Middle Period

VIENNA - 1812 (Age 41 years)

CREATIVE / FINANCIAL: A new lyrical strain emerged with a sense of inner peace; a sense similar to that of the fantasy sonatas of 1802. But, by the year's end melancholia developed and composition slowed for a time.

MEDICAL: Beethoven continued to seek medical advise and treatment for his severe ailments including his now marked hearing loss associated with tinnitus. He was thereby not able keep up with conversations, especially in noisy environments, causing him to withdraw from those settings. In addition, he found that he could not adequately perform, which led him increasingly toward composition as a means of income rather than performance.

During the Spring of 1811 Beethoven had developed high fever, headaches, etc, prompting his doctor to advise a stay at the Bohemian spa town of Teplitz where he remained for six weeks. Symptoms recurred in the Winter of 1812 while working on the Seventh Symphony. His doctor again advised returning to Teplitz during the following Summer months. It was during that time that Beethoven's letter to his "immortal Beloved," (most likely to Josephine) was written; it was never sent.

FAMILY - SOCIAL ISSUES: Beethoven returned from Teplitz by way of his brother, Nikolaus Johann's home in Linz in late October, there finding that he was living with his housekeeper, Therese Obermayer. Beethoven argued that his brother must end the relationship which Beethoven found to be beneath his brother's and the family's dignity - given she had had one child out of wedlock, and had been convicted of theft the year before. Beethoven went so far as to appeal to the local civic and religious authorities resulting in a police order compelling her to leave the home. Nikolaus Johann responded by marrying her the following month, on November 9th.

Within a few months (early 1813) after Johann's marriage, and with Beethoven continuing to provide care for his other brother Casper Carl - who was ill with an exacerbation of tuberculosis (from which his mother had died), and with his own ongoing illnesses and progressive deafness - he complained of his suffering. During this time, his physical appearance became disheveled, his public manners declined, and his work output decreased.

ROMANTIC: Beethoven fell deeply in love with the Brunsvik's youngest daughter, Josephine. She, in turn returned his affection, but - in the end she later married Count Josef Deym, a happy marriage but one that lasted only a short time with his sudden death in 1804. Many love letters were written to her over the years 1804-1805 and beyond (see Anderson's Letters from those years), but by 1807 - under pressure from her family and with the knowledge that her ongoing relationship with Beethoven could result in the loss of her children, she withdrew from him and three years later, in 1810, she married Baron von Stackelberg.

lifemask image from 1812

SUBSEQUENT TO OP. 96 THERE WAS A TEMPORARY CESSATION
OF COMPOSITION w/ MELENCHOLIA PRESENT DEC 1812 - JAN 1813

Autograph score of Piano Trio WoO 39 presented to 10 yo Maximiliane Brentano, daughter of Antonie and Franz Brentano. At the top of the manuscript Beethoven wrote: "Vienna, the 26th of June. 1812. For my little friend Maxe Brentano, to cheer her up when she plays the piano..." He provided fingering for her in the piano part. [Channel Classics - Songs CCS 1491]

B. left Tepliz for Karlsbad (50 miles away), leaving without preparation, where he stayed in Brentano guest-house until Aug 7th-8th when he and the Brentano's traveled to Franzensbrunn (according to Solomon -- quoting Goethe's diary entry but B. wrote his publisher to send him songs quickly to him for Goethe interview on July 24th). Note: According to Man of his Word, it was chance meeting Emperor Franz's Personal physician (Dr. Staldenheim) who recommended change to Karlsbad and Frurzenbrun for the "waters" to treat a GI disorder. (The physician was treating the Emperor's family) [Man of his Word pg92, Anderson P383]

Sept15-16