Ludwig van Beethoven, Skizzenblatt zu zwölf Variationen WoO 71 und anderen Werken, Autograph

Dating by a process of elimination

In the spring of 1796 Beethoven went on a concert tour as a pianist to Prague and Berlin. The sketch leaf shown here dates from this tour, as can be ascertained from several details. Several of the sketches are based on the twelve Piano Variations WoO 71 on the Russian Dance from the ballet "Das Waldmädchen" by P. Wranitzky. This ballet received its première on 23 September 1796. Variations based on one of its themes can hardly have been sketched before this date. WoO 71 was published in April 1797 by Artaria, thus restricting the use of this leaf after this date. On the reverse Beethoven designed the title for the original edition of op. 46: "Adelaide / von / Mathisson / in Musick gesezt / und dem Verfasser / Gewidmet / Von L. v. Beethoven". Opus 46 was also published by Artaria; the first advertisements for this work appeared on 7 February 1797. The sketches on the leaf were therefore made around the New Year 1796/1797. Aside from WoO 71 the leaf also contains unidentified sketches; there are no sketches for op. 46. The leaf was originally part of a bifolium, which can be seen from the stub of paper left on the fold. It was probably bound in a book - there are two holes on the inner margin. (J.R.)