3 - Beethoven's first decade in Vienna

Summary

THE FIRST YEAR

Beethoven's first year in Vienna is in fact not very well documented. We do know that he had financial troubles after the death of his father on December 18, 1792, when he had to ensure that he received his rightful salary from Bonn. A late source, addressing his first months in Vienna, says that he generally had “a miserable time.” Anton Schindler writes that, upon his arrival, Beethoven carried letters of introduction from the Elector Max Franz to various prominent persons in Vienna. He claims that Baron van Swieten became one of Beethoven's first and most influential friends, even though Beethoven's connection to the Lichnowsky family was “the most important” one, but gives no exact dates for Beethoven's introduction in these circles. Theodor Frimmel suspects that it was Count Waldstein (and not the Elector) who helped to “open all the doors” to Beethoven, since he was acquainted with “almost all the high nobility of Austria.”

It is, in any case, impossible to create a detailed account of Beethoven's activities based on the scanty material dating from the first year. However, one can establish a chronology of the information that has to do with his keyboard playing and his first musical contacts. Beethoven's first year unfolds as follows.

By the time Beethoven moved to Vienna in November 1792, he no longer considered any keyboard instrument other than a fortepiano suitable for his private use.