Ludwig van Beethoven, Skizzenblatt zur Sinfonie Nr. 8 op. 93, Autograph, Fragment

A sketch leaf for the Eighth Symphony

This sketch leaf, originally in a standard oblong format, is now merely a fragment containing almost ten lines. During Beethoven's lifetime it was part of a sketchbook which he used at his desk at home. This sketchbook, called the Petter Sketchbook after one of its previous owners, today still has 74 leaves, although it originally probably comprised 96 leaves. The missing 22 leaves were sold or given away in the nineteenth century - for us today an act of vandalism, although a common practice at the time amongst collectors of autograph scores. Some of the separated leaves have, however, been identified and their position in the book has been reconstructed. The Petter Sketchbook predominantly contains sketches for the Seventh and Eighth Symphonies. The leaf shown here contains ideas for the Eighth Symphony, as fits its position in the last third of the book. (J.R.)