Beethoven - Testamento
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Te xt: For my brot he rs Carl a nd 1 Beethoven O you m e n who thi nk or sa y that I am unf rie ndl y, s tubbor n or misa nthr opic, how g rea tly you wron g m e. You do no t k now the se cret rea son why I seemto you to be like tha t. Eve r sincem y chi l dhood my he art a nd soul havebeen f ul l of the te nde r fe e ling of goodwill , and I wa s a lways i ncline d to do gre a t thing s. But j us t think tha t for si x y ea rs 2 now I ha ve ha d a hope l e ss a f f l i cti on, m a deworse bystupid docto rs, from ye a r to ye a r dece ive d i nto hoping it ca n be cure d, fi na l l y f or ce d to a cce pt t he prospec t o f a las ting i nf i rmit y (whose cure m i g ht t a ke y e a rs or pe rhaps e ve n be im poss i bl e ). Born wi th a f i e ry a nd l i ve l y te m pe ram e nt, eve n fond of the distra cti ons of society , I wa s s oon forced to wi thdra w m ys e lf a nd liveal one . I f a t tim es I trie d to forget this, oh how ha rshl y I wa s thro wn ba ck by the doubl y s a d e xpe rie nce of m y poor hea ring. And ye t it wa s s til l i m poss i bl e f or m e to sa y to pe opl e “Spe a k up, shout, for I a mde a f”. Ah, how could I poss i bl y a dm i t t o an i m pa i rment o f the one se nse that should ha ve be en m or e perfe ct in me than i n others. A se nse that I ha d once possesse d i n the g rea tes t perfe ction, a pe rfe ction that fe w i n m y pro f e ss i on have or ha ve e ve r had. – Oh, I cannot do i t; so for g i ve m e if you s e e m e d raw ba ck whe n I woul d so gladly be a m ongst you. My m i sf or tune is do ubl y pa i nful to m e be ca use i t caus e s me to be m i sunde rsto od. For m e there is no re l a xa tion in hum a n soci ety, no re f i ne d conversa tions, n o mutua l e xcha nge of i de a s. I m ust l i ve a l one, li ke one w ho ha s be e n banished a nd ca n only m i x wi th society a s m uch a s necessity de m a nds. If I comenear society, I am overcome by a burning a nxi e ty be causeI a m a f raid o f running the risk of m y condi tion being notice d. This is wh a t it has be e n li ke fo r t he pa st six m onths which I ha ve spe nt in the coun try. My s ensible doct or to l d m e to spare m y he aring a s m uch a s possi bl e a nd i n so doing a l m ost encourage d my prese nt i ncl i na tion, a l tho ug h I som e tim e s di d ge t carr i e d aw a y by m y de sire f or hum a n society. But ho w hum i l i a ting w hen s ome one sta ndi ng ne xt t o me hea rd a f l ute in the di stance a nd I hea rd nothing , or he a rd a she phe rd singi ng a nd a ga i n I hea rd n othing. Such i nci de nts a l m ost dro ve m e to des pair. I was on the point of e ndi ng m y life – i t wa s only m y art that he l d m e ba ck. Ah, i t se em e d i m possible to le ave this w or l d be for e I ha d brought f or th e ve rythi ng that I f e l t I wa s ca pa ble of. So I f orced m ys e l f to cont i nue l e a ding this m i se rab l e exist ence . I t is tr ul y m i se rabl e to have such a s ens i tive body that a sudde n chang e ca n plunge m e f rom the be st of spi rits i nto t he worst one s poss i bl e . Pa tie nce , t he y s a y, should no w be m y g ui de . And I ha ve now a cce pte d i t. I hope tha t I sha l l rem a i n fi rm in my de term i na ti on to e ndure until the P a rc a e 3 cut t he threa d. Pe rhaps I sha l l ge t better, perhaps not; I am rea dy. At t he e a rly a ge of 28 I am for ce d to be com e a phi l osopher 4 . I t is not e a sy , and for thea rtist e ve n m ore diff i cult t ha n f or a ny one e l se . Di vi ne One, you loo k down i nto my i nne rmos t soul, you s e e into i t, you know that the lo ve of mankind a nd the de sire to do good dwe l l there. O m e n, whe n you rea d this at som e poi nt, think how you ha ve wronge d me 5 . When he rea ds this, ma y a n unfor tunate m a n fi nd com f or t i n f i ndi ng a simila r cas e to his, who de spit e a l l of na ture’s obsta cl e s ha s done e ve rything i n hi s powe r t o be a cce pted into the ranks of wort hy a rt i sts and hum a n beings. – You, my bro thers K a rl and , a s soon a s I a m de a d, a nd i f Pro fe ss or Schm i dt 6 i s s ti l l a l i ve, as k hi m i n m y na m e to des cribe m y ill ness. And a ttach this wri tten docum e nt t o his record so t ha t af ter m y de a th t he w or l d i s a t le ast re concil e d to m e a s m uch a s possible . – At t he s a m e ti me , I de cl a re you both to be he i rs to m y s m a l l f ort une (i f i t ca n be ca l l e d su ch a thi ng ). Di vi de i t fa i rly a nd live i n harm ony a nd help o ne a not her. Y ou kno w y ou have l ong bee n f or giv en the wron gs you ha ve don e to me 7 . I a ga i n e spe ci a l l y thank y ou, br other C a rl, for t he a f f e ction you ha ve shown m e of late 8 . I t is m y de sire that y ou bot h ha ve a be tter, more ca ref reel i f e than I ha ve ha d. Te ll your chi l dren to be vi rt uous, f or only thi s ca n m a ke the m ha ppy, not mone y. I spe a k fro me xpe rie nce . I t wa s virtue that he l pe d me i n my timeof m i se ry. Tha nks to it and m y a rt, I di d not end m y life by s uicide . – Fa rew e l l a nd lo ve one a nothe r. – I tha nk a l l m y fr i e nds , pa rticularly Prince Lichnowsky 9 a nd P rofe ss or Schm i dt. I would l ike the i nstrum e nts 1 0 from Prince Lichnowsky to be pres e rved by one of you, but do not a l l ow this to causeyou to quarrel. But a s soon as the y ca n se rve y ou a be tter purpo se , then s e l l them . How ha ppy I sha l l be i f I ca n sti l l be of use to you in the g rave . – We l l tha t is a l l . – I j oyful l y g o to m e e t de a th. – Shou l d i t com e be f ore I ha ve ha d the
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Transcript of Beethoven - Testamento
8/13/2019 Beethoven - Testamento
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Text:
For my brothers Carl and 1 Beethoven
O you men who think or say that I am unfriendly, stubborn or misanthropic, how greatly youwrong me. You do not know the secret reason why I seem to you to be like that. Ever since mychildhood my heart and soul have been full of the tender feeling of goodwill, and I was always
inclined to do great things. But just think that for six years2
now I have had a hopeless affliction,made worse by stupid doctors, from year to year deceived into hoping it can be cured, finallyforced to accept the prospect of a lasting infirmity (whose cure might take years or perhaps evenbe impossible). Born with a fiery and lively temperament, even fond of the distractions of society,I was soon forced to withdraw myself and live alone. If at times I tried to forget this, oh howharshly I was thrown back by the doubly sad experience of my poor hearing. And yet it was stillimpossible for me to say to people “Speak up, shout, for I am deaf”. Ah, how could I possiblyadmit to an impairment of the one sense that should have been more perfect in me than inothers. A sense that I had once possessed in the greatest perfection, a perfection that few in myprofession have or have ever had. – Oh, I cannot do it; so forgive me if you see me draw backwhen I would so gladly be amongst you. My misfortune is doubly painful to me because it causes
me to be misunderstood. For me there is no relaxation in human society, no refinedconversations, no mutual exchange of ideas. I must live alone, like one who has been banishedand can only mix with society as much as necessity demands. If I come near society, I amovercome by a burning anxiety because I am afraid of running the risk of my condition beingnoticed. This is what it has been like for the past six months which I have spent in the country.My sensible doctor told me to spare my hearing as much as possible and in so doing almostencouraged my present inclination, although I sometimes did get carried away by my desire forhuman society. But how humiliating when someone standing next to me heard a flute in thedistance and I heard nothing, or heard a shepherd singing and again I heard nothing. Suchincidents almost drove me to despair. I was on the point of ending my life – it was only my artthat held me back. Ah, it seemed impossible to leave this world before I had brought forth
everything that I felt I was capable of. So I forced myself to continue leading this miserableexistence. I t is truly miserable to have such a sensitive body that a sudden change can plunge mefrom the best of spirits into the worst ones possible. Patience, they say, should now be my guide.And I have now accepted it. I hope that I shall remain firm in my determination to endure untilthe Parcae 3 cut the thread. Perhaps I shall get better, perhaps not; I am ready. At the early age of28 I am forced to become a philosopher 4. It is not easy, and for the artist even more difficult thanfor anyone else. Divine One, you look down into my innermost soul, you see into it, you knowthat the love of mankind and the desire to do good dwell there. O men, when you read this atsome point, think how you have wronged me 5. When he reads this, may an unfortunate man findcomfort in finding a similar case to his, who despite all of nature’s obstacles has done everythingin his power to be accepted into the ranks of worthy artists and human beings. – You, my
brothers Karl and , as soon as I am dead, and if Professor Schmidt6
is still alive, ask him in myname to describe my illness. And attach this written document to his record so that after mydeath the world is at least reconciled to me as much as possible. – At the same time, I declare youboth to be heirs to my small fortune (if it can be called such a thing). Divide it fairly and live inharmony and help one another. You know you have long been forgiven the wrongs you havedone to me 7. I again especially thank you, brother Carl, for the affection you have shown me oflate 8. I t is my desire that you both have a better, more carefree life than I have had. Tell yourchildren to be virtuous, for only this can make them happy, not money. I speak from experience.It was virtue that helped me in my time of misery. Thanks to it and my art, I did not end my lifeby suicide. – Farewell and love one another. – I thank all my friends, particularly PrinceLichnowsky 9 and Professor Schmidt. I would like the instruments 10 from Prince Lichnowsky to
be preserved by one of you, but do not allow this to cause you to quarrel. But as soon as they canserve you a better purpose, then sell them. How happy I shall be if I can still be of use to you inthe grave. – Well that is all. – I joyfully go to meet death. – Should it come before I have had the
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opportunity to develop all of my artistic gifts, it will come too soon, despite my harsh fate, and Ishould probably wish it to come later. – Yet even then I should be happy, for would it not freeme from my state of endless suffering? – Come when you will Death and I will meet you bravely.– Farewell; and do not completely forget me when I am dead. I deserve to be remembered, sinceduring my lifetime I have often thought of you and ways to make you happy. – Be happy!
Ludwig van BeethovenHeiligenstadt 6th October 1802For my brother Carl and to be read and executed after my death.Heiligenstadt 10th October 1802 – Thus I bid you farewell – and indeed sadly. Yes, the hope Ihad – which I brought here with me of being cured to a certain degree – that hope I must nowabandon completely. As the autumn leaves fall and wither, in the same way – that hope has fadedin me. – I leave here – almost as I came – even the high courage – which often inspired me onfine summer days – has left me. – Oh Providence – grant me one day of pure joy! – It is so longsince I have felt true joy. – Oh when, – oh when, Divine One – shall I feel it again in the templeof nature and of mankind? – Never? – No! – Oh, that would be too hard.
1Beethoven had two brothers to whom the will was addressed. One of them, Carl, is mentioned by name. The placefor the name of the second brother, Johann, is left empty throughout the will. Beethoven’s relationship with his
brother Johann was not easy. Perhaps this is the reason why he did not write his name.2 This would mean that Beethoven started to become deaf in 1796. In letters to Franz Gerhard Wegelerand Carl Amenda he talks about 1798 or 1799.3 The Parcae are the three Fates in Roman mythology. The Romans believed that the Parcae determined people’slives. Life is seen as a thread. The first of the three Parcae spins the thread, the second determines its length and thethird cuts it off. Once the thread has been cut off, life is over.4 Beethoven means complete withdrawal from the outside world and living alone.5 Beethoven addresses all those around him because he feels that they have misunderstood him. They should allknow that they wronged him if they thought he was bad-tempered.6 Johann Adam Schmidt was Beethoven’s doctor at the time. Schmidt was a professor. He experimented withelectricity as a cure for various illnesses. Beethoven built his hopes on him. However, Schmidt died in 1809, a longtime before Beethoven.7 Beethoven argued a lot and often with his brothers. They sometimes even hit each other, even as adults.8 From 1801 Beethoven’s younger brother Caspar Carl helped him negotiate with publishers, attended to his postand worked as his unpaid secretary.9 Prince Karl von Lichnowsky was Beethoven’s first patron and supporter in Vienna. He introduced Beethoven tothe Viennese nobility, let him live in his houses and paid him an annual sum so that Beethoven could live withoutfinancial worries.10 Prince Lichnowsky had given Beethoven instruments for a string quartet: 2 violins, 1 viola and 1cello. The four instruments were kept together and are now preserved in the Beethoven-Haus.
