Beethoven 1793

AGE 22 - 23 [1793]

Compiled by Gary D. Evans

Last Updated: March 25, 2019 6:57 PM

THE EARLY PERIOD:

FIRST YEARS IN VIENNA UNDER HAYDN'S INFLUENCE1793 (Age 22 - 23)

With help of many, including The Elector of Bonn and Count Waldstein who wrote to him "Through uninterrupted diligence you will receive Mozart's spirit through Haydn's hands," Beethoven departed November 1792 for Vienna. He would live there for the remainder of his life. Shortly after his arrival, news of his father's death in Bonn came to him. Within a short time, his two brothers - now also young adults moved to Vienna as well.

Shortly after moving to Vienna, Mozart also died, prompting Beethoven to study his work closely, and writing works that are seen to have a Mozartean construction, yet with Beethoven's signature. Beethoven began studying counterpoint with Haydn, violin with Ignaz Schuppanziah, and some Italian vocal composition under Salieri. Haydn left for England 2 years later (1794) prompting Beethoven to further his counterpoint instruction with Johann Albrechtsberger and others.

With Beethoven's Bonn monetary support ending, several Viennese noblemen, principally Prince Joseph Franz Lobkowitz, Prince Karl Lichnowsky and Baron Gottfried van Swieten, aware of the importance of Beethoven's musical powers, offered ongoing financial support. By 1793 (age 22), Beethoven's fame had grown and he was frequently invited into the homes of nobility where he performed for them. Also, beginning in 1793 his compositions were regularly published, initially through his friend Nikolaus Simrock as a set of variations (WoO 66).

image from 1801

WORKS CREATED

op 19: 2nd piano concerto in Bb revised	(probably w/ Rondo WoO 6 in finale.) (first begun 1787)
WoO 6: Rondo for piano & orch. in Bb	(prob. Orig finale to op 19)
WoO 25: Rondo in Eb
WoO 40:12 Vars for piano & violin in F on "se vuol ballare" from Mozart's Ni di Figaro	?? written 1792 ?? Ded: Eleonore von Breuning [First Viennese published work - published 7/1793. Beethoven was sent 12 copies. He found many errors and sent a note to Artaria demanding confiscations of copies, correction and republication. There was therefore a second issue [See Ira Brilliant Center Exhibit Information on site]
WoO 41:Rondo for piano & violin in G	(July)
WoO 81: Allemande in A	(rev. 1822)
Hess 19: Quintet in Eb
Hess 233: ~300 simple contrapoint exercises on cantus firmi	1793-95
Hess 234: ~125 exercises in strict counterpoint	93-95
Hess 235: 26 free exer.	93-95
Hess 236: 18 simple 2-part strict fugues	93-95
Hess 237: 7 simple 3-part strict fugues	93-95
Hess 238: 9 simple 4-part strict fugues	93-95
Hess 239: 3 chorale fugues	93-95
Hess 240: 4 2-part exercises in double counterpoint	93-95
Hess 241: 21 exercises in double counterpoint	93-95
Hess 242: 6 exercises in double counterpoint	93-95
Hess 243: 5 4-part fugues in double counterpoint	93-95
Hess 244: 2 4-part triple fugues	93-95
Hess 245: Fragment of a fugue in d for string quartet	93-95
Hess 246: Double fugue in F for 4-part choir 'Kyrie eleison'	93-95 (Unheard Beethoven mp3 file here)

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES

DATE	LIFE NOTES
	1780's & 90's: Viennese were dedicated to entertainment. To escapism rather than enlightenment. Serious subjects were considered too "traurig" (too sad), [phrase used at the time]. Dance was universal. Prostitution was widespread. In Vienna at this time, music was the favorite passtime of the aristocracy. Political thought and action under Emperor Francis II was dangerous and suppressed. Many of the aristocracy practiced a high standard of musical achievement.
	Beethoven met many of his friends thru Haydn who also taught: Countess Thun, Erdody family, Pleyel, Krumpholz, Anton Kraft, Wranitsky & Seyfried
	Written precepts: "To do good whenever one can, to love liberty above all else, never to deny the truth, even though it be before the throne" [Anderson v1pg 6 - letter #4]
Jan	Moved from attic to ground floor at Lichnowsky's until late summer 1794 when moved to 1st floor.
Early	First met Prince Lobkowitz
?	Began secret lessons w/ composer, Johann Schenk [1761-1830] helping with counterpoint studies after finding Haydn not carefully correcting lessons.
May 3	Beethoven sent a letter to Elector Maximilian Franz (Anderson#3) in Bonn asking for his father's salary to continue for the care of the household and the support of his two brothers after his father's death 5 months earlier (Dec.1792).
May 22	Beethoven sent an apologetic letter to A. Vocke (Anderson#4) "I am not wicked -- Hot blood is my fault -- my crime is that I am young. I am not wicked, truly not wicked. Even though wildly surging emotions may betray my heart, yet my heart is good --" [from Schiller's 'Don Carlos', Act II, scene 2] "Precepts. To do good whenever one can, to love liberty above all else, never to deny the truth, even though it be before the throne."
June	B. left for Eisenstadt where Haydn staying (probably at the Summer home of Prince Nikolaus Esterhazy). It is likely that Esterhazy helped w/ logding. [Kerman p17] [Note: A letter (Anderson#11) states trip to Eisenstadt occured in June 1794 - was that another trip?]
July	WoO 40 'Se vuol ballare' variations published.
Aug	Wrote to friend and fellow musician Nikolaus Zmeskall von Domanovecz (Anderson#5)in Vienna regarding needed editorial corrections to WoO 40.
Oct 24	B. was invited to dine with Baron van Swieten, who became one of his important patrons. [Pollini CD]
before Oct 26	Wrote to Christian Gottlob Neefe (Anderson#6) in Bonn thanking him for his frequent advice.
Nov 2	Wrote to Eleonore von Breuning (Anderson#7) in Bonn after 1 year of his moving to Vienna, apologizing for the quarrel & his behavior that had occurred. Told her he is dedicating WoO 40 variations to her; asks her to knit him a coat, wanting to wear, "something made for me by one of the best, most admirable girls in Bonn." (She did respond by sending a knitted neckcloth after a few months - see June 1794)
Nov 23	Beethoven wrote to Elector Maximilian Franz in Bonn (Anderson#8), "...I have employed this year all the powers of my soul for the benefit of music in order to be able during the coming year to send to Your Electoral Excellency something that will reflect your magnanimous treatment of me and your sublime character in general more clearly than what is being sent to Your Electoral Excellency by Herr Haydn."
Nov 23	Haydn wrote to Elector Maximilian Franz that 500 fl. seemed insufficient. Praised the work that Beethoven had written and enclosed a note from Beethoven and 5 works.
Dec 23	Elector Maximilian Franz replied to Haydn in that Beethoven had been receiving 900 fl, not 500, and that four of the five works sent to him were not new, but had been composed in Bonn before Beethoven's departure (a fugue was the only new work represented). It was then suggested that as Beethoven was apparently accumulating debt and was producing little, he should return to Bonn. (Beethoven's Bonn support was terminated 3 months later -- see March 1794)
?	Briefly moved into Pr.Lichnowsky's castle.
?	Met lifelong friend: Hungarian Nikolaus Zmeskall von Domanovecz (amateur cellist and quartet composer). (Subsequently Provided quill pens to B. for many years)
?	Louis XVI guillotined in France.