Biamonti 317 – Sketch, Probably for Piano

Source: Kessler Sketchbook, page 135 (Nottebohm, Ein Skizzenbuch von Beethoven, aus dem Jahre 1803, Leipzig, Breitkopf & Härtel, 1880, pp. 26–27). This small sketch is located among the drafts for the Piano Sonata Opus 31 No. 2. It bears certain analogies with the final bars of the last movement of that sonata. We present here the completed version of measures 12 to 17. It appears on folio 68r of the Kessler Sketchbook.It is a simple piece of 8 + 8 measures, both repeated, with alternating indications of “con sordini” and “senza sordini.” Beethoven resolved this by writing only the first 4 measures of each repeated section, marking them with repeat signs and adding the indication “2mal” (second time).

In fact, Beethoven writes at the first measure: “senza sord,” followed by, at the third measure, “c. s.” which is presumed to mean “con sordini.” In the second repeated section, he again writes “senza s.” but does not indicate “con s.” It is presumed, however, that the pattern from the first repeated section is to be replicated.

Biamonti writes: “It is found among the sketches for the Piano Sonata Op. 31 No. 2 and has some analogy with the final movement of the same.”

Gustav Nottebohm, in his analytical volume on this sketchbook Ein Skizzenbuch von Beethoven, writes: “[…]Den unbekannten Fragmenten entnehmen wir (nach Seite 135 des Schizzenbuchs) ein Stück für Clavier, mit Andwendung des Pedals und mit Fingersastz.” “[…] Among the unknown fragments (on page 135 of the sketchbook), we extract a piece for piano, with use of the pedal and with fingering indications.”