Unv. 8 – Duet in E-flat for Violin and Cello

Kafka page 129, folio 130 recto

This is a unique piece in Beethoven’s output, written for the violin and cello duo, reminiscent of the duet WoO 32 “Duett für zwei obligaten Augengläsern” for viola and cello.

Manuscript Details:  The composition fills the entire recto side of folio 130 in the Kafka Sketchbook. It is nearly complete up to the “Da Capo”, but unfortunately, the following page is missing. Possibly composed in 1792 in Bonn.

Publication History: The first edition of this fragment was published posthumously in 1963 as part of the SBG by Breitkopf & Härtel in Wiesbaden. Beethoven wrote only the exposition of a sonata movement. It is unknown whether the composition continued on now-lost pages.

Related Sketches: On the reverse side of the autograph manuscript are sketches for the aria “Mit Mädeln sich vertragen” WoO 90, likely written in Bonn in summer/autumn 1792. However, there is no evidence that both sides of the sheet were used in the same period (Johnson/Fischhof Vol. 1, p. 284).

Historical Context: Musicologist Joseph Kerman suggests the duet may have been composed for Beethoven’s friends and fellow musicians: Andreas Jakob Romberg (1767–1821) Bernhard Heinrich Romberg (1767–1841) Both were members of the Electoral Court Orchestra in Bonn from 1790 and were close to Beethoven (Kerman/Kafka p. 287).

Physical Description:

• Autograph: Add. Ms. 29801 (“Kafka”), Folio 130r
• Content: Music stops after the exposition; verso contains sketches for WoO 90
• Format: One sheet; recto contains Unv. 8, verso contains WoO 90 sketches
• Paper: Horizontal format, approx. 31 cm wide, 10 staves
• Provenance: From Johann Nepomuk Kafka, Vienna – acquired in 1875

Facsimiles and Bibliography

• Facsimile: Kerman/Kafka Vol. 1 folio 130r and Vol. 2 page 129
• First edition of the fragment: SBG

• Bibliography:

  • Johnson/Fischhof Vol. 1, pp. 282–284

  • Kerman/Kafka Vol. 2, p. 287