Unv. 7 – Hess 40 – Prelude to a Fugue in D minor
for 2 Violins, 2 Violas, and Cello
Unv. 7 – Hess 40 – Prelude to a Fugue in D minor for 2 Violins, 2 Violas, and Cello
Composed in November/December 1817, this piece was first published by Willy Hess in the Schweizerische Musikzeitung in October 1935, and later in the sixth volume of the Supplemente zur Gesamtausgabe (GA) in 1963.
Manuscript Status: The original manuscript is lost. Musicologist Gustav Nottebohm referenced it, including sketches of the fugue. The prelude is complete, consisting of 37 measures, followed by several uninterrupted bars (marked Allegro) introducing a fugue. The fugue itself was not developed beyond four bars. The theme of the fugue was later reused in the Scherzo of the Ninth Symphony.
Historical Context: In 1817, Beethoven intended to contribute a new fugue for string quintet, introduced by a slow movement, to Tobias Haslinger’s planned complete edition of Beethoven’s works. The introduction is complete in autograph score. Only sketches exist for the fugue, along with the theme noted in the score. The fugue theme resembles that of the second movement of the Ninth Symphony. Since Beethoven never completed this composition, Haslinger received the Fugue Op. 137 for the same ensemble instead.
Sketch Origins: Beethoven had already sketched the fugue theme for the quintet movement in autumn 1815 (Sketches 1). Other fugue sketches are found alongside those for Op. 137 (see Nottebohm’s description of the “Boldrini” notebook; Sketches 7). The first autograph transcription of Op. 137 is dated “28 November 1817” (see Op. 137). The sketches for the unfinished quintet movement likely date from this same period.
Sources and Sketch Locations
| Sketch | Location | Details |
|---|---|---|
| (1) Fugue subject | US-PRscheide, M.130 (“Scheide”), p.51 | Dated Autumn 1815; facsimile: Goldschmidt/Beethoven Vol. 2, Fig. 5; transcription: Nottebohm/Beethoveniana II, p.157 |
| (2) Introduction | GB-Lbl, Add. Ms. 29997, p.21 | — |
| (3) Fugue theme | A-Wgm, A 81 | — |
| (4) Fugue sketch | Formerly Johanna Bosch, Hollywood | Current location unknown; continuation of autograph score sketches |
| (5) Fugue sketch | D-BNba, NE 114 | Facsimile available online |
| (6) Fugue | D-WRgs, 60 / Z 33, Liszt Nachlass (SV 389) | Transcription: Brandenburg/Op.125, p.96 |
| Fugue | Lost “Boldrini” sketchbook, pp. 1, 2, 7 | Dated Autumn 1817; partial transcription: Nottebohm/Beethoveniana II, p.350 |
? Autograph Score Details
- Measures 1–53: Introduction: mm. 1–37. Transition: mm. 38–49. Fugue beginning: mm. 50–53. After detaching the joint on folio 2v, sketches continue further. Format: 2 sheets; 4 pages of score (1r–2v). Paper: Horizontal format, approx. 24 × 31 cm, 16 staves.
Provenance: Acquired by Artaria at auction in 1827, listed as either: No. 59: “Sketch of an unknown quintet”. No. 152: “Complete movement of a quintet for violin”. Later owned by Erich Prieger, Bonn (from 1898). Acquired in 1901
Facsimiles and Bibliography: Facsimiles: Kurth/NGA VI/2 KB Appendix III, p.74f. Descriptions: Kurth/NGA VI/2 KB, p.64. First edition of the fragment: 1955, in Hess(40)/Unv.7, p.425f. Bibliography: Hess/Unv.7. Kurth/NGA VI/2 KB, p.64. Kurth/Streichquintette.
