Hess 52 – Sonata “Number 15” in C Major for Piano.  Possibly composed around 1801 – If it ever existed, the work is now lost

 Historical Background

The existence of this mysterious sonata is reported solely in the catalogue compiled by Anton Gräffer, which lists works attributed to Ludwig van Beethoven. According to Gräffer, the sonata was published by Mollo, a Viennese music publisher active during Beethoven’s lifetime. However, no surviving copy of the score has ever been found.

The renowned Beethoven biographer Alexander Wheelock Thayer included the opening bars of the sonata in his thematic catalogue (Nr. 286), citing Gräffer’s listing. The fragment is written in common time (4/4) and in the key of C major. Thayer also quotes Dr. Sonnleithner, who remarked:

“The existence of this sonata is doubtful, because it does not appear in the printed catalogue of the publisher.”

This casts serious doubt on whether the sonata was ever truly published or even composed.

Dating and Speculation

The proposed date of composition—1801—is purely theoretical. It is based on the fact that Beethoven completed both his Sonata No. 14 (Op. 27 No. 2, “Moonlight”) and Sonata No. 15 (Op. 28, “Pastoral”) in that same year. However, there is no concrete evidence linking this lost sonata to those canonical works. No conjecture can be made regarding its authenticity, structure, or musical content. If the sonata was indeed published, it may have been a minor or youthful work that Beethoven did not assign an opus number to—perhaps one of the many early pieces he later dismissed or disavowed. This is not the only case of a published Beethoven composition that has vanished. Several works mentioned in early catalogues or correspondence have never been recovered, leaving gaps in our understanding of his output.

Source Documentation

• Anton Gräffer’s catalogue: Catalogue des Œuvres de Louis van Beethoven, published in Vienna in 1828 by Artaria & Comp., includes the sonata with the note “Revised by Louis van Beethoven” and later supplemented after his death.
• Thayer’s thematic catalogue: Chronologisches Verzeichniss der Werke Ludwig van Beethoven’s, published in Berlin in 1865 by Ferdinand Schneider, reproduces the incipit and discusses the doubts surrounding the sonata’s existence.

Both documents are preserved and studied by the Beethoven Music Research Center, curated by Dr. Luigi Domenico Bellofatto.

 Interpretive Insights

If this sonata ever existed, it would likely reflect Beethoven’s early Classical style, possibly influenced by Haydn and Mozart. The key of C major suggests a bright, straightforward character, typical of youthful keyboard works. The absence of an opus number and the lack of surviving manuscripts imply that Beethoven may have considered it unworthy of inclusion in his official catalogue. Alternatively, it could have been a pedagogical piece, a sketch, or even a misattributed work.

Conclusion

Hess 52 remains a phantom entry in Beethoven’s catalogue—a tantalizing possibility that continues to intrigue scholars. Until new evidence emerges, it stands as a reminder of the fragility of musical history, where even the works of a towering figure like Beethoven can slip through the cracks of time.