Anhang 17: Introduction and Waltz in F Major for Piano

This modest composition—comprising a brief introduction followed by a waltz—was not published during Beethoven’s lifetime. The first edition attributed to Beethoven appeared in 1835 in The Musical Magazine. Scholars surmise that it may be a “morceau de salon” dating from the 1820s or 1830s, to which Beethoven’s name was likely affixed for commercial purposes.

Interestingly, the preface of this first edition even alludes to the name of Schubert, although the attribution ultimately favored Beethoven, possibly due to rhythmic similarities found in the introductory motif. Beethoven first used this motif in 1797 for the Sonata for Piano Four Hands, Op. 6, and later revisited it in 1804 as the dominant theme of his Fifth Symphony, Op. 67.

The heading of the 1835 edition reads:

“INTRODUCTION AND / Waltz, / Composed by / Beethoven, / but / Never Published before.”

This was published as a musical supplement to The Musical Magazine, January 1835 (Vol. 1). A subsequent edition appeared in 1951, published in London by Bosworth and edited by Jack Werner, which incorrectly labeled the piece as “hitherto unpublished.”