Kaspar Anton Karl van Beethoven
Encyclopedia
Kaspar Anton Karl van Beethoven (baptized 8 April 1774 – 15 November 1815) is remembered to history as the brother of the celebrated composer Ludwig van Beethoven
.
, the second son of Johann van Beethoven
and Maria Magdalena Keverich. He lost his mother at age 13 when she died 17 July 1787. Since his father had by that time lapsed deeply into alcoholism, the principal responsibility for taking care of him and his younger brother Johann fell upon the 16 year old Ludwig.
to Vienna
, where Ludwig had moved not long before. Ludwig's biographer Thayer
suggests that Ludwig at first helped him financially and also helped him in finding pupils. Soon he was self-supporting. Kaspar also tried his hand at musical composition, though he never reached any level of eminence in this area.
In 1800, Kaspar began working as a clerk in the Department of Finance. Also at this time he worked closely with Ludwig, serving as a part-time secretary and managing his business relations with music publishers. In this respect he is judged to have done a poor job; the publishers who dealt with him found him arrogant and tactless. Here is an example of the sort of letter he wrote to publishers (in this case, to the publisher Johann André
in Offenbach:
One publisher, Nicolaus Simrock
, wrote a letter (30 July 1805) expressing his resentment at having to deal with Kaspar as follows: "I still understand German quite well, but I fail to comprehend what you wish to convey by the word "our" publishers and by "we". I bought the sonata Opus 47
from Louis van Beethoven, and in his letter about it there is no mention of a company."
Kaspar's work also created tension between the brothers. At one point Kaspar sold his brother's recently completed set of piano sonatas (the three sonatas of Opus 31) to a publisher in Leipzig, when Beethoven had already promised them to the Nägeli
publishing firm. According to Beethoven's early biographer Ferdinand Ries
the resulting quarrel actually "came to blows." He did little work in representing his brother after 1806.
In 1809, Kaspar received a promotion at his government job, advancing to the position of Deputy Liquidator, at a salary of 1000 florins plus 160 for rent. Unfortunately for him, the Austrian government was in severe financial staits, and paid its bureaucrats in paper money, which circulated far below par. By this time, however, he was benefitting from rental income from a house in the Alservorstadt suburb, which his wife (see below) had inherited from her father.
, who was six months pregnant with his son, whom they named Karl. Ludwig and Johanna were on bad terms from the start, and relations between the two brothers deteriorated after Kaspar's marriage.
Kaspar's home was the scene of an anecdote often told about Ludwig. The night of 11 August 1809, Vienna was shelled by Napoleon's invading army. The composer, already extremely concerned about his extensive hearing loss, took shelter in the cellar of his brother's house, covering his head with pillows in hopes that this would preserve what hearing he had left.
. Ludwig helped to support the family. He mentioned to the Princess Kinsky that he was "obliged to completely support an unfortunate sick brother and all his family."
When, in 1813, Kaspar's health began to seriously deteriorate, he signed a declaration appointing Ludwig guardian of his son, then aged six, in the event of his death. The same day, Ludwig granted him a loan of 1,500 florins, for which his wife stood security. Kaspar died on 15 November 1815. In his will dated the previous day, he assigned guardianship of his son both to his wife and to Ludwig, apparently hoping that the two would put aside their long-standing animosity. This effort failed entirely, as after his death Ludwig and Johanna engaged in a lengthy and bitter custody struggle over Karl; for details see Johanna van Beethoven
.
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
.
Youth
He was born in BonnBonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
, the second son of Johann van Beethoven
Johann van Beethoven
Johann van Beethoven was a German musician, teacher, and singer who sang in the chapel of the Archbishop of Cologne, whose court was at Bonn. He is best known as the father of the celebrated composer Ludwig van Beethoven...
and Maria Magdalena Keverich. He lost his mother at age 13 when she died 17 July 1787. Since his father had by that time lapsed deeply into alcoholism, the principal responsibility for taking care of him and his younger brother Johann fell upon the 16 year old Ludwig.
Career
In 1794, Kaspar moved from the family home in BonnBonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
to Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, where Ludwig had moved not long before. Ludwig's biographer Thayer
Alexander Wheelock Thayer
Alexander Wheelock Thayer , was a librarian and journalist who became the author of the first scholarly biography of Ludwig van Beethoven, still after many updatings regarded as a standard work of reference on the composer.-Life:Originally a librarian at Harvard law school, Thayer became aware of...
suggests that Ludwig at first helped him financially and also helped him in finding pupils. Soon he was self-supporting. Kaspar also tried his hand at musical composition, though he never reached any level of eminence in this area.
In 1800, Kaspar began working as a clerk in the Department of Finance. Also at this time he worked closely with Ludwig, serving as a part-time secretary and managing his business relations with music publishers. In this respect he is judged to have done a poor job; the publishers who dealt with him found him arrogant and tactless. Here is an example of the sort of letter he wrote to publishers (in this case, to the publisher Johann André
Johann Anton André
Johann Anton André was a German composer and music publisher.André wrote operas, symphonies, masses, and lieder, as well as a still unfinished Lehrbuch der Tonsetzkunst in two volumes...
in Offenbach:
- Vienna, 23 November 1802
- Dear Sir:
- We have received your letter asking for some of my brother's pieces, for which we thank you very much.
- At the moment we have nothing but a symphony and a grand piano concerto, each priced at 300 florins. If you should want three piano sonatas I shall have to have 900 florins for them, all in Viennese currency, and these you cannot have immediately, but one every five or six weeks, as my brother doesn't bother much any more with such trifles, but writes only oratorios, operas, etc.
- We would expect eight copies of any piece you might print. In any case, whether you care for the pieces or not, please answer, because otherwise I would be delayed in selling them to somebody else.
- We also have two adagios for violin with complete instrumental accompaniment which would cost 135 florins, and two little easy sonatas of two movements each which are yours for 280 florins. Please give my best wishes to our friend Koch.
- Your most humble
- K. v. Beethoven
- R. k. Treasury Official
One publisher, Nicolaus Simrock
Simrock
The Simrock family included:* Nikolaus Simrock, , who founded in 1793 the music publishing firm Musikverlag N...
, wrote a letter (30 July 1805) expressing his resentment at having to deal with Kaspar as follows: "I still understand German quite well, but I fail to comprehend what you wish to convey by the word "our" publishers and by "we". I bought the sonata Opus 47
Violin Sonata No. 9 (Beethoven)
Violin Sonata No. 9 in A major, commonly known as the Kreutzer Sonata, is a violin sonata which Ludwig van Beethoven published as his Opus 47...
from Louis van Beethoven, and in his letter about it there is no mention of a company."
Kaspar's work also created tension between the brothers. At one point Kaspar sold his brother's recently completed set of piano sonatas (the three sonatas of Opus 31) to a publisher in Leipzig, when Beethoven had already promised them to the Nägeli
Hans Georg Nägeli
Hans Georg Nägeli was a composer and music publisher.Nägeli was born in Wetzikon, Switzerland. He studied under his father as a child, and then opened a private music shop and publishing firm in the 1790s...
publishing firm. According to Beethoven's early biographer Ferdinand Ries
Ferdinand Ries
Ferdinand Ries was a German composer.- Life :Born into a musical family of Bonn, Ries was a friend and pupil of Beethoven who published in 1838 a collection of reminiscences of his teacher, co-written with Franz Wegeler...
the resulting quarrel actually "came to blows." He did little work in representing his brother after 1806.
In 1809, Kaspar received a promotion at his government job, advancing to the position of Deputy Liquidator, at a salary of 1000 florins plus 160 for rent. Unfortunately for him, the Austrian government was in severe financial staits, and paid its bureaucrats in paper money, which circulated far below par. By this time, however, he was benefitting from rental income from a house in the Alservorstadt suburb, which his wife (see below) had inherited from her father.
Family
On 25 May 1806 Kaspar married Johanna ReißJohanna van Beethoven
Johanna van Beethoven was the sister-in-law of the composer Ludwig van Beethoven. She is remembered for the bitter custody battle between herself and the composer over her son Karl, one of the most ugly and traumatic episodes in the composer's life....
, who was six months pregnant with his son, whom they named Karl. Ludwig and Johanna were on bad terms from the start, and relations between the two brothers deteriorated after Kaspar's marriage.
Kaspar's home was the scene of an anecdote often told about Ludwig. The night of 11 August 1809, Vienna was shelled by Napoleon's invading army. The composer, already extremely concerned about his extensive hearing loss, took shelter in the cellar of his brother's house, covering his head with pillows in hopes that this would preserve what hearing he had left.
Illness and death
In 1812, Kaspar fell ill with tuberculosisTuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
. Ludwig helped to support the family. He mentioned to the Princess Kinsky that he was "obliged to completely support an unfortunate sick brother and all his family."
When, in 1813, Kaspar's health began to seriously deteriorate, he signed a declaration appointing Ludwig guardian of his son, then aged six, in the event of his death. The same day, Ludwig granted him a loan of 1,500 florins, for which his wife stood security. Kaspar died on 15 November 1815. In his will dated the previous day, he assigned guardianship of his son both to his wife and to Ludwig, apparently hoping that the two would put aside their long-standing animosity. This effort failed entirely, as after his death Ludwig and Johanna engaged in a lengthy and bitter custody struggle over Karl; for details see Johanna van Beethoven
Johanna van Beethoven
Johanna van Beethoven was the sister-in-law of the composer Ludwig van Beethoven. She is remembered for the bitter custody battle between herself and the composer over her son Karl, one of the most ugly and traumatic episodes in the composer's life....
.