Ludwig van Beethoven, Rondo für Klavier und Violine (G-Dur) WoO 41, Partitur, Abschrift

For remembering me

An autograph score for the Rondo for Piano and Violin WoO 41 no longer exists. This copy was, however, probably made from the autograph score. The signature "Wegeler" on the title page makes the connection: Beethoven had sent the autograph score to his childhood friend from Bonn Eleonore von Breuning (in 1802 she married the doctor Franz Gerhard Wegeler). In summer 1792 Beethoven was still in Bonn, although his departure was already decided on. He sent her the Rondo "as a small gift in return for your remembering me". Beethoven added, "you can have the Rondo copied and then send me back the score. The one I am sending you is the only one which is halfway suitable for you." The copy was used as the engraver's model for the original edition of the Rondo which was published by the Bonn publisher Simrock in 1808. The entries in the musical text, which were probably made by the engraver, serve to show the page layout for the printed version. (J.R.)