Biamonti 451 – Fragment, First Half of 1808

Source: Grasnick Sketchbook No. 3 (see footnote), first half of 1808 Location: British Library, Pastoral Sketchbook (AD31766), folio 49 recto, lines 4–5 Reference: Dagmar Weise, p. 99, lines 4–5

Description of the Fragment: This four-bar sketch in D minor is preserved in London within the so-called Pastoral Sketchbook. As Biamonti notes in the footnote:

“The notebook referred to as the Pastoral, due to its substantial content related to the aforementioned symphony, is held at the British Museum. It was published in printed reproduction in 1961, accompanied by extensive historical and critical commentary, as well as description and illustration of each page, by the Beethoven-Haus, edited by Dr. Dagmar Weise. It also contains sketches for the two Trios for piano, violin, and cello Op. 70, and a few others for projected but unfinished works, or otherwise unused material.”

Earlier scholars such as Gustav Nottebohm (Vol. II, Ch. XVIII, pp. 252–254) and J.S. Shedlock (Musical Times, Jan. 1893, p. 14 ff.) also briefly addressed the Pastoral sketches.

Musical Analysis: Despite a blot on the initial note and some imprecision in the notation—particularly in the first measure—the right hand clearly reveals Beethoven’s intent to write a small arpeggiated sketch in D minor, with both hands playing in unison. The author disagrees with Biamonti’s identification of the first note as A-flat. Instead, he argues there is no trace of a flat sign, and the flat at the beginning of the staff merely indicates the key signature of the sketch. Naturally, the C, the third sixteenth note in the right hand of the first measure, must be sharp, as the same note appears in the left hand.