The opus 135 is the last complete work Beethoven wrote. He was already suffering from the disease that did him in soon after. As a result, many studies have been done after the meaning of the composer in this work. Especially since he noted two phrases in it, linked to the twofold themes in the fourth part: Muß es sein? – Es muß sein! (Does it have to be? It has to be!).
Picture the ageing composer, lying on his deathbed, suffering in pain. It is only one step further to let him ask that very question. Do I really have to die? Yes, I have to. It is himself relinquishing control over the last stage of his life to the Lord. And then you listen to the cheerful piece. It just doesn’t fit. We still don’t know what Beethoven meant with these phrases. One, albeit farfetched explanation might be the following anecdote.
A certain mr Dembscher had had one of the many arguments people had with the difficult composer. He wanted to make up with him (he wanted to borrow a manuscript), but didn’t know how. He asked mr Holz, a friend of Beethoven, who wittily told him it would cost him 50 quid. Holz knew very well Dembscher was a bit of a tightass. Dembscher asked him that very question. In this light we might have to translate differently: Really? Oh yes! And the tune follows this anecdote perfectly.