Biamonti 264 – Sketch of an Unknown Piece in A Major, circa 1800

This sketch is found among the Beethoven manuscripts preserved in the library of the Paris Conservatoire, now part of the Gallica collection at the Bibliothèque nationale de France, which houses all Beethoven manuscripts originating from the Conservatoire. These manuscript sheets were formerly part of the Malherbe Collection—Malherbe being a former Director of the Conservatoire. The red stamp visible on this example indicates this provenance. The sketch is located on the sheet catalogued as Gallica ms. 84.

In his catalogue of Beethoven manuscripts held at the Paris Conservatoire, Max Unger (Max Unger page 110/84). describes it as: “Entwurf eines unbekannten Klavierstückes in A-dur u.a. […] Aus Beethovens mittleren Lebensjahren.” (Sketch of an unknown piano piece in A major, among others […] From Beethoven’s middle period.)

The sketch (or fragment) is written in ink up to measure 6, and then continues in pencil.