The Life of Ludwig van Beethoven, Volume IIThayer, Alexander Wheelock
History
The Life of Ludwig van Beethoven, Volume II
Thayer, Alexander Wheelock
Beethoven, Ludwig van, 1770-1827
The lists of the ascertained compositions and publications for the year
1804 are surprisingly short; but as no really sufficient reason for the
fact can be given, none shall be attempted.[28] The former are only the
two Sonatas, Op. 53 and Op. 54, and the “Andante favori”; but the final
revision of the “Sinfonia Eroica” probably was made at the beginning of
the year.
The publications were these:
1--Second Symphony, D major, Op. 36, dedicated to Prince Carl
Lichnowsky, advertised by the Kunst- und Industrie-Comptoir,
Vienna, March 10.
The arrangement of this Symphony for pianoforte, violin and
violoncello, which was published by the same firm in 1806, is
indirectly claimed by Ries as his work, notwithstanding the title
bears the words “par l’auteur même.” Czerny confirms Ries in these
terms: “The arrangement of the second Symphony as a Pianoforte Trio
was made by Ries; Beethoven gave it to me for correction of certain
things with which he was dissatisfied.”
2--Song with pianoforte accompaniment: “Der Wachtelschlag,”
advertised with the preceding.
3--VII Variations on “God save the King,” for Pf., advertised with
the preceding.
4--III Marches for Pf., four hands. Op. 45, dedicated to Princess
Esterhazy, advertised with the preceding.
5--V Variations for Pf., on “Rule Britannia,” advertised by the
same, June 20th.
6--Sonata in E-flat major, Op. 31, No. 3, published by Nägeli in
his “Répertoire des Clavecinistes,” Cat. II.
FOOTNOTES:
[17] “Orpheus,” 1841, p. 248.
[18] Allg. Mus. Zeit. XXIV, p. 320.
[19] But Ries says that Beethoven hired these lodgings besides those in
the theatre.
[20] See, in the “Allg. Mus. Zeit.” III, a criticism of “Nelson’s Great
Seabattle,” for pianoforte, violin and violoncello by Ferd. Kauer.
Years afterward this piece may have been confounded with the Symphony
in Dr. Bertolini’s memory. From Otto Jahn’s papers we learn that Dr.
Bertolini told him that the first idea of the “Sinfonia eroica” was
suggested to Beethoven by Bonaparte’s expedition to Egypt (May, 1798);
and the rumor of Nelson’s death at the battle of Aboukir (June 22),
at which Nelson was wounded in the head, was the cause of the funeral
march. Czerny wrote: “According to Beethoven’s long-time friend, Dr.
Bertolini, the first idea of the ‘Sinfonia eroica’ was suggested by
the death of the English general Abercrombie; hence the naval (not
land-military) character of the theme and the entire first movement.”
Music of a naval character to celebrate the death of an army officer!
Czerny seems to have been at least temporarily weak either in history
or logic.
[21] Dr. Schmidt is of opinion that this anecdote was contributed to
his journal by Hieronymus Payer, certainly good authority.
[22] “Full moon, July 22,” almanac of 1804.
[23] This honorarium was a share in the receipts.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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