Dedications from other musicians to Beethoven –
Article from Artur Pereira and Friederike Grigat, “Widmungen an Beethoven”
In a social context where dedicating musical works was common practice, Beethoven did not shy away from this custom. During the research conducted by Friederike Grigat and Artur Pereira, many such dedications were identified.
In the responsive table published on the page, these works are listed in chronological order. As an addition from the Beethoven Music Research Center, the final section leads to dedicated pages for further exploration of this topic.
Beethoven received at least twenty-five official dedications, though there may be more. For example, in 1826, he received a dedication of a string quartet from Baron Karl August von Klein (1794–1870), but the work has been lost, and may never have been printed.
Beethoven accepted this dedication in a letter dated May 10, 1826, and in September of the same year, Klein offered the work to publisher Carl Peters in Leipzig. However, since no copies have been found, it’s likely the work was never published.
Peters was highly selective in his publications, even refusing to publish several of Beethoven’s own works, deeming them of lesser quality or modest length. Thus, he may have considered Klein’s quartet unprofitable.
Types of Works Dedicated
The table shows that most works dedicated to Beethoven are piano compositions, including:
- 1 concerto
- 7 editions of piano sonatas (11 sonatas total)
- 5 sets of variations (including one for piano four hands)
- 4 fugues
- 1 fantasia
- 1 character piece for duet
- 3 piano trios (piano, violin, cello)
- 1 arrangement of Beethoven’s Fourth Symphony for two pianos
These works clearly celebrate Beethoven’s reputation as an exceptional pianist. Six bear the designation “Grand/Grande/Grosse”, indicating difficulty and grandeur, making them fitting tributes to such a prominent composer.
Other dedications include:
- 2 string quartets
- 1 symphony
- Orchestral arrangements of movements from Beethoven’s own Piano Sonatas Op. 2 and Violin Sonatas Op. 12
- A group of songs
- A collection of Italian Renaissance sacred music
- An edition of Handel’s Chaconne HWV 442
C. Berg: Grosse Trio dedicated to Beethoven. Property of the C.R.M.B. www.lvbeethoven.org
Relationships and Intentions
Two dedications identify the authors as Beethoven’s students (Ries’s piano sonata and Archduke Rudolph’s 40 variations), and three refer to friendship (Stein’s arrangement of the Fourth Symphony, Ries’s Symphony Op. 80, and Potter’s Piano Trio Op. 12 No. 3).
Beethoven received two major works in C minor—Ries’s Symphony and Anton Halm’s Sonata—likely echoing the Fifth Symphony’s key and the popularity of the “Pathétique” Sonata. C minor was already recognized as a Beethovenian key.
There is documentation that Beethoven granted permission for dedications to only five composers: Anton Halm, Leopold Aimon, Konrad Berg, Friedrich Riem, and Karl August von Klein. However, many requests were likely made in person, as several composers were close to Beethoven.
Anecdotes and Reflections: There is no reliable evidence of a meeting between Schubert and Beethoven, despite both living in Vienna. The only account comes from Anton Schindler, whose unreliability is well known, and is contradicted by Joseph Huttenbrenner, Schubert’s friend and a more trustworthy source.
Beethoven enjoyed receiving dedications, though formal requests survive only in a few cases. Ries was living in London when he dedicated his C minor Symphony, but part of their correspondence is lost. Archduke Rudolph dedicated his 40 Variations to Beethoven without permission, yet the gift delighted Beethoven, who likely appreciated dedications as signs of his growing fame.
A Beautiful Tribute: Perhaps the most touching words came from Georg Christoph Grosheim: “A dedication is the acknowledgment of a debt of gratitude. For this reason, I dedicate to you the works of my muse; in this way I wish to publicly express my esteem and thanks to you, for the many delights your artistic labors have given me.” Cassel, November 10, 1819
Works dedicated to Beethoven:
From the Library of Beethoven Music Research Center
Responsive table of all works dedicated to Beethoven
From the study of Dr. Friederike Grigat
(texts and documents edited by Luigi Bellofatto).