The relationship between Archduke Rudolf and Beethoven spanned two decades; he was Beethoven’s most dedicated patron, financial supporter, and piano and composition student.
Archduke Rudolf was born in 1788, in Florence. He was the youngest son of Emperor Leopold II and Maria Louisa of Spain. He did not follow a career in the military like most of the men in his family; due to poor health, he became a clergyman instead. He suffered from epilepsy, like many of the Habsburgs.
Archduke Rudolf, Beethoven’s student
Archduke Rudolf most likely met Beethoven at Prince Lobkowitz’s palace, at musical performances. He began taking piano lessons from the composer in 1804. The Archduke was also Beethoven’s only student to receive composition classes. Beethoven was his dedicated teacher, using a wide range of instructional materials in his lessons.
Archduke Rudolf was a most passionate musician. This was royal tradition; however, his dedication was unparalleled, and he showed talent also. His passion led him to assemble a vast library of music, which he made available to Beethoven early on in their acquaintance. Today, this collection of works can be found at the Society of Friends of Music, in Vienna (Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde), along with letters written by Beethoven to the Archduke.
With Beethoven’s mentoring and editing, Archduke Rudolf produced a number of respectable compositions. He was amongst the 50 composers whom Anton Diabelli made a proposal to in 1819, to write a variation on a waltz tune. The pieces were published in Vaterländischer Künstlerverein, in two parts. Beethoven’s contribution to the project made up part 1, since he wrote not one, but 33 variations on the tune! The great composer may have been inspired to write such a monumental set of pieces by the Archduke, who a year prior, had written a total of 40 variations on a tune written by Beethoven himself.
Archduke Rudolf’s character
Archduke Rudolf was good-natured and easy to get along with. He was not quite as imperious as others in his social class; he was found to be modest and unassuming. It is true that his relationship with Beethoven was consistently amicable, however, the Archduke made great demands on Beethoven’s time, and these demands he made with the demeanor and authority of a member of the noble class. It is likely that his unpretentious nature made this relationship tolerable for Beethoven. The great composer was also keen, naturally, not to estrange such a loyal and important patron. As half-brother to emperor Franz I, he carried great influence and had money, and it is thanks to Archduke Rudolf, that Beethoven remained in Vienna due to the offer of a guaranteed annual salary.
Archduke Rudolf, Beethoven’s loyal patron
In 1809, Beethoven received an offer to move to Kassel to become Kapellmeister (leader of the choir and orchestra) at the court. At the time, this was one of the only reliable jobs for a composer, and he was keen to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps. Ludwig the Elder, had been Kapellmeister at the court in Bonn, where he grew up.
He made the decision, however, not to relocate, and had devised a plan that would enable him to devote himself to his profession as he saw fit. Baron Gleichenstein and Countess Erdödy promoted the idea, which won the support of Archduke Rudolf and two other patrons: princes Lobkowitz and Kinsky.
‘…the undersigned have come to a decision to
place Herr Ludwig van Beethoven in the position wherein his
most pressing requirements will not be of embarrassment to
him, nor in any way inhibit his powerful genius.’
The agreement was dated March the 1st, and offered a guaranteed salary of 4000 florins each year. In exchange, Beethoven had to promise but one point: that he would not leave Austria or make any journeys without permission. The contract was for life!
Prince Kinsky was an Austrian army official. His contribution was 1800 florins. There is no evidence pointing to any prior connection with Beethoven or even the patronage of other artists before this time. He died in 1812, having left to fight the French shortly after signing the agreement.
Prince Lobkowitz, conversely, had an enormous passion for music and had been Beethoven’s friend since his arrival in Vienna. He was a great supporter of the arts and agreed to pay 700 florins to keep Beethoven in the city. The depreciation of the Austrian currency in 1811, however, temporarily halted his part of the annuity paid to Beethoven. Despite financial trouble, he resumed the payments in support of the great composer even beyond his death in 1816, staying true to the contract until Beethoven’s death 11 years later.
According to the agreement, Archduke Rudolf’s contribution was 1500 florins. He also took it upon himself, however, to ensure Beethoven received the full sum as promised each year.
Archduke Rudolf, the clergyman
In 1819, Archduke Rudolf became Archbishop of Olomouc, Cardinal Priest of the Church of San Pietro in Montorio, and was consecrated a bishop, all in the same year.
Les Adieux – Das Lebewohl – The Farewell
In 1809, when the French army made their way to Vienna, Archduke Rudolf and the imperial family had to flee the city. As an affectionate ‘goodbye’, Beethoven wrote the first movement of a sonata. He called ‘The Farewell’, in German: ‘Das Lebenwohl’. The composer waited until Archduke Rudolf’s return a year later to complete the three-movement sonata, an autobiographical piece which he then presented to his Imperial Highness. The remaining movements were named ‘Absence’ and ‘The Return’.
Beethoven’s publisher, Breitkopf & Härtel, printed the sonata under the French ‘Les Adieux’, as opposed to using the German title, as Beethoven had intended it. In a letter to the publishers, the composer explains the important difference in meaning between ‘farewell’ in the two languages. He wrote that the German is more warm-hearted and intimate, said to one person. The French, on the other hand, is said to a large assembly.
Beethoven dedicated 14 compositions to Archduke Rudolf in total, including major works such as the Archduke Piano Trio, Missa Solemnis, Hammerklavier and the Great Fugue.
Archduke Rudolf died in 1831 at 43 years of age, of a cerebral hemorrhage. According to his wishes, his body was buried in Vienna, and his heart was buried in Olomouc.
A.K.
