Ludwig van Beethoven, Konzert für Klavier und Orchester Nr. 4 (G-Dur) op. 58, Kadenz zum Finale, Autograph

Second cadenza for the rondo finale

Beethoven composed three cadenzas for the last movement of his Fourth Piano Concerto op. 58. HCB Mh 19 bears Beethoven's own heading "Zweite Kadenz" ("second cadenza"). Up to now it was thought that the composer wanted to number alternative versions of his rondo cadenzas. But the paper and writing refute this theory. Beethoven actually composed his cadenzas in pairs. A cadenza for the first movement was paired with a cadenza for the last one - like cadenza "full versions" for the whole concerto. HCB Mh 19 is the second cadenza of one of these pairs, its other half being HCB Mh 14. The latter was also logically given the heading "Zweite Kadenz" by the composer. (J.R.)