Hess Anhang 64, commonly referred to as the Schusterkanon (“Shoemaker’s Canon”), is a three-voice canon titled “Schau wie das Weiberl geht” (“Look How the Little Woman Walks”). It was first published in the ILTE notebooks, page 451, and subsequently in M.A.L., page 340, entry no. 291. The canon also appears in Beethoven’s Conversation Books, specifically volume 10 from March 1820.

According to Willy Hess, the work is unlikely to be an original composition by Beethoven. It is written twice, with the notation slanted across the page, suggesting a casual or informal transcription.

A related canon with identical text, attributed to W. A. Mozart, is preserved in the Berlin State Library under the catalog number Mus. ms 30362. However, the musical setting differs significantly and is not considered authentically Mozartian. It is also absent from the Köchel catalogue, further casting doubt on its attribution.

The canon in question bears a striking resemblance to the Caffee-Kanon by Carl Gottlieb Hering, particularly in its use of parallel thirds and frequent unison passages—stylistic traits not typically associated with Mozart. It is believed that Beethoven may have transcribed the canon during a conversation with Dr. Josef Karl Bernard, a known associate.

Il testo:

Schau, Schau Schau wie das Weiberl geht,
wie schon ihrs Hauberl steht
Schau, Schau Schau wie das Weiberl geht,
wie schon ihrs Hauberl steht schau, schau!

The playful nature of the text and its musical setting suggest a humorous or satirical intent, consistent with the genre of social canons popular in informal gatherings of the time.