Alexander Wheelock Thayer

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Photograph of Alexander Wheelock Thayer (1817–1897), Beethoven's biographer, by Sebastianutti in Trieste, from after 1873.

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["Gertrude Behr Family Thayer Collection, object gift of Kevin Brown (August 2017)"]

Notes

In 1776, the Fischer family took in the Beethoven family, who lived at the Fischer Haus (except for brief periods at Neugasse and Wenzelgasse) until 1787. There the young Beethoven spent time with Cäcilia (1762–1845) and Gottfried (1780–1864). Although he was quite young when he knew Beethoven, in 1838 he and his sister began to write down their reminiscences of the musical Beethoven child. Thayer met with Gottfried on September 15, 1860. “I found his reminiscences (oral) of no value,” recalled Thayer. “[However,] the next day . . . he came to me at Honecker’s [Inn; “The Swan”], . . . and brought his manuscript with him. I ordered a bottle of good wine and let him warm his heart with it, and meantime looked over the papers. I thought then that one might find hints of information, but did not consider it of so much value . . . . As the old man demanded three (or was it four?) hundred thaler for it, I dismissed him. My conscience would not allow me to steal its contents, which I might have done, I believe on the pretense of wishing to examine it.” The “Fischer Manuscript” is now at the Beethoven-Haus in Bonn.

Rights Note

This work is in the public domain and therefore the digital images attached to this catalog record may be used without permission. Credit statements for these images should read “From the collections of the Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies, San José State University.” For information on obtaining higher resolution reproductions and permission to publish, see the Beethoven Center's website https://www.sjsu.edu/beethoven/collection/library-materials/index.php

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