WoO 76 – Eight Variations in F Major for Piano on the Trio “Tändeln und Scherzen” from Soliman II by Franz Xaver Süssmayr.  Theme – Andante, quasi Allegretto

Composed in autumn 1799, dedicated to Countess Anna Margarete von Browne-Camus, and published in Vienna by Franz Anton Hoffmeister in December 1799. Catalog References: GA No. 174 (Series 17/13). Biamonti 187. Kinsky-Halm (WoO) 76. L. IV, p. 319/10/a. N. p. 158. P. 108. T. 66.

Official Title: WoO 76 Sechs (bzw. acht) Variationen (F-dur) über das Terzett „Tändeln und scherzen“ aus dem Singspiel „Soliman II“ von Franz Xaver Süßmayr für Klavier. Dedication: To Anna Margarete Countess von Browne-Camus. Manuscript Status: The original manuscript is unknown. Composition and Publication: Composed after the premiere of the Singspiel Soliman II by Franz Xaver Süssmayr, held on October 1, 1799, at the Kärntnertortheater. Published in December 1799 by Franz Anton Hoffmeister, not Joseph Eder as previously misattributed by Kinsky-Halm. According to Alan Tyson and Richard Hill, Hoffmeister’s edition—described by KH as “simultaneous edition (justified)”—should be considered the original edition, as already hypothesized by Gustav Nottebohm. At the time of publication, Hoffmeister was traveling for business and involved Joseph Eder in the Vienna release, possibly transferring publishing rights temporarily. In 1801, Hoffmeister founded the Bureau de Musique with Ambrosius Kühnel in Leipzig and reissued both WoO 76 and Op. 13 in 1802 under his own imprint.

Musical Structure: Though both Eder and Hoffmeister’s editions title the work as “Six Variations,” each contains eight: Variation 6: First part in B-flat major. Variation 7: “Molto adagio ed espressivo” in F major. Variation 8: “Allegro vivace” in 2/4 time, functioning more as a coda, beginning with a fugal exposition and transforming into a fantasy piece. The fifth variation, in minor mode, gives the theme a comic-sentimental song character, with the bass line resembling a bassoon. The sixth variation, following without interruption, shifts to B-flat major, deviating from the usual rule of tonal uniformity. The seventh variation, also linked directly to the sixth, returns to the home key and wraps the theme in a ceremonial, virtuosic-melodic cloak.

Source of the Theme: The Singspiel Soliman II oder Die Drei Sultaninnen by Franz Xaver Süssmayr (1766–1803), libretto by Franz Xaver Huber, based on Soliman Second by Charles-Simon Favart (Paris, 1761). Premiered on October 1, 1799, at the Kärntnertortheater in Vienna, and performed 43 times across imperial court theaters until July 30, 1801. The trio “Tändeln und scherzen” is not included in the piano reduction published by Simrock in Bonn (arranged by Carl Zulehner, VN 155), but appears in the Wiener K.k. Hoftheater-Musik-Verlag edition, issued as a single print (VN 90).

Autographs: Lost.  First Performance: Unknown. Original Edition: Published: December 1799, Vienna, F. A. Hoffmeister, no VN/PN. Title: VI Variations / Pour le Clavecin ou Piano-Forte / Sur le Trio |Tändeln und Scherzen| / de l’Opera Soliman oder die drey Sultaninnen / Composées et dediées / à Madame la Comtesse de Browne / née de Vietinghoff / Par / Louis Van Beethoven. / N° 10. / Chez F. A. Hoffmeister.