WoO 89 – WoO 90 – 2 Arias for Bass and Orchestra
I) Prüfung des Küssens – II) Mit Mädeln sich vertragen
WoO 89 – WoO 90, 2 Arias for Bass and Orchestra, c. 1790, First published in the Supplement to the GA., 1888. GA. no. 269 (series 25/6-7) – B. 260/1-2 – ICH. (WoO) 89/90 – P. 30 – Sch. p. 217/20-21 – T. 15 (the second only).
They were probably composed for the Comic Bass Joseph Lux of the Bonn Court Theatre, a very popular artist at the time, a longtime friend of the Beethoven family, and a songwriter himself. The original manuscripts are now preserved in the Deutsche Staatsbibliothek in Berlin. a) “Prüfung des Küssens”: “Meine Weise Mutter spricht”.
Comic text. Orchestra: 1 flute, 2 oboes, 2 horns, strings. “Mit Mädeln sich vertragen”.
The text of the second Aria, by Goethe, which belongs to the first version of Claudina di Villabella, already set to music by other composers, was perhaps known to Beethoven through one of these adaptations. Orchestra: 2 oboes, 2 horns, strings.
[By Biamonti Giovanni – Catalogo cronologico e tematico delle opere di Beethoven comprese quelle inedite e gli abbozzi non utilizzati, Torino, ILTE 1968]
Official title: WoO 89 Prüfung des Küssens Arie (F-dur) nach einem Gedicht von KJamer Eberhard Karl Schmidt für Bass und Orchestra Widmung: — NGA X/3 AGA 269,1 = Serie 25/6,1
Origin and publication: composed in 1791/92 in Bonn. TOfficial Title: WoO 89 Test of the Kisses, Aria (F-flat) after a Gedicht by K. Jamer Eberhard Karl Schmidt for Bass and Orchestra. Score: — NGA X/3 AGA 269.1 = Series 25/6.1
Origin and Publication: Composed in 1791/92 in Bonn. The First edition of the score was published posthumously in 1888 as part of the AGA by Breitkopf & Flärtel in Leipzig. Beethoven used the same paper as the autograph score from early 1791 until August 1792. Beethoven wrote the aria WoO 89, as well as its twin, WoO 90, presumably for Joseph Lux (1756–1818), a singer and violist in the Bonn court orchestra (perhaps 1789–1794). According to a letter from Karl Ludwig Junkers (1748-1797) to the Boßlers Musikalische Korrespondenz, Lux was „ein sehr guter Baßsänger, und der beste Akteur, ganz geschaffen fürs Komische“. Gottfried Fischer described Lux as a “Hoch berühmte(n) Schauspieler” and listed him among “Freünden, die ihre zeit bey Hr: Joh: v: Beethoven und sein Sohn Lutwig v: Beethoven oft Besuch geschenk […] haben”. According to Fischer, Lux „unter-schiedemahl bey Madamm v: Beethoven auf ihrem Namensfäst [on 22 July] zu Ehre bey Musick allein Lieder gesunngen, die er selbst erticht und auch Componirt hat“.
On 5 June 1822 Beethoven offered the publisher C. F. Peters of Leipzig, in addition to the Missa solemnis, numerous previous works for publication, including the Bass Arias WoO 89 and 90: „Was Gesänge betrift, so habe ich deren größere Ausgeführte, so z. B. eine komische Arie mit ganzem Orchester auf den Text von Göthe ,mit Mädeln sich vertragen’ etc, -wieder eine andere Arie ähnlicher Gattung, wofür ich für jede 16 # (nach verlangen Klawieraus-zug dazu) Verlange“ (BGA 1468, first version). According to the price list drawn up by Beethoven in connection with this letter, the Second Aria mentioned was “Prüfung des Küssens”. Negotiations with the publisher did not lead to a conclusion, and both Arias remained unprinted during Beethoven’s lifetime. Text: Klamer Eberhard Karl Schmidt (1746–1824). The five-stanza poem, which Beethoven adopted almost unchanged for the aria, appeared in the Göttingen “Musen Almanach für 1776” (p. 29). In the three-volume collection “Klamer Eberhard Karl Schmidt s Leben und auserlesene Werke” published by Cotta in 1826, a version was printed that differs significantly from the original. First performance unknown. A Bonn performance of this aria with Joseph Lux as Soloist is not documented.
Official title: WoO 90 Mit Mädeln sich vertragen Arie (D-dur) nach einem Text von Johann Wolfgang von Goethe für Bass und Orchester Widmung: — NGA XI3 AGA 269,11 = Serie 25/6,11
Creation and publication: Aria composed perhaps in the summer/autumn of 1792 in Bonn. The First Edition of the score was published posthumously in 1888 as part of the AGA by Breitkopf & Härtel in Leipzig. Beethoven probably wrote the Aria WoO 90 as well as WoO 89 for Joseph Lux (see WoO 89 above). Since Beethoven used the same paper for the autograph score of the First transcription of the song “Feuerfarb’” op. 52 composed in 1792. Beethoven’s negotiations for the publication of WoO 90 with C. F. Peters, Leipzig, in 1822 were unsuccessful (see WoO 89). Attempts at a revision to WoO 90 exist as early as 1825/26 in the “Kullak” sketchbook, which could be an indication of a later printing. Text: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832), Canzone di Crugantino („Szene in der Dorfherberge“) from the first version of the “Schauspiel mit Lieder Claudine von Villa Bella“. published by Mylius in Berlin in 1776. First performance unknown. There is no trace of a performance in Bonn with soloist Joseph Lux.
The sketches will be treated in an article specifically created by Beethoven Music Research Centre www.lvbeethoven.org
