienna was
through his brother-in-law Stephan von Breuning, as in his letter of
November 13, 1804:
"He
who has been my friend from youth is often largely to blame that I am compelled
to neglect the absent ones. You cannot conceive, my dear Wegeler, what an
indescribable, I might say, fearful effect the gradual loss of his hearing has
had upon him. Think of the feeling of being unhappy in one of such violent
temperament; in addition reservedness, mistrust, often towards his best friends,
in many things want of decision! For the greater part, with only an
occasional exception when he gives free vent to his feelings on the spur of the
moment, intercourse with him is a real exertion, at which one can scarcely trust
to oneself. From May until the beginning of this month we lived in the
same house, and at the outset I took him into my rooms. He had scarcely
come before he became severely, almost dangerously ill, and this was followed by
an intermittent fever. Worry and the care of him, used me rather
severely. Now he is completely well again. He lives on the Ramparts,
I in one of the newly built houses of Prince Esterhazy in front of the
Alstercaserne, and as I am keeping house he eats with me every day." [TF:
358].
Also with respect to Beethoven's
further creative activities, Wegeler was informed by Stephan von Breuning,
as in this letter from the year 1806r:
" . . . My father wrote to
his sister Eleonore and her husband (Wegeler-Ries, pp. 62-66, Eng. edn, p.
58-60):
Vienna, June 2, 1806
Dear
Sister, dear Wegeler.
If I remember rightly, I promised in my last letter to write to you about
Beethoven's opera. Since it certainly must be of interest to you, I'll
keep this promise. The music couldn't be more perfect and beautiful, and
the subject is interesting; it tells of the liberation of a prisoner through the
loyalty and courage of his wife, but yet, for all that, nothing has caused
Beethoven so much annoyance as this work, whose value will only be fully
appreciated in the future. In the first place, it was given seven days
after the French troops marched in, the moment couldn't have been more
unfavorable. The theaters were empty, of course, and Beethoven, who also
notices that there were some things wrong with the way the text was treated,
withdrew the opera after three performances. After life returned to
normal, he and I took it up again.* I reworked the entire libretto for
him,+ making the action more lively and rapid; he made cuts in many
numbers, and thereafter it was given three times to tremendous
applause.[49] However, there were enemies in the theater and he clashed
with some of them, especially at the second performance, and they brought things
to a point where the work was no longer given after that. Even earlier,
many difficulties had been put in his way. A single example as evidence of
these is the fact that at the second performance he could not get the
announcement of the opera to be made with the revised title Fidelio, as
it is given in the French original and as it appeared on the printed version
after the changes had been made. In violation of all the promises made,
the first title, Leonore, was found on the posters for the
performances.[51] What made the intrigue all the more disagreeable for
Beethoven was that he has been set back financially, by non-performance of the
opera, for which he was to be paid on the basis of a percentage of the
receipts. It will take him all the longer to pull himself out of it
because the treatment he has received has made him lose much of his desire to
work and pleasure in working. . . . " [Gerhard von Breuning, Memories of
Beethoven from the House of the Black-Robed Spaniards: 41].
Stephan
von Breuning sent these lines still to Bonn.
WEGELER
IN KOBLENZ
AND
BEETHOVEN'S FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE WITH HIM [1807 - 1816 re. 1825]
|
View
of Koblenz and Ehrenbreitstein Castle
|
As
Wegeler's nephew Gerhard von Breuning reports, in 1807, the Wegelers moved to
Koblenz:
"In
1807 he moved to Coblenz, where he lived an active life as Privy Governmental
and Medical Councillor until his death (May 7, 1848 . . . " [Gerhard von
Breuning, Memories of Beethoven from the House of the Black-Robes Spaniards:
33].
|
Franz Gerhard Wegeler
|
There,
in the spring of 1801, Wegeler received an urgent request from his old friend
Beethoven for his baptismal certificate. As we already know, at that time,
Beethoven was interested in marrying Therese von Malfatti and still hoped that
his proposal might be successful:
"Beethoven
an Franz Gerhard Wegeler in Koblenz
Vien am 2ten May 1810
Guter alter Freund -- beynahe kann ich es denken erwecken meine Zeilen Staunen
bey dir -- und doch, obschon du keine schriftliche Beweise hat, bis du doch noch
immer bey mir im lebhaftesten Andenken -- Unter meinen Manusc<hriften>ripten
ist selbst schon lange Eins, was dir zugedacht ist, und was du gewiß noch diesen Sommer
erhältst[1] -- seit ein 2 Jahren hörte ein stilleres ruhigeres Leben bey mir auf,
und ich ward mit gewalt in das Weltleben gezogen, noch habe ich kein Resultat dafür
gefaßt, und vieleicht eher dawider -- doch auf wen mußten nicht auch die Stürme
von außen Wirken? Doch ich wäre glücklich, vieleicht einer der Glüklichsten
Menschen, wenn nicht der Dämon in meinen Ohren seinen Aufenthalt aufgeschlagen --
hätte ich nicht irgendwo gelesen, der Mensch dörfe nicht freywillig scheiden von
seinem Leben, so lange er noch eine gute That verrichten kann, längst wär ich nicht
mehr -- und zwar durch mich selbst -- o so schön ist das Leben, aber bey mir ist es
für immer vergiftet --
du wirst mir eine Freundschaftliche Bitte nicht abschlagen, wenn ich dich ersuche mir meinen
Taufschein zu besorgen[2] -- was nur immer für Unkosten dabey sind, da
Steffen
Breuning mit dir in Verrechnung steht, so kannst du dich da gleich bezahlt machen, so wie ich hier an Steffen
gleich alles ersezen werde -- solltest du auch selbst es der Mühe werth halten, der sache
nachzuforschen, und es dir gefallen, die reise von Koblenz nach Bonn zu machen, so rechne mir nur alles
an--Etwas ist Unterdessen in Acht zu nehmen, nemlich: daß noch ein Bruder früherer
Geburt vor mir war, der ebenfalls Ludwig hieß nur mit dem Zusaze "Maria"[4], aber
gestorben, um mein gewisses Alter zu bestimmen, muß man also diesen erst finden, da ich ohnedem
schon weiß, daß durch andere hierin ein Irrthum entstanden, da man mich als älter
angegeben als ich war -- leider habe ich eine Zeitlang gelebt, ohne selbst zu wissen wie alt ich bin -- Ein FamilienBuch
hatte ich, aber es hat sich verlohren, der Himmel weiß, wie -- also laß dich's nicht
verdrießen, wenn ich dir diese sache sehr warm emphele, den Ludwig Maria, und den jezigen nach ihm
gekommenen Ludwig ausfindig zu machen -- Je bälder du mir den Taufschein schikst,[5] desto
größer meine Verbindlichkeit -- man sagt mir, daß du in euren Freymaurerlogen ein
lied von mir singst, vermuthlich in E dur, und was ich selbst nicht habe, schick mir's, ich verspreche
dir's drey und vierfaltig auf eine andere Art zu ersezen[6]--
denke mit einigem Wohlwollen an mich, so wenig ich's dem äußern scheine nach um dich verdiene --
Umarme küße deine verehrte Frau[7], deine Kinder[8], alles was dir lieb ist -- im Namen deines Freundes
Beethown"
"Beethoven to Franz Gerhard Wegeler in Koblenz
Vienna on the 2nd of May 1810
Good old friend--I can think that, almost, my lines will astonish you--and yet,
although you do not have written evidence, you are always in my liveliest
memory--For a long time, among my manuscript, there is one that is meant for you
and which you will certainly receive this summer[1]--for 2 years, a more calm,
quiet life has ended for me and I was drawn into the world by force, I have not
yet decided in favor of it, and perhaps, even against it.--However, who will not
be affected by outside storms? However, I might be happy, perhaps one of the
happiest men, if the demon would not have taken up residence in my ears--had I
not read somewhere that man is not allowed to leave this life as long as he can
still do a good deed, I would not be here, anymore--and that by my own hand--oh,
how beautiful life is, but for me is has been poisoned forever--
You will not refuse
the request of a friend if I ask you to obtain my baptismal certificate for
me[2]--whatever costs will arise out of it, since
Steffen
Breuning is in account with you, you can obtain payment from him, right away, as
I will reimburse everything to Steffen here, right away--should you find it
worth the trouble to research the matter yourself and should you like to make
the journey from Koblenz to Bonn, just bill everything to me--However, there is
something to watch out for, namely: that there was another brother born
before me whose name was also Ludwig, but with the addition "Maria"[4]
who died, however; in order to determine my correct age, one has to first find
him, since I, in any event, know that confusion has arisen out of this through
others, since one has described me as older than I was--unfortunately, I lived
for some time without knowing, myself, how old I am--I had a family book, but it
was lost, heaven knows, how--therefore, do not be upset if I recommend this
matter very warmly to you, the Ludwig Maria and to find out about the Ludwig who
came after him--the sooner you will send me the baptismal certificate,[5] the
more I will be obliged to you--they tell me that in your Masonic lodges, you
sing a song of mine, probably in E major, which I do not have, myself, send it
to me, I promise to replace it three- and fourfold in another way[6]--
think with some
benevolence of me, as little as I seem to deserve it from appearances--embrace
[and] kiss your adored wife[7], your children[8], everything that is dear to you--in
the name of your friend
Beethown"
[Source: Ludwig van Beethoven Briefwechsel
Gesamtausgabe, Vol. 2, Letter No. 439, p. 118-120; Original: Koblenz, Slg.
Wegeler; to [1]: refers to Wegeler's note: "Mein Loos hierin war auch jenes seines Schülers Ries;
die Dedication blieb in den Briefen. Sind diese aber nicht höheren Werthes?"
["In this, my fate was also that of his pupil Ries; the dedication remained
in the letters. However, are they not of a higher value?"]; with
respect to this, the GA refers to Wegeler/Ries, p. 47; to [2]: according to the
GA, this refers to Wegeler's later explanation from the year 1845, with a quote
from Stephan von Breuning's letter that the latter had written to him
"three months" after Beethoven's letter: "Beethoven sagt mir alle Woche wenigstens einmal, daß er Dir schreiben will; allein, ich
glaube, s e i n e H e i r a t h s - P a r t h i e h a t s i c h z e r s c h l a g e n , und so fühlt
er keinen so regen Trieb mehr, Dir für die Besorgung des Taufscheins zu
danken"; ["'Beethoven tells me at least once a week that he intends to write to you; but I
believe his marriage prospect has fallen through, and for this reason he
no longer feels the lively desire to thank you for your trouble in getting him
the baptismal certificate.' . . . "], with respect to this, the GA refers
to Franz
Gerhard Wegeler, Nachtrag zu den biographischen Notizen über Ludwig van Beethoven, Koblenz 1845,
p. 14 and to the fact that Beethoven's marriage plans obviously centered around
Therese Malfatti; to [3]: refers to the fact that "früherer Geburt"
and "mir" were underlined twice; to [4]: refers to Ludwig Maria van Beethoven,
baptized on April 2, 1769, died on April 4, 1769; to [5]: refers to the fact
that Wegeler obtained the following baptismal certificate for Beethoven, which
today is at the Beethoven-Haus in Bonn:
"Departement
de Rhin et Moselle
Mairie de Bonn
Extrait de
Registre de Naissances de la Paroisse de St. Remy a Bonn
Anno millesimo
septingentesimo Septuagesimo die decima septima Decembris baptizatus est
Ludowicus. Parentes D. Joannes van Beethoven, et Helena Keverichs,
conjuges <Parentes>Patrimi D. Ludovicus van Beethoven et Gertrudis
Mullers dicta Baums.
Pour Extrait
Conforme Delivre a la Mairie de Bonn
Bonn le 2 Juin
1810
L'adjoint delegue Muller
[by another hand:]
Vu par nous
President de
Tribunal Civil de l'arrondissement de Bonn pour legalisation de la Signature
d'autre part de Sieur Muller adjoint de la mairie de Bonn.
Donne en notre
hotel a Bonn le 2 Juin 1810.
[illegible signature]
Par ordonnance
Groeninger
[C. Coffier]
[Note left beneath
a stamp:]
droits de 9
fr. 25 c.
[note left beneath
the main text:]
approuve le mot
surcharge ci contre".
The GA points out
that Beethoven was not convinced of the correctness of this extract from the
baptismal register and that, on its backside, he noted: "Es scheint der Taufschein nicht richtig, da noch ein
Ludwig vor mir,
eine Baumgarten war glaube ich meine Pathe.
ludwig van Beethowen
1772" [to the right] "The baptismal certificate is not correct,
since there was another Ludwig before me, I believe a Baumgarten was my
godparent.
to [6]: with
respect to this, the GA refers to Wegeler's comment in Wegeler/Ries, S. 47: "Beethoven
ist hier im Irrthum; es war nicht ein eigenes von ihm componirtes Lied, was er nicht mehr hatte, sondern
nur ein anderer dem O p f e r l i e d von Mathisson [WoO 126] unterlegter Text. Gleiches
unternahm
ich bei dem von ihm sehr früh componirten Lied: W e r i s t e i n f r e i e r M a n n ?
[W