Beethoven juvenilia | Beethoven Music Research Center www.lvbeethoven.org

Unv.01- Hess 298 – Symphony in C minor – Sketch of the First Movement – 1785 / 1786. Schiedermeier page 219/46

The Unheardbeethoven website is curated by Albert Willem Holsbergen and Mark Zimmer. Our thanks go to them.

It is a sketch of 111 bars, entitled Symphony, preserved in the Kafka collection of the British Museum. Published in its entirety by Stein, (and in 1970 by Kerman Editor’s note) already mentioned by Nottebohm (Zweitebeethoveniana, page 567) and by Shedlock, MT June 1892. The dating is about the same as that of the WoO 36 piano quartets, so much so that they have more than one element in common. It is not to be confused with the sketches of another early symphony, referred to in number 73 of the Biamonti catalogue. The thematic element presents the beginning of the scherzo of the Fifth Symphony. (G.Biamonti)

Origin: probably sketched between 1786 and 1790. On the basis of the manuscript and paper finds, Douglas Johnson dated the sketches between the years 1786-1790 (Johnson/Fischhof vol. 1, pp. 221 and 242-246). Joseph Kerman narrows the period a little more narrowly to 1788/89 (Kerman / Kafka, Vol. 2, p. 291). Gustav Nottebohm’s reference to the similarity of the theme to that of the 2nd movement of the piano quartet WoO 36 No. 1 (created in 1785) cannot be used directly as an indication of the origin of the sketches for the symphony (Nottebohm/Beethoveniana ll, p. 567).

Sketches: GB-LBL, Add. Ms. 29801 (“Kafka”), Pages 70recto/versus. Opening title “Symphony”. 111 bars, in piano reduction. On bar 91 instrumental indication “Obo[e]”. Transcriptions: Stein/Jugendsymphonie S. 13lf, Facsimile and transcription: Kerman/Kafka.Literature: Hess/Green number 298. Johnson/Fischhof Vol. 1 p. 221 f, 242-246. – Kerman / Kafka, Vol. 2, p. 291. – Stein, Jugendsymphonie, pages 130-133.

It consists of 111 continuous bars that take up the theme of the Second Movement of the Quartet for piano, violin, viola and cello WoO 36 n. 1; In addition, there are 2 other fragments, one of 9 bars and the other of 5. All this can be found in the Miscellanea Kafka and, despite its sketch status, deserves to be mentioned because it constitutes a very important stage in the evolution of Beethoven’s musical thought. We don’t know why Beethoven left it unfinished – he probably didn’t feel ready to write an entire Symphony yet – but what is certain is that listening to it already foreshadows the composer who would later write symphonies such as the Eroica and the Fifth.

The piece was completed and made playable by Albert Willem Holsbergen; although we will never know how the composer would have really developed it, this operation allows us to listen to it as a true completed Symphony movement and to appreciate its beauty.

Unv. 1 – Hess 298 Symphony in C minor – Sketch of First movement (Piano)

Unv. 1 – Hess 298 Symphony in C minor – Version for orchestra by Albert Willem Holsbergen.

“Notes in the Dark” – suggestions and comparisons for quality Beethoven listening

With a slide of the recordings mentioned in the article – By the YouTube channel SecondAVitA

Posts

Unv. 02 – Hess 299 · Early Symphony Fragment in C major (1786)

Pages

Unv. 01 – Hess 298 · Symphony in C minor · Sketch of the First Movement (1785–1786)

Unv.01- Hess 298 – Symphony in C minor – Sketch of the First Movement – 1785 / 1786. Schiedermeier page 219/46

“Notes in the Dark” – suggestions and comparisons for quality Beethoven listening