Hess 323 – “Leb wohl, schöne Abendsonne” (Farewell, beautiful evening sun)

This miniature canon was composed in 1818, written in C major, and consists of just 2 bars. It appears on page 137 of the autograph manuscript A 45 (SV 275), preserved at the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna.

Facsimiles of folios 20v and 20r, which contain entries Hess 322 and 323, were published by Johnson, Tyson, and Winter in their book The Beethoven Sketchbooks: History, Reconstruction, Inventory (University of California Press, Berkeley, 1985), specifically on page 352.

The title, “Farewell, beautiful evening sun,” evokes a poetic and contemplative mood, suggesting Beethoven’s sensitivity to nature and the passage of time. Despite its brevity, the canon reflects his mastery of counterpoint and his ability to infuse emotional depth into even the smallest musical gestures.