42. BEETHOVEN AND THE BRENTANO FAMILY

 
JOHANN MELCHIOR VON BIRKENSTOCK (1738-1809) Engraving by J. Pichler after F. H. Füger In the hospitable home of this sensitive connoisseur much music was played and Beethoven was a frequent guest there. In 1810 he met here Bettina Brentano, Goethe's friend. ( Historical Museum of the City of Vienna)
 
FRANZ BRENTANO (1765-1844) Steel engraving A native of Frankfurt, Brentano married Antonie née von Birkenstock in Vienna. Even after his return to Germany he continued to be Beethoven's benefactor and cherished his friendship. ( Beethovenhaus, Bonn)
 
ANTONIE BRENTANO, NÉE VON BIRKENSTOCK (1780-1869) Engraving To this friend "in good and in bad days" the master dedicated his Thirty-three Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli, opus 120. ( Beethovenhaus, Bonn)
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MAXIMILIANE VON BLITTERSDORF, NÉE BRENTANO (1802-1861) Oil painting, unsigned Beethoven dedicated to the daughter of the friends Franz and Antonie Brentano the Trio in One Movement and the magnificent Sonata for Piano, opus 109. (Private Collection)
 
AUTOGRAPH OF THE TRIO IN ONE MOVEMENT FOR PIANO, VIOLIN AND CELLO IN B FLAT MAJOR (June 2, 1812) Beethoven composed the Trio for Maximiliane when she was but ten years old. At the head of the composition the following dedication: "For my little friend Maxe Brentano to encourage her in her piano playing." The work was published by Dunst, Frankfurt, in 1830. ( Beethovenhaus, Bonn)
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THE "EGMONT" MUSIC PROGRAM OF THE FIRST PERFORMANCE OF "EGMONT," A TRAGEDY BY GOETHE, ORIGINALLY PERFORMED WITHOUT THE BEETHOVEN MUSIC This performance took place at the Burgtheater of Vienna on the 24th of May, 1810 and had a tremendous success. ( National Library, Vienna)
 
THE MICHAELERPLATZ (ST. MICHAEL'S SQUARE) WITH THE OLD BURGTHEATER AT THE RIGHT Colored engraving by Karl Postl Here the Beethoven music to "Egmont" was heard for the first time on June 15, 1810. Later the building was demolished. ( Historical Museum of the City of Vienna)
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PAGE FROM THE MANUSCRIPT OF THE "EGMONT" MUSIC, NO. 4 "KLÄRCHEN'S LIED" ("FREUDVOLL UND LEIDVOLL") The "Egmont" music of 1809-10 consists of the Overture and the four Entr'actes as well as of two Lieder sung by Klärchen and three orchestral compositions "Klärchen's Death," "Melodram" and "Victory Symphony." It is curious that Beethoven who as a rule did not approve of a simultaneous use of music and the spoken word applies just that procedure in this work, in the "Melodram." ( Former State Library, Berlin)
 
"EGMONT UND KLÄRCHEN" Pencil drawing by Angelica Kauffmann This drawing was engraved by J. H. Lips and was incorporated into an illustrated edition of Goethe's works. ( Goethe Museum, Weimar)
 
THE "EGMONT" MUSIC, OPUS 84 Title page of the first edition of the orchestral parts The "Egmont" Overture was published in 1810 (orchestral parts only). The score of the Entr'actes music was released in 1812 by Breitkopf & Härtel, Leipzig. ( Society of Friends of Music, Vienna)
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