Hess 67 – Sketches for Two German Dances in F Major and F Minor (ca. 1811–1812)

Historical and Manuscript Context

These virtually performable sketches for two German Dances—each consisting of 16 bars—date from around 1811–1812. Though never published during Beethoven’s lifetime, the autographs are preserved in the Bodmer Collection, originally in Zurich and now housed at the Beethoven-Haus in Bonn.

The two dances are catalogued as SBH 639 (SV 106) and listed under the title “2 Tänze.” They were first published by Willy Hess in Supplemente zur Gesamtausgabe, Vol. IX (1965), p. 26.

Musicological Analysis

Beethoven scholar Albert Willem Holsbergen notes that the indication “Nr. 1 D.C.” at the end of the F minor dance clearly suggests that the two dances form a single composite piece, with the second functioning as a trio. This interpretation aligns with Beethoven’s typical ternary structure in his German Dances (A–B–A).

Hess supports this view in his catalog (Supplemente zur GA, Vol. IX, p. 144), referring to them as “Zwei Deutsche.” The sketches appear on folio 45r of the so-called “large Petter sketchbook” (großen Petterschen Skizzenbuch) from the Bodmer Collection (Mh 59), now part of the Beethoven Archive in Bonn.

In the second dance, both repeat signs and a “seconda volta” marking were added editorially, indicating a formal structure that Beethoven may have intended but did not finalize.

Artistic Interpretation

These sketches have been interpreted and recorded by pianist Antonietta Cappelli as part of the artistic initiative:

“Research Becomes Art – A New Life for the Unknown Works of Ludwig van Beethoven”

Recording: Hess 067 – Fast spielfertige Entwürfe zu zwei Deutschen für Klavier Performed by: Antonietta Cappelli, piano

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