Beethoven Heiligenstadt Testament

MUS102 Principles of Music Homework 3: Beethoven
Dr. Robert Reed Heiligenstadt Testament
This letter by Beethoven is considered primary source1 material. The Heiligenstadt Testament
gives us a record, in his own words, of what Beethoven was experiencing in the summer of
1802.
Beethoven (1770-1827) took a respite in Heiligenstadt (1802) away from the pressures of his
life in Vienna. Here he comes to terms with the advancement of his deafness, which has been
getting worse over the previous six years. The following Translation of this document can be
found on several websites. I do not know who did the translation, but I am providing the
following links for you to go to for the source and more information: http://www.all-about-
beethoven.com/heiligenstadt_test.html
Assignment

In the space next to each of the seven (7) paragraphs summarize the main point.

Who is Beethoven addressing in this letter?

The house in Heiligenstadt
where Beethoven wrote his
testament

3. What is the most important point of the letter? (You must support your answer with an
example/examples from the text.)

Be prepared to discuss this document in class.
1 Primary sources include important artifacts, documents, and original material that are unaltered and unfiltered.
Secondary sources are sources where the information is interpreted, evaluated, or analyzed. Most history books are secondary sources
of information.

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Beethoven: Heiligenstadt Testament

For my brothers Carl and [Johann] Beethoven
¶1
Oh you men who think or say that I am malevolent, stubborn,
or misanthropic, how greatly do you wrong me. You do not
know the secret cause that makes me seem that way to you.
From childhood on, my heart and soul have been full of the
tender feeling of goodwill, and I was even inclined to
accomplish great things. But, think that for six years now I
have been hopelessly afflicted, made worse by senseless
physicians, from year to year deceived with hopes of
improvement, finally compelled to face the prospect of a
lasting malady (whose cure will take years or, perhaps, be
impossible).
¶2
Though born with a fiery, active temperament, even
susceptible to the diversions of society, I was soon compelled
to isolate myself, to live life alone. If at times I tried to forget
all this, oh, how harshly was I flung back by the doubly sad
experience of my bad hearing. Yet it was impossible for me to
say to people, “Speak Louder, shout, for I am deaf”. Oh, how
could I possibly admit an infirmity in the one sense which
ought to be more perfect in me than others, a sense which I
once possessed in the hightést perfection, a perfection such
as few in my profession enjoy or ever have enjoyed. – Oh I
cannot do it; therefore forgive me when you see me draw
back when I would have gladly mingled with you.
¶3
My misfortune is doubly painful to me because I am bound to
be misunderstood; for me there can be no relaxation with my
fellow men, no refined conversations, no mutual exchange of
ideas. I must live almost alone, like one who has been
banished. I can mix with society only as much as true
necessity demands. If I approach near to people a hot terror
seizes upon me, and I fear being exposed to the danger that
my condition might be noticed. Thus it has been during the
last six months which I have spent in the country. By ordering
me to spare my hearing as much as possible, my intelligent
doctor almost fell in with my own present frame of mind,
though sometimes I ran counter to it by yielding to my desire
for companionship.
¶4
But what a humiliation for me when someone standing next
to me heard a flute in the distance and I heard nothing, or
someone standing next to me heard a shepherd singing and
again I heard nothing. Such incidents drove me almost to
despair; a little more of that and I would have ended my life.
It was only my art that held me back. Oh, it seemed to me
impossible to leave the world until I had forth all that I felt
was within me. So I endured this wretched existence, truly
wretched for so susceptible a body, which can be thrown by a
sudden change from the best condition to the worst.

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¶5
Patience, they say, is what I must now choose for my guide,
and I have done so – I hope my determination will remain firm
to endure until it pleases the inexorable Parcae to break the
thread. Perhaps I shall get better, perhaps not; I am ready. –
Forced to become a philosopher already in my twenty-eight
year, oh, it is not easy, and for the artist much more difficult
than for anyone else. Divine One, thou seest my inmost soul
thou knowest that therein dwells the love of mankind and the
desire to do good. Oh, fellow men, when at some point you
read this, consider then that you have done me injustice.
Someone who has had misfortune may console himself to
find a similar case to his, who despite all the limitations of
Nature nevertheless did everything within his powers to
become accepted among worthy artist and men.
¶6
You, my brothers Carl and [Johann], as soon as I am dead, if
Dr. Schmid is still alive, ask him in my name to describe my
malady, and attach this written documentation to his account
of my illness so that so far as it is possible at least the world
may become reconciled to me after my death. At the same
time, I declare you two to be the heirs to my small fortune (if
so it can be called); divide it fairly, bear with and help each
other. What injury you have done me you know was long ago
forgiven. To you, brother Carl, I give special thanks for the
attachment you have shown me of late. It is my wish that you
may have at better and freer life than I have had.
Recommend virtue to your children; it alone, not money, can
make them happy. I speak from experience; this was what
upheld me in time of misery. Thanks for it and to my art, I did
not end my life by suicide – Farewell and love each other.
¶7
I thank all my friends, particularly Prince Lichnowsky and
Professor Schmid; I would like the instruments from Prince L.
to be preserved by one of you, but not to be the cause of
strife between you, and as soon as they can serve you a
better purpose, then sell them. How happy I shall be if I can
still be helpful to you in my grave – so be it. With joy I hasten
towards death. If it comes before I have had the chance to
develop all my artistic capacities, it will still be coming too
soon despite my harsh fate, and I should probably wish it
later – yet even so I should be happy, for would it not free me
from the state of endless suffering? Come when thou wilt, I
shall meet thee bravely. Farewell and do not wholly forget
me when I am dead; I deserve this from you, for during my
lifetime I was thinking of you often and of ways to make you
happy: be so:
Ludwig van Beethoven
Heiligenstadt,
October 6th, 1802

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