“Lasst uns fröhlich sein”: Beethoven’s Canon and the Echo of Student Song

Among the many fragments catalogued by Biamonti, No. 475 stands out for its brevity and charm. The sketch, consisting solely of the phrase “Lasst uns fröhlich sein” (“Let us be cheerful”), was transcribed by Nottebohm in his Zweite Beethoveniana (p. 576), without further musical or contextual elaboration. Yet this modest line opens a window onto Beethoven’s lighter contrapuntal imagination and his engagement with canon form.
The phrase itself evokes the spirit of conviviality and youthful joy, and may well be a nod to the famous student song Gaudeamus igitur, whose German paraphrase—widely circulated in the 18th century—begins:

This version, attributed to Christian Wilhelm Kindleben, became a staple of academic and celebratory gatherings across German-speaking Europe. Its tone—both festive and philosophical—mirrors the kind of playful canon Beethoven might have composed for friends or students.
The phrase also appears in later poetic contexts. For instance, Detlev von Liliencron, a 19th-century German poet, wrote:

Such lines reflect a broader cultural sentiment: joy as a fleeting but vital response to life’s brevity. Beethoven, who often infused his music with both humor and profundity, may have found in this phrase a perfect vehicle for a miniature canon—simple in text, rich in implication.
Though no manuscript survives and the musical material is minimal, Biamonti 475 invites us to imagine Beethoven in a moment of levity: sketching a cheerful canon, perhaps for private amusement or pedagogical use. It is a reminder that behind the monumental works lies a composer who delighted in musical play, linguistic wit, and the joy of shared song.