Biamonti 798 – Sonata for Piano Four Hands (Fragments), 1824
The musical examples, analyses, and texts on this page are by Graziano Denini.
Biamonti 798 – Sonata for Piano Four Hands (Fragments), 1824. This sketch is cited by Nottebohm in Volume II, page 540. Beethoven writes: “Tono mi bemolle o mi maggiore” (“Key: E-flat or E major”) and then: “4 Hände in 8va” (“4 hands in octaves”).
Notes by Graziano Denini
This fragment appears on folio 9 verso of the manuscript titled Skizzen – Mus.ms.autogr.. Beethoven, L.v. 11 (b), which is held at the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin. The fragment is believed to date back to around 1824.
It consists of only two measures, starting with an upbeat. The manuscript includes the notations “4 Hände” (four hands) and “im 8——-” (see figure 1). The remaining staves are left empty, except for a brief viola part written on the fifth staff (see figure 2).
Additional ideas for a possible Sonata for piano four hands in E-flat major can be found scattered throughout the rest of the sketchbook. These fragments will be explored in more detail in future studies.
