Hess 324 – Melody in C Minor with Piano Accompaniment

This short piece is written in 2/4 time, consists of 8 bars, and is composed in C minor. The melody is performed by the right hand on the piano, while the left hand provides the accompaniment. It appears on page 28, staves 1–2 of the Wielhorsky Sketchbook. The estimated date of composition is likely the second half of 1802.

The manuscript is written in a small and hurried script, with some notational inaccuracies. For example:

• In measure 2, the rhythm of the melody is unclear: the first C appears to be a quaver (eighth note), while the second seems to be a minim (half note) — meaning one eighth note is missing.
• In measure 4, there is a descending figuration that lacks clarity.
• In measure 5, Beethoven omits the natural sign on B, but since it appears in the previous measure, this is interpreted as an implied correction, a common trait in Beethoven’s manuscripts.

The left-hand accompaniment consists of semiquavers (16th notes) with repetition marks, suggesting a rhythmic ostinato or pattern.