Hess 308/309 – Two Unknown Canons for Friedrich Kuhlau

In volume V of his Beethoven – Eine Kunststudie (Ernst Balde, Hamburg, 1860, pp. 364–366), Wilhelm von Lenz recounts a rather improbable story taken from the magazine Humorist, no. 83, published in 1837. According to this source, Beethoven allegedly wrote two additional canons for the Danish composer Friedrich Kuhlau, besides the well-known “Kühl, nicht lau” (GA Series 23, No. 256/12, corresponding to WoO 191 in the Kinsky/Halm catalogue, p. 693).

The canon “Kühl, nicht lau” is famous for its pun on Kuhlau’s name and was composed in a humorous spirit. The idea that Beethoven wrote two more canons for him is intriguing, though not supported by direct documentary evidence.

The Canons Hess 308 and 309 These two canons are not included in the 19th-century Gesamtausgabe (Complete Edition), but were catalogued by Willy Hess as numbers 308 and 309 in his supplement of works not found in the official collection.

• Hess 308: A canon presumably written for Kuhlau, though no autograph manuscript is known.
• Hess 309: Another canon attributed to Beethoven for Kuhlau, also lacking confirmed manuscript evidence.

Both canons are considered apocryphal or of uncertain attribution, and their existence is based solely on the anecdote reported by Lenz.

Historical Context

Who Was Friedrich Kuhlau?

Friedrich Kuhlau (1786–1832) was a German-born Danish composer and pianist, renowned for his sonatas and works for flute. He was a friend and admirer of Beethoven and helped promote Beethoven’s music in Scandinavia. The canon “Kühl, nicht lau” was likely composed during a meeting between the two, as a gesture of esteem and playful wit.

Wilhelm von Lenz Lenz was one of the early romantic biographers of Beethoven, but his writings often blend historical facts with unverifiable anecdotes. His source, Humorist, was a literary and satirical magazine, which further casts doubt on the reliability of the account.