AGE 56 - 57 [1827]
Compiled by Gary D. Evans
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Last Updated:
March 25, 2019 7:49 PM
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BEETHOVEN'S FINAL MONTHS VIENNA - 1827 (Age 56)
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BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
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DATE
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The von Breunings, Streichers & Pasqualati provided B. w/ food & drink during his final illness. Frequent visitors included Stephan & Gerhard von Breuning, Schindler, Johann v. Beethoven, nephew Karl, Karl Holz w/ occasional visits from Diablelli, pianist Baron Eskeles's major domo Rau, teacher Doleialek, virtuoso violinist Clement, Bernard, singer Mme. Schechner (who had brought tenor Luigi Cramolini also [L.Dec p82], Hummel & his 15 year old student, Ferdinand Hiller, Schindler's sister, Baron Gleichenberg & publishers Haslinger & Streicher. |
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Jan 2
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Karl left to join his regiment in Iglau |
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Jan 3
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Last will leaving everything to Karl. |
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Jan 8
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2nd abd. surg. drainage. Malfatti, long estranged came at B's request after having at 1st refused siting professional ethics after their estrangement years earlier over B's courting his daughter Therese [L.Dec p81]; consulted (B. responded like an adoring child). Malfatti decided that alcohol restriction was improper given mortal condition and allowed 1 glass/day w/ rapid but temporary improvement (B. is said to have exceeded dose soon after). Sauna baths also prescribed to cause sweating but actually associated w/ rapid increase in ascites [L.Dec p81]. |
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Feb 2
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3rd abdominal surgery for fluid removal. |
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Feb
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Handel's collected works arrived in am (sent by Stumpf, see 9/1824). B. very pleased; told Gerhard, Handel "is the greatest, the ablest composer....I can still learn from him." |
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Feb - mid
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Received gift from Diabelli: lithograph of Haydn's birthplace-B.very pleased with this; asked Stephan for framing. Gerhard's teacher, Heller, wished to do this & added at the bottom "Hayden". Gerhard pointed out spelling error; B.angry;error corrected. |
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Feb 8
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B. letter to Stumpff thanking for "glorious gift" and telling joy it was bringing him. In same letter B. mentioned his acute financial difficulties and raised the possibility of the Philharmonic sponsoring a benefit concert for him [L.Dec p82] |
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Feb 17
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B. letter to Wegeler "...I presume I must expect a fourth operation, although the doctors have said nothing about that yet. I remain patient and think: Occasionally some good may come of all that's evil..." [Wegeler/Ries p51] |
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Feb
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Schindler showed B. collection of 16 songs of Schubert - B. delighted w/ these saying Schubert "possessed the divine spark" |
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Feb 22
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Dictated letter for Schott's asking for Rhine or Mosel wine as health inducer. |
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Feb 27
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4th abdominal surgery again for abdominal fluid re-accumulation. |
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Feb 28
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Philharmonic Society directors meeting. Voted unanimously to grant B. gift of [L]100 which B. received 2 weeks later March 15th. |
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Mar 1
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B. sent another letter to B. Schott's & Sons - again requesting Rhine or Moselle wine (eventually arrived one day before his death March 26th. |
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Mar 1
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Karl's last letter to Beethoven was sent from Iglau |
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Mar 8
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Visited for 1st of several times by Hummel and his student Hiller (later Hummel's wife also) |
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Mar - mid
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B. sent letter to Pasqalati thanking him for his concern: "Heaven bless you generally and for your affectionate concern." |
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Mar 13
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B. visited by Ferdinand Hiller for second time during his terminal illness along w/ Hummel. Hiller recorded the following: "...found that his condition had deteriorated considerably. He lay in bed, seemed to be suffering great pain and at times uttered a deep groan; nevertheless, he spoke freely and vigorously. ... B. said to Hummel 'You are a lucky fellow - you have a wife, she looks after you, she is in love with you - but I'm a poor bachelor!' followed by a deep sigh." |
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Mar 14
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B. sent letter to Ignagz Moschelles thanking him for his concern: "Yet I am resigned to shat Fate has ordained and only implore God continually that in His divine justice He may see to it that, as long as I must suffer life in death on this earth, I may be preserved from want."[Hamburger p265] |
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Mar 16
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According to Wawruch, physicians gave up hope of recovery by this time. [L.Dec p83] |
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Mar 18
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B. thanked Philharmonic for gift; offered new symphony (sketched), overture, etc.. |
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Mar 19
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?24th: B's brother Johann wrote a note to B. stating the inevitable and suggesting he take last rites, etc. & from Dr. Wawruch's recollections: Johann "wrote with the greatest delicacy the words of admonition on a sheet of paper, which B. read with unexampled composure, slowly and thoughtfully, his countenance like that of one transfigured. Cordially and solemnly he held out his hand to me and said 'send for the priest' and after receiving the Last Sacraments B. recalled to tell the priest 'I thank you, reverend sir. Your have brought me comfort' " [L.Dec p83] |
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Mar 20
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Visited by Hummel & Hiller again this time accompanied by Hummel's wife also (who B. had known for years). [L.Dec p83] B. was found to be very weak & spoke softly, in clipped sentences. Whispered after their initial greeting: "I rather think I shall soon be setting out on the upward journey," |
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Mar 22
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Beethoven received last rites and he was heard to say: "Father! I thank you! You have brought me comfort!". |
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Mar 23
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Last visit by Hummel & his wife & Hiller. Hiller recalled ... "He lay there faint and wretched, at times sighing gently. No further word passed his lips; the perspiration stood out on his brow. Seeing that by some chance he did not have his handkerchief at hand, Hummel's wife took her dainty wisp of battiste and at different times dried his face. Never shall I forget the grateful glance which his broken eyes sent up to her when she did this." [no quote; mentioned - L.Dec p83] |
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Mar 23
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Codicil to will signed w/ great difficulty: "Ludwig van Beethoven" [Kerman p88] "My nephew Karl shall be my sole legatee, but the capital of my estate will fall to his natural or testamentary heirs" [Anderson III p1346 #1568] |
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Mar 24
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Received communion & final anointing of the Catholic Church. Wine from Schott's (Rudesheimer Berg, 1806) arrived; B. too weak; said of it, "Pity, pity, too late." These were his last words. Later, he lapsed into a coma. With the rapidly progressing illness, friends were contacted. Schindler visited Grillparzer in the evening telling him that Beethoven lay ill & dying & that friends wished him to write an oration for the actor Anshutz to read at the funeral; news was shocking. Grillparzer had not known Beethoven was even ill; he agreed and rapidly began and completed his task. The great man lapsed into unconsciousness and, as a fierce storm split the sky with lightning and thunder growled, Beethoven took his last breath and died. All Vienna and the world grieved. The schools were closed; many people stayed away from work. Five days later, on March 29th, thousands lined the streets to witness is body being carried to its final resting place. (Franz Schubert was one of the torchbearers.) And as they watched, they wept. (Paraphrased from: "Milton Cross New Encyclopedia of the Great Composers and Their Music," (1969 edition, Doubleday, V#1, p.75) |
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Mar 26
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Monday. Schubert paid respects [L. Dec p83] and Schubert's friend, Huttenbrener's and one other, witnessed the final moments. He stated that at 5:45 PM March 26th, 1827 there was a severe storm: "Beethoven's eyes opened and he lifted his right fist for several seconds, a serious, threatening expression on his face. When his head fell back, he half closed his eyes... Not another word, not another heartbeat." (There were two witnesses: Huttenbrener & probably Johanna van Beethoven) |