Biamonti 799 – Figuration in 5/4, 1824

This sketch is cited by Nottebohm in Volume II, page 542. It consists of a brief musical idea written in 5/4 meter, an unusual time signature for Beethoven, especially in his late period.

New research from the Beethoven Music Research Center (November 2025) reveals that this sketch is preserved in manuscript Autograph 11/2, folio 19recto, lines 9–14. In chapter 58 of his Zweite Beethoveniana, Nottebohm comments: “…einige Versuche in Fünfvierteltakt;” [some experiments in five‑quarter time]. There are two figurations, both written on two staves. Why? In the first figuration, no second voice appears, whereas the second figuration immediately introduces a second voice at the lower octave for at least two measures, followed by a harmonic passage and a fully written conclusion. Examining the score of Figuration 1, we focused on three annotations by Beethoven: one at the third quarter note of the second measure (later crossed out), another at the beginning of the third measure, and a third at the third quarter note of the fifth measure (also crossed out). Could these markings indicate possible entries in a hypothetical canon at the unison? Indeed, if we insert a second voice beginning at the third measure of this fragment, the counterpoint works out flawlessly.

The Second Figuration, by contrast, has simply been reconstructed by us according to the directions found in the manuscript.