Biamonti 704 – Fugue Theme.

November 1817 – March 1819 Source: Nottebohm, Zweite Beethoveniana, Volume II, page 136

This is a fugue theme, originally intended for the Finale of Opus 106 (the Hammerklavier Sonata). It appears among the unused sketches in the Opus 106 sketchbook, which Beethoven filled during the years 1817–1819.

The theme is brief but clearly structured, and it reflects Beethoven’s exploration of contrapuntal possibilities for the sonata’s final movement—though he ultimately chose a different approach.