WoO 31 – Two-part Fugue in D major for organ (fortepiano), c. 1783, first published in the Supplemente zur Gesamt Ausgabe, 1888. G.A. Issue 309, (series 25/46) – Bruers 283 – KH (WoO 31) – Biamonti 6 – Prod’homme 2 – Sch. page 169/2 -Thayer 3. NGA VII/6 AGA 309 = Series 25/46

Composition and publication: Probably composed in Bonn in 1783, at the latest in February 1784. The first edition appeared posthumously in 1888 as part of the AGA at Breitkopf & Härtel in Leipzig. Investigations by Hans-Günter Kleins and Douglas Johnson in 1978 clarified that the manuscript of the Fugue WoO 31, which was believed to be a copy, is in fact autograph (Klein / Autograph p. 123f). Beethoven, for many years, thought that 1771 was the year of his birth (see Solomon / BirthYear), therefore, the writing „im alter von 11 jahren“ ( “at the age of 11 years”) suggests 1783 as the year of composition (Johnson / Fischhof vol.1 P. 237). The composition of the two-part fugue is related to the „vorgegangener gnugsamen Erprüfung und gefundener sattsamen Fähigkeit zu der HofOrgel“ (BGA 2), the then report of the chief chamberlain Sigismund Reichsgraf zu Salm und Reifferscheid on the performance quality of the young Beethoven as second court organist, (see TDR I p. 156) and therefore dated the last possible time of the composition. The autograph addition “pedal”, which marks the use of a voice, almost as if it were an organ, at the end of the fugue, identifies this composition as written for organ (Steinhaus / Orgel2 p. 114; cf.. One cannot ignore the thesis formulated by Schiedermair in 1925 on the possible performance on the piano; Schiedermair / Beethoven p. 282f). The theme of the fugue shows similarities with the theme of Handel’s Aria with 5 Variations (“The harmonious blacksmith”) from Suite No. 5 in E major, HWV 430. (According to register no. 236, written posthumously, Beethoven owned „Händels Claviersuiten, nebst 15 verschiedenen Stücken“ “Handel’s piano suites, together with 15 different pieces”, probably the edition by H.G. Nägeli of Zurich, which appeared between 1801 and 1803.

The volumes of the Händel-Gesamtausgabe by Samuel Arnold, London 1787-1797, also in Beethoven’s possession (auction no. 239), were donated by Johann Andreas Stumpff to the composer only in December 1826. First performance unknown. Autograph: D-B, Mus. SM. autogr. Beethoven Artaria 124, 1783 (Johnson / Fischhof vol.1 p. 237). Title in an unknown hand: Eine Zweistimmige / Fuge verfertigt von Ludwig / van Beethoven“, in Beethoven’s hand “im alter von 11 jahren“, Provenance: Verlagsarchiv Artaria, Vienna. Acquired by Artaria under no. 171 from the 1827 auction (along with the piano concerto WoO 4) (Johnson / Artaria p. 227) – Erich Prieger, Bonn, from 1897. – Purchased 1901. First edition in AGA. (PDF of the score, taken from this manuscript copy, edited by Graziano Denini)