Opus 40, First Romance for Violin and Orchestra in G Major
I) Andante
Opus 40 – First Romance for Violin and Orchestra in G Major, 1820. Composed no later than autumn 1802; published in separate parts in Leipzig by Hoffmeister & Kühnel (Bureau de musique) in December 1803; full score published in the Gesamtausgabe in 1863, GA no. 30 (Series 4/2) – Bruers 40 – KH. 40 – L. II, p. 229 – Nottebohm 40 – Thayer 102 – Biamonti 329.
Official title: Opus 40 Romanze (G-dur) für Violine und Orchester Widmung: – NGAIII/4 AGA 30 = Serie 4/2
The original manuscript, once held by the Peters Music Library in Leipzig, is now in the United States, in the possession of Max Hinrichsen. No preparatory sketches are known. In the absence of further information, the chronology is based on a letter dated 18 October 1802, in which Karl van Beethoven (the composer’s brother, who was then managing his affairs) offered to the publishing house Breitkopf & Härtel in Leipzig, among other works, two Adagio pieces for violin with full instrumental accompaniment: namely, the Romance discussed here and the following one in F major. Needless to say, this dating must be considered approximate; an earlier date is also possible.
The music is simple and serene, without extraordinary flights, focused on the soloist’s melody, which is accompanied with restraint by the orchestra (1 flute, 2 oboes, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, strings). The piece features a main period in two phrases, each repeated by the orchestra, alternating with two intermezzi, the second of which is in the minor key.
Origin and Publication: Based on manuscript analysis, the composition of the score may be confined to the years 1800–01. Since no sketches or other indications have survived, a more precise date of origin cannot be determined. The original edition in parts was published by Hoffmeister & Kühnel in Leipzig in December 1803.
Willy Hess supposes that the two Romances (Op. 40 and 50) were composed almost simultaneously (Hess, Op. 40 und 50). Hess conjectures an initial conception of the work around 1798. While in the case of the twin Op. 50 the dating is supported by the surviving autograph score, for Op. 40 one may hypothesise a later elaboration of the work or the existence of an earlier draft. This would imply that the surviving score is a corrected later copy. A comparison between the appearance of the Op. 40 and 50 manuscripts does not exclude this conjecture.
On 18 October 1802, Kaspar Karl van Beethoven offered Breitkopf & Härtel Op. 40 and 50 as “2 Adagios für Violin, mit ganzer Instrumentalbegleitung” (BGA 107). On 23 November 1802, after Breitkopf had declined the works, an offer was made to André in Offenbach, which was not accepted (BGA 113). The registries of Hoffmeister show that Beethoven proposed to them Opp. 39–44 shortly before 10 September 1803, with success. He executed the transfer of ownership for Op. 40 in October and delivered the fair copies in December of the same year (see BGA 154 and 174). The model for printing is not the surviving autograph score but probably a lost copy (Herttrich/NGA XII/4 KB p. 25). The first performance is unknown. The sketches are lost. The sketches may have been written in the so‑called Sauer notebook, which is presumed lost and can only be partially reconstructed (see JTW p. 117). The score is located in D‑BNba, HC Bodmer Collection, HCB BMh 9/49. Dating: late 1800 / early 1801 (Herttrich/NGA III/4 KB p. 24f; Johnson/Fischhof Vol. 1 pp. 30–37, 39–41).
Title: Leaf 1 “Romanze per il violino da LvBthvn.” 16 leaves; 29 pages of musical notation. Leaf 1 recto — 15 recto; leaf 15 verso and 16 blank. The final blank leaf was folded forward as binding (perhaps to protect the written part). Paper: horizontal format, about 23.5 × 32.5 cm, 12 staves per page.
Provenance: Purchased as lot number 93 in the “Beethoven Estate” auction of 1827 by C. A. Spina, Vienna → Joseph Joachim, Berlin → Dr. Max Abraham, Leipzig (No. 212 in catalogue / Bonn, 1890) → C. F. Peters Music Library, Leipzig (Schneider/Ausstellung 1892 p. 287, no. 18) → Walter Hinrichsen, New York, from 1945 (Leipzig / Musikbibliothek p. 1) → Hans Conrad Bodmer, Zurich → acquired in 1956. See DBH online. Description: Herttrich/NGA III/4 KB p. 24.
First edition: 1803 (December). Leipzig, Hoffmeister et Kühnel, plate number VN/PN 272. Title:
“ROMANCE / pour le / Violon Principale / avec Accompagnement de / 2 Violons, Flûte, 2 Hautbois, 2 Bassons, / 2 Cors, Alto, et Basse, / composée par / LOUIS VAN BEETHOVEN. / Oeuvre 40 / à Leipzig chez Hoffmeister et Kühnel / (Bureau de Musique) / Pr. 16 gg.”
First reduction for violin and piano: c. 1808. London, J. A. Hamilton, plate PN 24. As “No. 1” (No. 2 = Op. 50). — Example: GB‑Lbl watermark 1809.
Letter citations: BGA 107, 109, 113, 117, 153f, 156–159, 174.
Bibliography: Herttrich/NGA III/4 KB pp. 24f; Hess Op. 40 e 50; Johnson/Fischhof Vol. 1 p. 217f.
