BEETHOVEN'S FINAL LETTER TO HIS IMMORTAL BELOVED


   Good morning, on July 7
Though still in bed, my thoughts go out to you, my Immortal Beloved, now and then joyfully, then sadly, waiting to learn whether or not fate will hear us - I can live only wholly with you or not at all - Yes, I am resolved to wander so long away from you until I can fly to your arms and say that I am really at home with you, and can send my soul enwrapped in you into the land of spirits - Yes, unhappily it must be so - You will be the more contained since you know my fidelity to you. No one else can ever possess my heart - never - never - Oh God, why must one be parted from one whom one so loves. And yet my life in V is now a wretched life - Your love makes me at once the happiest and the unhappiest of men - At my age I need a steady, quiet life - can that be so in our connection? My angel, I have just been told that the mailcoach goes every day - therefore I must close at once so that you may receive the letter at once - Be calm, only by a calm consideration of our existence can we achieve our purpose to live together - Be calm - love me - today - yesterday - what tearful longings for you - you - you - my life - my all - farewell. Oh continue to love me - never misjudge the most faithful heart of your beloved.
ever thine
ever mine
ever ours

THE HEILIGENSTADT TESTAMENT

For my brothers Carl and             Beethoven

O Ye men who think or say that I am malevolent, stubborn or misanthropic, how greatly do ye wrong me, you do not know the secret causes of my seeming, from childhood my heart and mind were disposed to the gentle feelings of good will, I was even ever eager to accomplish great deeds, but reflect now that for six years I have been a hopeless case, aggravated by senseless physicians, cheated year after year in the hope of improvement, finally compelled to face the prospect of a lasting malady (whose cure will take years or, perhaps, be impossible), born with an ardent and lively temperament, even susceptible to the diversions of society, I was compelled early to isolate myself, to live in loneliness, when I at times tried to forget all this, O how harshly was I repulsed by the doubly sad experience of my bad hearing, and yet it was impossible for me to say to men speak louder, shout, for I am deaf. Ah how could I possibly admit such an infirmity in the one sense which should have been more perfect in me than in others, a sense which I once possessed in highest perfection, a perfection such as few surely in my profession enjoy or have enjoyed - O I cannot do it, therefore forgive me when you see me draw back when I would gladly mingle with you, my misfortune is doubly painful because it must lead to my being misunderstood, for me there can be no recreations in society of my fellows, refined intercourse, mutual exchange of thought, only just as little as the greatest needs command may I mix with society. I must live like an exile, if I approach near to people a hot terror seizes upon me, a fear that I may be subjected to the danger of letting my condition be observed - thus it has been during the past year which I spent in the country, commanded by my intelligent physician to spare my hearing as much as possible, in this almost meeting my natural disposition, although I sometimes ran counter to it yielding to my inclination for society, but what a humiliation when one stood beside me and heard a flute in the distance and I heard nothing, or someone heard the shepherd singing and again I heard nothing, such incidents brought me to the verge of despair, but little more and I would have put an end to my life - only art it was that withheld me, ah it seemed impossible to leave the world until I had produced all that I felt called upon me to produce, and so I endured this wretched existence - truly wretched, an excitable body which a sudden change can throw from the best into the worst state - Patience - it is said that I must now choose for my guide, I have done so, I hope my determination will remain firm to endure until it please the inexorable parcae to bread the thread, perhaps I shall get better, perhaps not, I am prepared. Forced already in my 28th year to become a philosopher, O it is not easy, less easy for the artist than for anyone else - Divine One thou lookest into my inmost soul, thou knowest it, thou knowest that love of man and desire to do good live therein. O men, when some day you read these words, reflect that ye did me wrong and let the unfortunate one comfort himself and find one of his kind who despite all obstacles of nature yet did all that was in his power to be accepted among worthy artists and men. You my brothers Carl and [Johann] as soon as I am dead if Dr. Schmid is still alive ask him in my name to describe my malady and attach this document to the history of my illness so that so far as possible at least the world may become reconciled with me after my death. At the same time I declare you two to be the heirs to my small fortune (if so it can be called), divide it fairly, bear with and help each other, what injury you have done me you know was long ago forgiven. to you brother Carl I give special thanks for the attachment you have displayed towards me of late. It is my wish that your lives be better and freer from care than I have had, recommend virtue to your children, it alone can give happiness, not money, I speak from experience, it was virtue that upheld me in misery, to it next to my art I owe the fact that I did not end my life with suicide. - Farewell and love each other - I thank all my friends, particularly Prince Lichnowsky and Professor Schmid - I desire that the instruments from Prince L. be preserved by one of you but let no quarrel result from this, so soon as they can serve you better purpose sell them, how glad will I be if I can still be helpful to you in my grave - with joy I hasten towards death - if it comes before I shall have had an opportunity to show all my artistic capacities it will still come too early for me despite my hard fate and I shall probably wish it had come later - but even then I am satisfied, will it not free me from my state of endless suffering? Come when thou will I shall meet thee bravely. - Farewell and do not wholly forget me when I am dead, I deserve this of you in having often in life thought of you how to make you happy, be so –

Ludwig van Beethowen, Heiglnstadt, October 6,1802

A post from TA Kathryn Fenton:

My earliest musical memory includes Beethoven, and I suspect this is the same for a lot of musicians. In my case, it’s of my mother pointing out the notes as they passed along while we sang “God Created Earth and Heaven” in church. I’m sure the hymnal attributed it to Beethoven, but that didn’t really register to a little kid. I just liked the tune. It’s funny, but as I start to think about it, Beethoven’s been there for a lot of my musical milestones. The first piece I played in high school orchestra was Beethoven’s fifth symphony, and that was the first time I sat first desk of the second violins.  There was a lot of terror involved because I could barely read the music and I found it way above my head. Terror and joy again in the middle of university when my orchestra played Beethoven’s seventh under the direction of one of my heroes—Yehudi Menuhin. That was the first time I ever played second violin with the seconds placed where the cellos normally go.  Even in grad school, though I choose medieval music and Italian opera as my main areas of interest, my Ph.D theory comprehensive exams were on Beethoven’s sonata forms. Fear and terror again. In my own musical education then Beethoven’s music has been a significant theme.

           

 Even for those not immersed in a musical education Beethoven seems ever present. Cartoons, movies (especially those about Beethoven) and commercials use his music all the time for sound tracks. I was trying to find a good Bugs Bunny example the other day and found so much more than I bargained for. Comedians specializing in musical humour like P.D.Q Bach (Peter Schickele), Victor Borge, Jim Henson’s Muppets, and Dudley Moore have very funny sketches about the not just the composer and his music, but about the experience of his music. Even comedians not based in musical comedy have used Beethoven as the grounds for sketches, like Monty Python and Mr. Bean. The idea of Beethoven is known enough that it can appeal audiences beyond those consisting of classical music lovers. In my search for Bugs Bunny and Beethoven clips, I did come across a Merry Melodies short film about World War II and the use of Beethoven’s fifth the symbol for victory (short short short long is the morse code for V). In some ways Beethoven’s music seems to function as the symbol of classical music in the cultural mainstream.