Ludwig van Beethoven, Walzer für Klavier (Es-Dur) WoO 84, Autograph

Musical charity

Beethoven composed the two waltzes WoO 84 and 85 as well as the Ecossaise WoO 86 for piano for the Viennese actor Carl Friedrich Müller, who was an invalid. Müller published collections of dances himself, the sales of which guaranteed him an income (his invalidity meant that he could no longer work as an actor and he was therefore reliant on state support). There is a note to this effect in one of Beethoven's conversation books from the second half of December 1824. Beethoven's nephew Karl wrote, "Müller had the waltzes engraved at his own cost and all the art and music shops have subscribed to it, each one 20 copies. He will receive 3 f for each copy." (BKh 79, Bl. 27v). Renowned contemporary composers contributed works for these editions. The "Sammlung 40 neuer Walzer" ("Collection of 40 new waltzes") which Müller published in December 1824 under the title "Musikalisches Angebinde zum Neuen Jahr" ("Musical gift for the New Year") included Beethoven's WoO 84 as well as a composition by Franz Schubert. WoO 85 and 86 appeared a year later in December 1825 in the collection "Seyd uns zum zweytenmal willkommen! Neujahrs und Carnevalsgabe, als Fortsetzung des beliebten musikalischen Angebindes fünfzig neue Walzer ..." ("Welcome a second time! New Year's and Carnival edition as a continuation of the popular Musical Gift, fifty new waltzes."). Müller had the autograph scores of the three works which Beethoven had given him for his collections bound together in a folder. On the inside of the cover the latter proudly noted "Des unsterblichen Beethoven eigenhändige Handschrift, welchen Beitrag er für mich zur Herausgabe von Walzern schrieb. C. F. Müller" ("The original manuscript by the immortal Beethoven, which he wrote for me for the publication of waltzes. C.F. Müller"). The leaves are attached together, and each bears a handwritten date by the composer "am 21ten Novemb. 1824" and "am 14ten Novemb. 1825" respectively.

Both in the catalogue of Beethoven's works ("Beethoven-Werkverzeichnis") by Georg Kinsky and Hans Halm and in the edition of his conversation books, the Viennese actor Carl Friedrich Müller, for whom Beethoven wrote the three above-mentioned works, is confused with the Berlin composer and piano teacher Karl Friedrich Müller. Beethoven wrote the latter a friendly letter in 1825/26, replying to a query. They are, however, not the same person. The letter to the Müller in Berlin is also held at the Beethoven-Haus under the call number NE 188. (J.R.)