Unv.13 – Fragment of a Piano Sonata (Fischhof, folio 42v)

Sketched between the second half of 1797 and the spring of 1798. For this unfinished sonata, in addition to a compositional plan for the entire work, there exist sketches for the first movement and for the finale (theme and five variations).

Douglas Johnson dates the conception of the sonata on the basis of an analysis of the sheets contained in the notebook. Both the leaf in the sketchbook “Fischhof” (sketches 1) and another leaf (sketches 3) contain sketches for the String Trio Op. 9 No. 3, belonging to the second half of 1797 or, at the latest, the early months of 1798. Moreover, the theme of the finale of this sketched sonata reveals a theme similar to that of the second movement of the trio.

In addition to a compositional plan for the entire work, there exist sketches for the first movement and for the finale (theme and five variations) of this unfinished sonata. Douglas Johnson dates the draft of the sonata on the basis of neighbouring sketches: both the leaf from the “Fischhof” collection (sketches 1) and another leaf (sketches 3) contain sketches for the String Trio Op. 9 No. 3, datable to the second half of 1797 or, at most, early 1798. The theme of the finale of the unfinished sonata shows a motivic resemblance to the theme of the slow second movement of the trio.

Sketches

(1) General plan for the composition of the sonata: D‑B, Mus. SM. autogr. Beethoven 28 (“Fischhof”), folio 42v. Facsimile: SBB. Transcription: Johnson/Fischhof, vol. 2, p. 154.

(2) First movement: GB‑Lbl, Add. Ms. 29801 (“Kafka”), folio 149v. Facsimile and transcription: Kerman/Kafka.

(3) Finale with variations: D‑BNba, NE 91 recto. Facsimile: DBH/online. Transcription: Johnson/Fischhof, vol. 2, pp. 155–157.

Bibliography

Johnson/Fischhof, vol. 1, pp. 454–457.

Images

• Beethoven 28 (Fischhof), folio 42v
• Miscellanea Kafka, folio 149v
• NE 91 recto, Bonn

• NE 91 verso, Bonn