Ludwig van Beethoven, Blatt mit Gesprächsnotizen von 1826 und Skizzen zum Streichquartett op. 131, 2. Satz, Autograph

Soliloquies and dialogues

Paper was valuable, so some sheets were used more than just once. On one page of the large-format writing paper Beethoven wrote down composition ideas he didn't want to forget. On manually drawn lines he noted motifs for the second movement of the string quartet in C sharp minor, op. 131. At the bottom of the sheet he annotated: "Zuerst nach dem Thema..." [First after the theme]

The text on the other page was written on it with the paper being folded. Beethoven's nephew Karl used the paper much like a conversation booklet to communicate with his hearing-impaired uncle, writing down calculations and conversation notes. The calculation helped him practice the multiplication of large numbers and the division by 2. Next to the numbers Beethoven wrote: "Sie holt die Sem[m]el". [She fetches the roll.] Obviously, this paper was from the early morning. Karl's conversation notes also indicate this point of time. He is asking his uncle if he may visit a friend before breakfast:

"Wenn du erlaubst, möchte ich jetzt schnell zu einem meiner Kollegen gehen, der Schriften von mir hat, die ich äußerst nöthig brauche; du darfst nicht fürchten, daß ich nicht wiederkomme; bis zum Frühstück bin ich hier; auch wird die Luft mir sehr gut thun. [With your permission, I would like to quickly visit a friend who has some papers of mine that I need urgently. Rest assured, I will return until breakfast. The fresh air will be good for me, too.] Ich habe die Schriften äußerst nöthig, u. war immer Morgens bey ihm, um danach mit ihm zu studiren" [I dearly need the papers and have always visited him in the morning to later study with him]

"daß ich kein Gefangener hier seyn werde, hofte ich, u. es wird auch nur zu villeicht verfehlten [?] [Not to be a prisoner here, is what I hoped for, and it might lead to wrong Schritten führen; ich verlange keine völlige Freyheit; nur möchte ich jetzt diesen kleinen Gang machen zu diesem, zum Theil, weil ich die Papiere äußerst nöthig brauche, u. ihn später nicht antreffe, zum Theil, weil mir die Luft wirklich gut thäte. [steps. I desire no absolute freedom, but still would like to make this short visit for I need the papers quite urgently and will not meet him later and because the fresh air would really be favourable to me.] In einer Stunde bin ich hier, auf mein Wort." [In one hour I shall be back. I give you my word.] (F.G.)